If sleepers are going on top of another layer, overlap joints and use screws to secure them together firmly. After fixing, inspect all screws to ensure they're tight and flush with the surface of the wood.
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.
There are a number of ways that you can connect your garden sleepers together to create a solid and stable structure. One of the most popular options is to use steel rod pins or long landscaping screws. Alternatively, you can use metal plates and corner braces to build a strong, square finish for your garden sleepers.
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.
Sleeper Screws – 6.5mm x 250mm L (Pack of 50)
They are corrosive resistant, self-driving and each pack comes with a free drill driver bit – all you need is a drill.
Secure with spikes: Drive long metal spikes through pre-drilled holes in each sleeper down into the ground below. Use screws for additional strength: Connect adjacent sleepers by drilling screws into their sides at an angle, creating a firm bond between them.
We recommend using dowel alongside timber screws for fixings to ensure the sleepers are really secure.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Spacing is not kept uniform throughout the rail length. It is closer to the joints because of the weakness of the joints and the impact of moving loads on them. Maximum center-to-center sleeper spacing should be 600 mm. The clear distance between two sleepers should not be more than 450 mm.
Railway Sleeper Retaining Walls, Terraces & Steps
With these kinds of projects, you're definitely going to be needing to use concrete, because once they're in place they're going to be taking a great deal more strain and undergoing much heavier usage than the planters and edging.
Landscaping Screw
With a hexagonal head they can be put in place using a power drill. These will screw through one sleeper and into the next, holding them together. You do not have to worry about them coming loose as they require an extremely high force before they pull out as they make a strong joint.
Although raised beds are usually constructed on free-draining soil, we recommend lining the bottom of your bed with a generous drainage layer of hardcore, stones or coarse gravel.
In this case, you may need vertical retaining posts (or even railway sleepers), along the length of the wall, to support the wall from leaning forward. In this case, simply concrete the vertical posts into the ground, and fasten the stacked railway sleepers to the posts with Timberlok sleeper screws.
If you plan on placing your railway sleeper onto a solid surface such as a patio or concrete, they can be put directly on top, but if you're going to place them on soil, they need to be slightly sunken into the ground.
Timberlok screws are an alternative to traditional coach screws and can be used in a number of timber to timber applications. One of the most popular uses for Timberlok screws is fixing timber sleepers together.
Haunch at the back end of the sleeper and if possible, the front end too. This will help fix sleepers to the ground so they remain stable. If using sleepers for a low border or planter it may well be enough to fix a wooden post or spike behind the sleepers and fix this into the ground.
Some people fasten railway sleepers together with bolts or Timberlok Screws. Others use steel angle brackets or steel flat connector plates. Some people use wooden stakes to support their railway sleeper creations, whereas others slot their railway sleepers into steel 'I' or 'H' beams.
But as a general rule if you are only going to have one or two sleepers in height there isn't much preparation needed. You can place sleepers straight on the ground if you wish, but you will need to clear any vegetation or grass and make sure that the ground is levelled out before laying them.
If you use gravel for a more practical purpose, such as a footpath or driveway then it is advised that you dig down roughly a minimum of 15cm and place a sub-base of 100mm before laying around 50mm of gravel on top. This prevents the gravel from moving and sinking under various weights and movements.
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.