Railway sleepers (or railroad ties) typically have a depth (thickness) ranging from 100mm to 150mm (4 to 6 inches). Standard landscaping sleepers are usually 100mm (4 inches) deep, while heavy-duty or reclaimed sleepers generally measure 125mm to 150mm (5 to 6 inches) deep.
While you can lay sleepers directly on soil, it is highly not recommended. Soil retains moisture, which will cause the timber to rot, warp, and degrade much faster. Furthermore, soil shifts over time, causing your sleepers to sink or become uneven.
Disadvantages of Wood sleeper
How big is a railway sleeper? The most popular railway sleepers measure 1.2m x 200mm x 100mm and 2.4m x 200mm x 100mm. Within our range of railway sleepers, we also supply lengths up to 3m, and widths/depths from 75mm x 150mm up to 240mm x 120mm to suit a variety of landscaping applications.
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 WoodBlocX modular timber system is a great option for any garden project, and can be used to build raised beds, planters, benches & seats, raised ponds and garden retaining walls and edging. They are cheaper, easier to build with and more flexible than railway sleepers.
Concrete sleepers have many advantages like longer lifespan, high stability, small maintenance, low damage rate and low scrap rate. They are widely used in high speed railway and the stability is much higher than wood sleepers. Many countries chose concrete sleepers to build high speed passenger line.
Disadvantages:- 1
- The weight of concrete sleeper is as high as 2.5 to 3 times of wooden sleeper. 2- These sleepers require pads and plugs for spikes. 3- They damage the bottom edge during the packing.
Concept: IRS - T 40 Special Grade Cement: IRS-T40 special grade cement is special cement that was originally produced for making concrete sleepers for railway lines. It is manufactured according to specifications laid down by the Indian ministry of Railways under IRS-T40 – 1985.
Railway sleepers can be laid on soil, but it's important to prepare the ground properly before installation. First, remove any debris and level the soil to create a flat surface. You're best removing any grass or weeds then adding a base layer of gravel or sand to help with drainage.
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Seal Your Sleepers for Extra Protection
A quality sealer will create a protective barrier that helps prevent water absorption, which can lead to cracks or discolouration over time. It's recommended to reseal your concrete sleepers every two to three years to keep them in the best possible condition.
Reduce Soil Contact: Where sleepers must be placed in or near soil, line them with heavy-duty plastic sheeting. This moisture barrier helps keep damp earth away from the timber.
You might want to put a layer of concrete, sand or aggregate in first, but this isn't always strictly necessary. Continue around in the same way until you've got the bottom layer in place. At this point, it's worth using a spirit level to make sure all your railway sleepers are lying flat.
How to Prevent Garden Sleepers from Rotting
Laying sleepers directly on the ground gives way to rising moisture. This can cause further damage if water can't drain from under the wood, causing sleepers to warp or rot. Adding a layer of gravel or sand before placing wooden sleepers on top will help with drainage.
The German method of raised beds, known as Hügelkultur (literally "mound culture" or "hill culture"), is a permaculture technique. It involves building garden beds by layering decaying wood at the base and covering it with organic materials and soil, creating a self-watering and self-fertilizing mound that lasts for years.
The cheapest retaining wall options are pressure-treated wood (or timber sleepers) and standard concrete blocks. For small walls under 4 feet, treated wood or interlocking concrete blocks are the most affordable and DIY-friendly choices.
Old railway sleepers may add a pleasing rustic appeal to your garden but are an obvious food source for termites. Instead of tearing them out, consider placing termite monitors near the sleepers to attract any existing termites.
Sleepers can be laid directly onto firm ground, however it's recommended that at the very least a bed of sand or aggregate is used to assist drainage and provide a firm footing. Purists will always insist on a concrete bed, however if the wall is additionally supported by posts then this is not always necessary.
Historically, Jarrah and Oak woods have been used. In untreated form, Greenheart, Mora, Karri, and Azobe woods are also commonplace, and they can last for up to a hundred years. Density and elasticity are among the strongest points of wooden railway sleepers.
Support Spikes: Great for securing one or more layers of sleepers in place. They prevent movement in raised beds, pathway edges, and retaining walls. Support Plates: Used alongside support spikes to connect sleepers securely.
Overview. Everbuild's Black Jack 908 is a ready-to-use and effective way to damp-proof not only walls, but also external timbers that are in contact with soil and moisture, forming an impervious water and water vapour barrier.