Wednesday, December 18, 2013

The Railway Sleeper Projects



We all know by now that railway sleepers are more than just a support for railroad tracks. Today, these special beams are also utilised to make beautiful furniture and as a material for both landscaping and garden enhancement.  From these ideas, we have compiled a list of creative things and great projects that you can do with new railway sleepers.

If you have railway sleepers and you are clueless on what to do or how you could use them, then here are some amazing ideas for you to consider.

RAILWAY SLEEPERS AS STEPS – find a much better way to make your steps look more interesting with the use of these wide beams. With railway sleepers, you will definitely add a touch of rustic feel to your stairs, making it ideal for your garden area or the outside of your home.

RAILWAY SLEEPERS AS RETAINING WALLS – why not have a more inspiring and wonderful retaining walls by using railway sleepers instead of ordinary wood? Its colour and texture will surely create a cosier overall effect to the area where you plan to build the retaining walls.

RAILWAY SLEEPERS AS SHELVES – with railway sleepers, you can create very extraordinary shelf designs. With a little imagination and assistance from an expert, you can be sure to achieve the rustic shelf effect that you are striving for.

WATER FEATURES WITH RAILWAY SLEEPERS – did you know that you can also use railway sleepers to make any water feature look fascinating than it really is? Instead of using the usual materials like marble, or a common type of wood, the use of railway sleepers greatly add dimension to your man-made pond or water feature.

RAILWAY SLEEPERS AS FURNITURE – among the most popular furniture a railway sleeper can be turned into is a chair or a bench. This extraordinary beam is very effective to as a material for creating beautiful chairs or benches that are ideal to be placed in the garden or anywhere outdoors. Aside from chairs, railway sleepers are also sometimes used to build tables of various sizes.

RAILWAY SLEEPERS AS A FORM OF ART OR DECOR – art is almost limitless. Railway sleepers as a form of art are not an exception. These beams could be used to create very artistic pieces that can be displayed at home.



Railway sleepers are versatile and they are also not very difficult to use. There are just so many things that you could do with these beams that it is impossible to list everything all at once. Let your creative juices flow and you will surely come up with a great project to use railway sleepers.

Railway Sleepers for Kerbing

In our previous blog posts, we have discussed the use of railway sleepers for gardening and interior designing. For our blog today, we will discuss why a railway sleeper is great for making kerbs.

WHAT IS A KERB?

A kerb is an edging to a street or a path. It can be made from a line of stone or concrete which forms an edge between a pavement and a roadway. Kerbs have a number of functions to both pedestrians and vehicles:


  • Serves as a barrier between road traffic and pedestrians.
  • Serves as a channel where water can be drained.
  • Serves as a safety measure by separating the line between footway and carriageway.
  • Serves as the strength of the road pavements and avoids displacement of vehicles that can be caused by traffic loads.

Kerbs are made to be of practical use to the roads but they can be used in gardening as well. Garden kerbs will create a distinctive style to your garden most especially if your yard is spacious.

WHY IS RAILWAY SLEEPER GOOD FOR GARDEN KERBING?

Railway sleepers are good for garden kerbing for a number of reasons:


  1. They are perfect for all types of garden kerbing. Railway sleepers have an aesthetic look that will surely complement any garden design. Furthermore, railway sleepers do not need necessary treatments after heavy rains. You can even have the choice of how you would like your railway sleeper to blend with your garden.
  2. They are durable. Railway sleepers are probably one of the most versatile materials that one can use for gardening, kitchen design and other do-it-yourself projects. They are extremely durable because they can last for years.
  3. They are wide enough to be stepped on. Because of the thickness of most railway sleepers, the material is probably one of the best materials to use as a kerbing. Anyone who will step on a railway kerbing is sure to be safe. Furthermore, the sleeper is thick enough to prevent gravel or woodchips from escaping.
  4. They are cost-effective. If you are dealing with the problem of finding the most economical resource for landscaping, then it’s best for you to look for cheap railway sleepers because they are cost-effective. Railway sleepers will surely serve as the best alternative to bricks or masonry. Furthermore, no other material can make your garden look complete other than railway sleepers since it is made from wood.


