Railroad ties have been used the past few decades as a cheap solution for retaining walls in residential homes and commercial properties. What homeowners don't realize, is that these cross ties are not only harmful to the environment, but they pose a huge health threat!
Railroad ties are strongly out of favor as a retaining wall material (although not strictly forbidden as they appear to be in certain areas). They simply have a high rate of failure due to rotting and because they are not as sturdy long-term as some other solutions.
Since wood will naturally decompose over time, railroad tie retaining walls are not as long-lasting as other types of retaining walls. In many cases, railroad tie walls will last just one to two decades. Railroad tie walls can also be prone to structural failures if you build them too tall.
Most wooden railroad ties are soaked in a chemical called ``Creosote,'' which helps lengthen the lifespan of the tie and 'weatherproofs' the tie to some degree. Creosote is considered a human carcinogen, making ties illegal for residential landscaping, even.
Railroad ties (and telephone poles) are no longer allowed by law to be used in landscaping. Railroad ties contain creosote and pentachlorophenol. Creosote is a black mixture of coal tar chemicals that can be taken up by plants. Pentachlorophenol is a wood preservative used until 1987.
If the railroad ties are old, creosote may ooze out, leeching the soil and killing plants, insects and small animals. Creosote also pollutes the local watershed and can be dangerous to health with prolonged or frequent contact. Wood oozing creosote should be disposed of immediately as municipal solid waste.
Landscape timbers are a flexible and environmentally friendly alternative to rail road ties. They come in all different sizes and can be cut to your exact specifications. They are a natural product making them easy to work with and giving you the opportunity to make unique cuts for added effect.
Railroad ties are often treated with creosote, a toxic substance that can cause health problems if inhaled or ingested. Creosote is a known carcinogen and has been linked to skin irritation, respiratory problems, and even cancer.
Traditional wooden railroad ties are typically made from treated hardwoods like oak or treated softwoods like pine. The weight of an 8-foot wooden railroad tie can be roughly estimated to be in the range of 150 to 200 pounds (68 to 91 kilograms).
Concrete blocks are a low-cost option for constructing a retaining wall. They are strong, long-lasting, and come in various sizes and forms to meet your design tastes.
Use gravel backfill against the ties to help moisture drain away from them.
While many types of solid and durable retaining walls exist, concrete and stone are easily the best options. These materials are long-lasting, rigid, durable, extremely strong, and can easily support your site.
creosote presence would be obvious. They look pretty clean and pretty old . Creosote is tar like goo that you should be able to identify pretty easily .
You cannot just push it back. You'll need to remove the earth behind it, reset the wall, add stabilizers to the wall and soil if necessary, possibly add or repair drainage behind the wall, and then backfill.…
Railroad ties have been used the past few decades as a cheap solution for retaining walls in residential homes and commercial properties.
There are some uses where creosote railroad ties are not recommended because it could be dangerous. For instance, because creosote may leach into the soil, creosote railroad ties are not recommended for raised vegetable garden beds or near children's play areas.
However, even railroad ties, telephone poles, and pressure-treated wood can be subject to termite attacks over time.
A: The reason the EPA has made illegal the use of treated railroad ties in vegetable gardens is the fact that they are treated with coal tar creosote, a pesticide registered both with the EPA and the state of Oregon.
Because the treatment in railroad ties migrates out of the wood, pressure-treated lumber is a much safer option. There's no worry about chemicals leaching out of the lumber. Especially if you're building a raised garden bed, pressure-treated lumber is a much better option.
Pressure-treated timbers are typically what you use for a timber retaining wall. The fun fact about pressure treated wood is that it is warrantied – but putting it in continuous contact with the ground voids the warranty. Even so, you can reasonably expect to get anywhere from 10-20 years out of a timber wall.
The wood is preserved by soaking it in creosote, which is composed of over 300 chemicals, many of them toxic and persistent in soil. Exposure to creosote has been shown to cause cancer. Even topical contact with creosote can be dangerous.
Environments that are too wet or too dry will drastically reduce the lifespan of a tie. But, in general, you can figure 10–15 years of life on a very busy line and 20–25 years of life on your average line.