A novel solution is to nail two lengths of old ratchet strap to the top end of the sleeper and then trail this back to the earth behind, just keep them deep enough to be out of spade depth. 2 metre length should be adequate, the friction from weight of soil on the straps prevents the sleepers being displaced.
The best way to secure sleepers is with appropriate timber screw. The type of wood you choose to work with will dictate the type of fixing that needs to be used. Softwoods can be fixed with a choice of steel or zinc screws.
Constructing a retaining wall out of upright railway sleepers is pretty straightforward. Simply dig a trench, lower the railway sleepers in vertically side by side, and then backfill with a dry concrete mix, that you can ram down around the railway sleepers until the wall is rigid.
To install, you must simply bang the stake into the ground where the sleeper is to be installed, we recommend a rubber mallet for this, then just screw the bracket onto the two timber sleepers you wish to connect. This installation is both simple and incredibly secure. We recommend installing one at every 1m of wood.
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.
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.
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.
Drill and screws: Secure the sleepers together firmly. Steel beams or RSJs (if required): For additional support in higher walls. Porous pipes or drainage materials: Consider drainage behind the wall to reduce water pressure. Backfill material: Use excess soil or gravel behind the wall for stability.
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.
With sleepers on a narrow edge, simply screw the sleepers together at the 90 degree corners, allowing at least 50mm (or 2") of the screw to penetrate the adjoining sleeper. Two screws per corner is ideal.
Splits and cracks (known as wood checks in the industry) occur when wood shrinks as it dries. Wood shrinks roughly twice as much along with the growth rings (radially) as it does across the rings (tangentially). It is this uneven shrinkage that causes checks to develop.
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.
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.
To repair this the soil behind the wall must be dug out. This will allow you to push the sleeper back into its original position. The post will need to be replaced with something stronger. This would also be a good opportunity to assess if the sleeper is still in good condition or needs replacement.
Attach sleepers together
Use two 150mm timber screws at each corner to attach the sleepers together. 50mm of the length of the screw needs to drill into the adjoining sleeper to create a solid connection.
Gravel is a popular choice for sleeper foundations due to its natural drainage properties and affordability. It offers a cost-effective solution that doesn't compromise on functionality.
In Scotland, a sleeper wall is defined as a load-bearing element and therefore should be provided with a suitable foundation.
Retaining walls with vertical sleepers
Dig a trench to follow the path of your wall, one third the depth of the sleepers. Line the bottom of the trench with a layer of shingle, followed by a shallow layer of dry postmix concrete, then position your sleepers and backfill with dry postmix.
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.
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.
Circular saws are the middle ground between hand saws and chainsaws. They allow you to cut sleepers easily while giving you fine control over the angle and manner of the cut. This makes the circular saw the most popular tool for the job.
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.
If you want your garden sleepers to remain steady and secure you want to place them on a solid surface such as concrete, gravel or hardcore, but you can use sand as a base as well. Concrete involves more work, so a popular choice is to use compacted gravel or hardcore.