Yes. On a slope a fence is either racked, meaning the rails tilt with the ground while the pickets stay upright, or stepped, meaning flat panels drop down the hill one at a time. Racked leaves less open space underneath.
Racked or stepped: which is better?
- Racked: follows the grade closely. Right for mild and medium slopes and for yards with dogs.
- Stepped: level panels with a drop at each post. Used on steep ground and with rigid factory panels. Each step leaves a wedge-shaped opening below.
- Built in place: pickets are cut to the ground one by one. Takes longer and gives the tightest fit in wood.
I have a dog that digs and a yard that drops. How do I avoid gaps?
Choose racked or built-in-place fence, then secure the bottom. A treated board along the ground, pickets trimmed to the grade, or wire mesh buried a few inches under the line will stop most diggers.
My yard is steep and rocky and two companies turned the job down. Who does this?
Rock is part of fencing here. Lots under the Rims and on the South Hills have sandstone close to the surface, yards near the Yellowstone are full of cobble, and Red Lodge and Columbus sit on creek and river rock. Posts in rock are cored or pinned, which is slower and costs more than an open hole. Not every crew takes it. We walk the line before we price it.
Do installers dig by hand or with a machine?
Either, depending on the spot. A power auger handles open clay quickly. Hand tools are used close to marked utilities, along ditch banks, beside foundations and in cobble that stops an auger.
A free visit to your property is how you get a real number. Call (406) 303-4455 or text us a photo of the fence line.