Providing Sufficient Drainage This is by far the most important part of any successful sleeper installation. If water is allowed to sit against timber it will start to rot after a matter of a few years, even with pressure treated softwood or oak sleeper that have been treated before installation.
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.
When placed in the ground, sleepers are in constant contact with soil, which holds moisture. Without proper protection, this dampness can lead to the wood rotting, especially in areas with heavy rainfall. The UK's unpredictable weather doesn't help either!
The best thing you can do with sleepers is surround them with gravel, dont let them touch soil. Lay them on pea gravel and then back fill behind with gravel. Wood rots when water and air combine so if they can dry out after rain as fast as possible then theyll last alot longer. Obviously a wood preserver too.
If you're placing your sleepers straight onto the earth, we recommend installing a waterproof layer first to prevent water from soaking up through the wood. Water damage could cause the sleepers to warp over time. You can also pin your sleepers into position using a wooden post or stake.
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.
Although you may want to place your garden sleepers straight onto the soil and give them the time to bed into the ground, we recommend putting in a layer of partially dried concrete, sand or aggregate in first to avoid water pooling around the edges of the sleepers.
Softwood that is left untreated will still last around two to five years, which is why all of our softwood sleepers have been treated for longevity. We also supply hardwood sleepers, with oak sleepers ranging from 15 to 20 years and European oak sleepers lasting for 20 years.
Dangers of Creosote Treated Sleepers
This treatment, once common for preserving railway sleepers, contains chemicals that can harm humans and animals. People exposed to creosote risk skin irritation or more severe conditions like cancer if they're in contact with the wood frequently.
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.
As a rule, hardwood oak sleepers tend to last the longest naturally with an expected lifespan of around 100 years. An untreated softwood will last for between three and five years if it sits on the ground, whilst treated softwoods can last between 20 and 30 years if they are maintained correctly.
Sleeper Tape® is a quick and efficient way to protect and guard your timber sleepers from moisture rot, oxygen decay and fungi deterioration. WHAT Is Sleeper Tape® ? Sleeper Tape® is a self-sealing tape which gives a completely waterproof and weatherproof seal.
Considering the type of soil
If you have well-draining soil, a layer of gravel or crushed stone can be an excellent option. Garden design with sleepers and gravel offers various benefits. Gravel allows for proper drainage, preventing water from pooling and potentially causing damage to the sleeper structure.
Fill around the sleeper with soil or sand to secure it in place before moving onto laying the next one. To fix railway sleepers to the ground, use spikes or screws designed for outdoor use to ensure they remain stable over time.
Dig out area of bed to depth of 50-75mm. Start laying out the bottom course of sleepers, fixing them to the ground with metal rods.
Firstly, a lot of people assume termites don't eat hardwoods, but they absolutely do. Railway sleepers are no exception.
"Asbestos pre-1985 train brakes were made of asbestos and there is a potential that fibres from those break linings could get trapped in cracks in the surface of sleepers." Alan McGreevy says the public should avoid buying, and burning, old railway sleepers which, he says, are reasonably easy to identify.
Steel sleepers are durable and resilient. They have a span of 35 years. Less damage sustained in these sleepers during handling and transportation. They are resistant to attack of vermin and fire.
Life Expectancy
Hardwood H4 Sleeper retaining walls can last 20 to 30 years.
Treatment - the green tint is a result of deep-pressure treatment that enhances the wood's resistance to rot, fungi, and insect infestation. This treatment typically penetrates the wood more thoroughly than the surface-level treatments used for brown sleepers.
If properly treated and installed, pine fence posts can last for 20–35 years; untreated pine posts might only last 3–7 years. chemical in the posts. When large numbers of fence posts need to be installed it is probably most practical to pound them into the ground with a hydraulic post driver, small end first.
If you're placing your sleepers onto a hard surface, such as concrete or patio, they can just go straight on top, but if they're going onto the lawn or soil, you'll need to dig a shallow trench for the first sleeper to sit in.
Clear Wood Oil or Decking Oil: These products are ideal for those who want their sleepers to age naturally to a grey or silver colour while still being protected from the elements. A clear oil will nourish the wood, making it supple and water-resistant, which helps protect it from water and frost damage.
If you're using your sleepers for edging a lawn, make sure that the sleeper will be at the correct height once it's in position. A good way of stabilising a structure is to set your sleeper into concrete. However, you'll need to make the trench a little deeper to compensate for the space taken up by the concrete mix.