Cut your sleepers to your required length, which could be random for a rustic look. Then mix up some lean mortar, such as 6:1, to be used as a concrete base and haunching. Place at least a 50mm bed of concrete in the bottom of the trench and start inserting the sleepers, haunching them up as you go.
How do you build garden edging with sleepers?
Can you lay railway sleepers on soil?
For one, you can simply place your sleepers directly onto soil, allowing the heavy sleepers time to bed in. However, it’s worth noting that this method could lead to water pooling around the sides of your sleepers, potentially causing the timber to rot more quickly.
How long do railway sleepers last in the garden?
How long do railway sleepers last? Railway sleepers will last for years, with our softwood treated sleepers typically lasting around 8 to 10 years due to the pressurised treatment, and UC4 treatments extending this to 15 years.
How do I make garden borders with railway sleepers? – Related Questions
Do railway sleepers attract termites?
Avoid using railway sleepers in the garden
While we agree railway sleepers look great, they are attractive to termites just like some mulch is highly attractive to termites. Railway sleepers and mulch is the ultimate playground for a termite colony to live and thrive in.
How do I stop my railway sleeper from rotting?
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. This will help to repel water and prevent water ingress, the main cause of wood rot.
What do you put between sleepers and soil?
You can either opt for concrete, sand or gravel foundations or lay the sleepers on the soil with no official foundation. For the latter option, make sure you put down a waterproof sheet under the sleepers to avoid them soaking up moisture from the soil.
What do you put behind railway sleepers?
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.
Will sleepers rot in the ground?
Like all wood, sleepers will eventually rot and fade when exposed to the weather. To prevent them falling to bits before their time, you need to use a good wood preserver.
How long do wooden sleepers last in a garden?
New Softwood Treated Railway Sleepers are treated with either a green or brown pressure treatment (Tanalith green or Tanatone brown), both have similar properties and will on average last 15 – 20 years. The treatment colour will however weather to grey within 12 – 18 months.
Are railway sleepers safe for vegetable gardens?
Green treated or “tanalised” railway sleepers are coated in environmentally friendly, non-Creosote based preservatives, such as ACQ or Tanalith E, which are safe to use and suitable for all garden landscaping projects, making them a wise choice for your garden.
Can railway sleepers be used in a vegetable garden?
Are railway sleepers safe to use for a vegetable garden? Railway sleepers are a great way to create a vege garden and add a lot of character. Don’t worry about the creosote – it won’t seep out. Another handy tip is to line the vegetable garden with weednet – this is often done at garden centres with great results.
Do garden sleepers rot?
Like all wood, sleepers will eventually rot and fade when exposed to the weather. To prevent them falling to bits before their time, you need to use a good wood preserver.
What are the disadvantages of wooden sleeper?
Disadvantages of Wooden Sleepers
- They are easily liable to attack by vermin and weather.
- They are susceptible to fire.
- It is difficult to maintain gauge in case of wooden sleepers.
- Scrap value is negligible.
- Their useful life is short about 12 to 15 years.
How do you keep garden sleepers in place?
Overlap the sleepers at the ends and then join them using a steel rod pin or landscaping screw. The alternative is to use metal corner plates and braces. These are quicker, easier, and form a strong bond that’ll hold your structure in position without the need to overlap the ends.
What type of garden sleeper is best?
Hardwood sleepers are much more resistant to softwood sleepers, this is because oak is generally high resistant to any decay and without being treated it can last you up to 30 – 40 years.
Which railway sleepers last longest?
As a rule, hardwood oak sleepers tend to last the longest naturally with an expected lifespan of around 100 years.