To preserve the sleepers further, we would recommend treating them with an exterior wood oil or decking oil, ideally twice a year in Spring and Autumn.
All of our softwood railway sleepers are already pressure treated, so you do not need to treat them with a wood preservative unless you sawn them into different lengths, leaving the ends open and needing protection to last their expected lifespan of 8 to 10 years.
Exterior wood oils are a great option as they retain the natural appearance of the sleeper, will help to seal in any wood preserver used on them, and offer a good level of protection against weathering and water damage. Wood oils are also easy to maintain by simply applying a fresh coat of oil as and when required.
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!
To add an antique look to new sleepers, apply a coat of wood dye then sand back the surface to add a weathered effect.
Let the sleepers dry completely after cleaning before applying any wood preservative. Choose a wood preservative that offers protection against rot and insect damage. Barrettine and Ronseal are good options. Apply the wood preservative using a brush or roller, ensuring all sides are covered for full protection.
An EU scientific committee concluded from a recent study that creosote, in which all railway sleepers are liberally lathered to stop them rotting, is more dangerous than previously thought.
Boric acid (borate) is one of the most effective fungicides for use in treating wood rot. It can be applied to wood during construction to prevent future rot, or as a treatment to stop an active decay fungus from growing.
Softwood Garden Sleepers
However, untreated softwoods are more prone to rot. To resist decay, pressure-treat softwood sleepers with preservatives, but even then, environmental factors may limit their lifespan to 5–10 years.
Waking up abruptly can cause higher blood pressure and heart rate. Besides increasing your blood pressure, an alarm can add to your stress levels by getting your adrenaline rushing. The solution to this health-harming problem is to instead try gradually waking up to natural light.
The Hatch Restore 2 is the overall best alarm clock for heavy sleepers based on my testing. Not only did it consistently wake me up, I really like the design and aesthetic — it isn't an eyesore on my nightstand! I appreciate the minimalist design and intuitive buttons on the top.
Using appropriate statistical methods, maximum levels of under 48 dB(A) are assessed as waking-up thresholds at ear level in sleeping persons, in contrast to maximum levels of 60 dB(A) calculated by Griefahn et al. in 1976.
Create a Vinegar Treatment
Chemically staining new wood gives it an older-looking color and patin. This method uses vinegar and steel wool. Prepare a mixture by putting steel wool in a jar, spray bottle or other sealable container. Pour white distilled vinegar to cover it and let sit for about 10 hours.
Natural oils such as linseed oil can be used as a protective treatment for sleepers. These oils penetrate deep into the wood, offering protection against moisture and decay. Natural oils are an eco-friendly alternative to chemical preservatives and can be applied easily with a brush or cloth.
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.
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.
Yes, you can lay railway sleepers directly on soil - but it's not always the best choice. For light garden features like paths or decorative borders, direct laying can work well if you prepare the ground properly. But for anything structural or permanent, you'll want proper foundations.
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.
Pine Sleepers can be used for ponds because they are moisture-resistant and not susceptible to decay or rotting. Provided the pond is appropriately tanked and sealed from within, treated timber sleepers create a visually appealing water feature that will blend in with the surrounding elements of the garden.