Railway sleepers are good for making footpaths. But to make better use for your money, you can opt for reclaimed railway sleepers instead of the new ones. The versatility of reclaimed railway sleepers is the same as the newly harvested ones for the can still be used in many ways -- whether structural or decorative. To know where you can get the best deal for reclaimed railway sleepers, reach us by visiting our website.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Railway Sleepers as Furniture

A room that has great furnishings is surely appearing to be pleasing and welcoming. However, there are no easy rules on how to pick the right furniture for we are all different in picking our own things. Although it is almost impossible to see if a furniture is universally good, there are certain characteristics that one can look out for when searching for good furniture:

  1. Usability – The reason why we bought furniture is to use it. Practically, buying furniture that is too detailed and complex can possibly make it unusable. Furthermore, safety should be considered in buying furniture. Let’s say that you have a couple of kids roaming around your house and it’s a hard task to monitor their activities because they are everywhere; one way of attaining peace of mind is putting child-friendly and safe furniture inside your house.
  2. Design – Aside from being usable, a furniture must also fit to the user’s needs. Whether a furniture is placed indoor or outdoor, the structural design of a furniture must complement well with the daily activities of the person who will use it. You must also consider the type of the material used. Additionally but not compulsory, how it is made can also be a consideration. Another point is that a furniture must be classic and simple. However, classicality can be too vague and may be classified as just simple. Although it is not easy to define simplicity correctly, you can recognize it once it’s there.
  3. Durability – A good furniture doesn’t need too many repairs over time. In fact, a good furniture must be durable and can stand through changes through ages. Picking for a durable furniture will help you save money since it can be used throughout the years without needing it to be repaired or replaced.


The emerging trend on furniture now makes use of railway sleepers as furnitures. Traditionally, railway sleepers are used for supporting rails in railroad tracks. As time goes by, furniture makers have seen possibilities on making furnitures using railway sleepers. Why? Because the use of railway sleepers is practical. New railway sleepers high quality yet surprisingly cheap building material.

However, railway sleepers are hard to find, thus, making them more valuable and sought after. Howbeit, people still search for it because it can be a furniture that will last forever. Additionally, railway sleepers are unique – you can hardly find two railway sleepers that are totally alike. Another great surprise is that railway sleepers have a variety of colours which can only be seen once the wood is cut. The colours can be yellow, reds and black.

Good railway sleepers have the potential to be used for many great uses besides being a garden accent and furniture. Because railway sleepers are hardwearing, solid and will surely complement both indoors and outdoors, it is no wonder why people still continue innovating new uses for this material.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Railway Sleepers for Gardening

Our homes speak of what kind of persons we are. Typically, we arrange our houses the way we want others to see us. A great part of the home that can be fully designed is the garden. Gardens can either be indoors or outdoors. Furthermore, a study says that since children nowadays are used to the modern lifestyle, they tend to be more alone. With that being said, letting them do a number of activities in the garden may help them get the exposure that they need.

However, setting up a good garden may take some time and can be financially troubling. But worry not because using an oak railway sleeper can solve your garden designing problems. Let’s see why:

  1. They are cost worthy. Oak railway sleepers are low-cost. Aside from that, railway sleepers last for generations, making your money worth its value. You may also opt to buy recycled railway sleepers that have the same quality as the new ones.
  2. They are versatile. Railway sleepers can be used as paving or steps in your gardens. They can also contain artificial grass and fake grasses. They may also be transformed into walls, beds, planters, garden furniture and feature benches. Actually, oak railway sleepers can be transformed into anything. You just have to use your imagination.
  3. They are aesthetic. Oak railway sleepers give a touch of realness to your garden. Its natural colour adds up to the beauty of the plants and flowers that you have in your piece of heaven. Naturally, an oak will have a transition in its colour. It will turn into silver and grey as it gets older due to the effects of the weather. But there is nothing to worry about because the lifespan of the oaks depends on the way you preserve and use it.


Railway sleepers are used all over the world as a base for railway tracks. Before, railway sleepers are used for transporting cotton and coal. At present, people become even more imaginative on how they can utilise things – and the result is that railway sleepers are now used as an art in gardening.

Railway sleepers are probably the most low-cost and eye-catching hard landscaping material. They can either be treated on untreated based on your preference. However, if the timber will be in constant contact with moist ground, then its lifespan will definitely be reduced. But still, there are railway sleepers that are durable and of high-quality.

Railway Sleeper, a trading division of UK Timber Ltd, offers a wide range of railway sleepers to choose from. The products are all affordable but assured to have good quality. Railway Sleepers doesn’t only have oak railway sleepers, we also have new softwood railway sleepers, reclaimed recycled railway sleepers, new oak railway sleepers, contemporary landscaping and garden railway sleepers, reclaimed crossing timbers, raised beds, custom cut products, decking, fencing materials, oak beams, timber cladding, sawn oak boards and landscaping supplies. All of our products are guaranteed of good quality. We also promise to try to beat any like for like quote. You may visit this page for more details!