Building a retaining wall with timber sleepers is possible, but can vary depending on the area the retaining wall will be erected. Please note that the following steps are a general outline for this process, and may not be applicable for every instance of constructing a retaining wall.
Life Expectancy
Hardwood H4 Sleeper retaining walls can last 20 to 30 years.
In Sydney, and across Australia, concrete sleepers have emerged as a preferred choice for retaining walls, acclaimed for their exceptional durability, prolonged lifespan, and convenience of low maintenance.
Retaining walls and raised beds are just two ways that these unique timber pieces allow you to enhance your garden projects. But the question is – can you lay railway sleepers on soil? The answer is – Yes you can.
Softwood sleepers may last less than 5 years if they are not treated. Softwood sleepers come from pine and it is known that they are less resistant to decay. They need to be treated and maintained and then you can expect them to last for up to 20 years. Hardwood sleepers have been known to last up to 100 years.
The gravel acts as a drainage layer, allowing water to flow away from the sleepers and into the ground below. It acts as a natural conduit, guiding the water away from the vulnerable wooden sleepers. This prevents moisture build-up and helps to keep the sleepers dry and structurally sound.
Using sleepers vertically is a great solution when building a retaining wall on sloping ground, creating a curved wall, or even building a freestanding feature wall within a garden.
Gravity retaining walls
They are the simplest and earliest recorded type of retaining wall. Built of concrete, masonry, brick, blocks or mass cast-in-situ concrete, these hard-wearing structures rely on their large weight to resist toppling and sliding caused by the lateral earth pressure from the soil behind them.
The theory I work on is – half the height of the wall plus 100mm. For example if your wall is going to be 800mm high, the holes for your posts should be 500mm deep. Time now to concrete your posts into position. Sleeper retaining wall posts come in two varieties – steel galvanised H Beams or a vertical sleepers.
In Scotland, a sleeper wall is defined as a load-bearing element and therefore should be provided with a suitable foundation.
Soil saturation is the most common external factor that causes retaining wall failure, but there are many ways to prevent it.
Average Cost of Concrete Sleeper Retaining Walls
Starting at $480 to $680 per square metre, including standard design, basic excavation, and installation.
For DIYers, it's easiest to use concrete retaining wall blocks that interlock. Interlocking blocks fit together and add extra security to the wall. For retaining wall ideas, visit your local store for inspiration. When the soil behind a retaining wall gets wet, it exerts much more pressure and weight against the wall.
Poured concrete is the cheapest type of retaining wall, in terms of materials. Pressure-treated pine is next, and wood retaining walls are becoming more popular now. If you prefer stone, granite is generally the least expensive option.
In this case, you would need to excavate a base that is at least 2.5 feet deep to provide adequate stability for the wall. Understanding the importance of depth calculation is crucial when constructing a block retaining wall.
The maximum height of a sleeper retaining wall is 2.8 metres. And the higher the wall, the more engineering support is required. This could mean installing additional steel posts for your wall's reinforcement.
The Power of Timber Sleepers
Moreover, they stand out as the prime material for constructing retaining walls. With their straightforward installation process and robust durability, timber sleepers have become a top pick for a myriad of outdoor projects.
Providing Sufficient Drainage
Correct drainage is one of the essential elements to focus on when building a sleeper retaining wall, ensure that there is a sufficient gap behind the wall to install all necessary drainage before you commence wall construction.
Timber posts and stakes are a common way of fixing sleepers together vertically, such as when building a retaining wall. The stakes are driven into the ground and fixed (occasionally using concrete for a stable finish) before the sleepers are attached to the stakes using long screws.