Well that was absolutely stupid. Why is the contractor out of the picture?

 

They didn't know how to fix so they were going to pay a fencing contractor to repair. At the last minute, they said the fence contractor changed the amount they agreed on to totally re-install entire fence. They gave me a refund on what i paid for the install.

 

Normally the fence is supposed to be either stepped (level tops) or sloped (slanted tops). What you have there needs to be done over.
Vinyl Fence Installation Made Easy | WamBam Fence

 

post pics from a good ways back. other than the gaps, does the fence look good ?

 

Just added some more pics of the front and from inside the backyard. Thanks for any input or advice...really appreciate it!

 

Temp chicken wire until you have a permanent remedy?

 

I think the contractor should have discussed the design with you prior to proceeding, but I think the job is fine.

Just screw on some skirting to the bottom.

 

What is your budget for addressing this? Are you wanting to do it yourself or hire someone? I ask the latter as the "easy" fixes will be more labor issues than materials.

With the slope & drainage of that area getting a small dirt berm to not washout will be a problem. You could cover the small dirt berm with with medium size cobblestones, moss rock, etc. Alternatively, you could do some shallow planting beds that would do the same thing. From what I can see of your landscaping, a dry-stack stone planting bed wall would look nice. I can add some of pics of these this evening if you are more visual...

If you did planting beds that were 1-2' out on both sides of the fence, it would make it easier to raise the area under the gate. Materials and design are wide open. You could a stone/paver landing pad, ramp, or you could just bring soil to raise it up, taper out & let the grass grow.

 

HI there! Thanks for the input and ideas...definitely trying to keep it as inexpensive as possible, but if dirt work is the best permanent solution to the gap, than I would be open to leveling it out.
I'd love some pictures of ways I can make the front look better on both sides... I thought maybe tall, long planters, but since the ground is uneven, will it look disjointed and random?

 

I can't tell from your pics but the hinge may be adjustable. Loosen the right nut and tighten the left will close the gap. Do the opposite to widen the gap.

As already suggested, the fence should follow the slope. The gate should also have been racked to follow the slope. I recently had a fence installed and they made the gate to follow the angle. I'm not concerned with keeping pets in so the gap at the bottom isn't an issue. The angled gate can pose an issue when opening. In the photo, the left gate is angled down. When it opens it hits the slope behind it when the gate is just past 90 degrees open.

 

I can't tell from your pics but the hinge may be adjustable. Loosen the right nut and tighten the left will close the gap. Do the opposite to widen the gap.

View attachment 661926

As already suggested, the fence should follow the slope. The gate should also have been racked to follow the slope. I recently had a fence installed and they made the gate to follow the angle. I'm not concerned with keeping pets in so the gap at the bottom isn't an issue. The angled gate can pose an issue when opening. In the photo, the left gate is angled down. When it opens it hits the slope behind it when the gate is just past 90 degrees open.
View attachment 661927

Thank you for the advice....I really hope I haven't been sitting here the whole time and the hinge was adjustable!!
Thinking I need to remove that corner and lower so it would follow the slope...thanks, Dan! Appreciate all the good advice!

 

Couldn't you lower the two panels that make up the corner? Dig out a few inches on the one perpendicular to the gate enough that the gap is too small for the dogs. You could cover the dirt with some stone to keep rain from splashing mud onto the fence and also discourage canine digging. You could cut down that corner post (the PVC post should have a 4x4 inside) to make it match the lowered panels.

Just trying to think of an easy solution.

 

Thank y'all so much for all the feedback...this helps so much more than you know!! I'm attaching a few pics of the fence from inside the backyard and one that shows dirt we filled in as a temporary solution. It looks like holy hell, but at least it keeps the dogs in for now. Keep the advice coming, I need all the ideas and advice you have to offer - thank you!!

Added few views from inside the backyard that shows the slope of fencing ( wasn't stepped up, but think that it should have been, no?) around the perimeter of the yard. The fence ending is also a problem as it has a gap that we have to cover temporarily with a tight-fitting gate ( contractor didn't install the hinge to keep it closed and the fence caps fly off every time it rains with a little wind).

The rest of the fence posts don't have the same gap issue as that one corner, but when the wind kicks up, it's definitely swaying more than I expected with posts buried in concrete. Luckily in GA, we have more heat than wind problems!

I have heard that we should remove that entire corner and lower it to address the gap issue. Need input on what next though....bring in dirt company to level that corner by grading it? Will those two fix the gap and unattractive curbside view? Ugh...waited 20 years to save up and get a nice fence and a couple of dogs and now i have the dogs ( best decision EVER) but a fence that looks like its held together with bubblegum and a prayer!!

 

i would fill that in, you are getting there. and then make a raised flower bed with blocks on the street side.
file in under the gate also and just grade it out so it looks good.

 

not raised flower bed. something like this. or even just grass.

 

here you go, something like this. the brick wall would be your fence

 

That's pretty...i like that. Really good suggestion...thank you!!

 

Raising the grade (both inside and outside the fence) will probably produce the best look. Just my opinion, but I think having just the two sections on the corner drop down to the existing grade will look a bit strange, as would cocking the gate to follow grade. Any kind of planters will also spruce it up.

I hope the dogs won't dig under the fence to get out.

 

You have a really nice yard! I bet the dogs love it!

I'd go with the suggestion by @Fix'n it

 

I would do some fill inside and outside the corner, and install one of these, draining out to the other side of the fence:

 

Is this an optical illusion ? The left posts don't look plumb.

 

I think it is an illusion—the house to the left doesn't look plumb either, but its out-of-plumbness seems to closely match the left post.

 

this is why i asked Irene, a while ago, if the fence otherwise looked good = no reply.
digital pics can makes things look wonky, and they can make wonky things look good. just depends.

 

It looks like two workers started on each end, then got to the corner and found out they didn't match up in height. Why not take the corner sections out and redo that section of fence? I'll bet it's less work than adding stone retaining walls and will look much better. Fixing someone's mess up usually looks like a repair.

 

The alternative can be equally ugly and annoying, a stepped fence. Your options are A. a stepped fence B. Level your ground in those areas and plant seed