Why Railway Sleepers are BEST for building Retaining Walls

The versatility of railway sleepers will ensure that they will remain the most practical substitute for brickwork.  

Nowadays, more people are turning to railway sleepers to build retaining walls. As a cheaper alternative, they can add instant rustic appeal.

 

What is a Retaining Wall?

A retaining wall is a structure assembled to prevent soil from landslides or erosion. These structures are used to keep the soil in place on slopes or in areas with different elevations. This method is commonly applied to landscaping, where shaping the soil is necessary.

 

What Kind of Railway Sleepers to Use

Railway sleepers can be classified into two categories: new railway sleepers and reclaimed railway sleepers. Both variants are suitable for building retaining walls but each has their own different advantages.

           New Railway Sleepers

New railway sleepers aresold in both softwood and hardwood. They are also available in various cuts and sizes, which also come in custom cut proportions to suit your exact preferences. Low in weight, new sleepers make perfect retaining walls and are easier to install.

Reclaimed Railway Sleepers

Reclaimed railway sleepers are also available in various cuts and sizes but they are mostly supplied in hardwood options. These heavier timber cuts are treated with creosote or other chemicals in order to prolong their lifespan and to achieve extra resilience.

Tip: Both types are suitable retaining wall materials as they both display a great rustic charm. If the retaining wall is intended for an area that sees frequent human contact, it is recommended that you use new railway sleepers. The creosote chemical applied to reclaimed railway sleepers can be harmful to humans, especially with regular contact.

 

Benefits of Using Railway Sleepers vs. Bricks

Traditionally, bricks are used to build retaining walls due to their ability to hold the weight and pressure of soil, water and other elements. Railway sleepers are fast becoming the new trend because of the versatility that they bring to different applications.

Moreover, railway sleepers are better than bricks because:

Practical Choice

Railway sleepers are undeniably cheaper than bricks. They possess natural rustic appeal adding personality and charm to your flower beds.

Save Time and Effort

Bricklaying is a time consuming task that requires a great deal of effort. Railway sleepers can be installed horizontally or vertically on dugout areas, requiring only a little cement for support.

Why waste time, money and effort on bricks when you can add instant appeal to your garden using railway sleepers? Inject some personality into your garden!

3 Main Components of a Railway Track

Railway News:
In November 5, 1993, 23 years ago, the Railways Bill finally received Royal Assent and has become a law.

A railway track is structure that has 3 main components such as railway sleepers, railway fishplates and railway spikes. Apart from providing a dependable surface for the train wheels, here are the main functions of these components.

Railway Sleepers

New railway sleepers are the most important railway component. They are also called railroad ties or crossties. The main function of railway sleepers is to keep the correct distance of gauge. The sleepers are laid between two rail tracks.

Railway Fishplates

Also called as a rail joint bar or splice bar. A railway fishplate is a metal bar bolted to the ends of two rail tracks to keep them parallel to each other. It is an important connection between two rails. A railway fishplate consists of three parts: the fish bolt, flat washer and spring washer.

Railway Spikes

A railway spike commonly has an offset head. This component is used to secure rails and base plates to the railway sleeper on the track. While the main function of railway sleepers is to keep the correct distance of gauge; railway spikes keep the correct position of the gauge.

To make up the whole railway track, there are other minor components needed. All these are important and significant to have a normal operation in railway transportation.

How to Build Railway Sleeper Steps

Are you planning to add more detail or accent to your garden? Build wooden garden steps using new railway sleepers.

What materials do you need?

•   Wooden sleeper
•   Stakes or mason’s line
•   Drill
•  Handsaw or chainsaw
•  Tape measure
•   Wheel barrow

The steps involved in making wooden garden steps

1.       Prepare all the materials listed above.

2.       Measure the entire area where you intend to place the garden steps. Cut the railway sleepers based on your measurements. You can use a handsaw but a chainsaw is much better, especially if you are using thick wood.

3.       Place a stake or a mason’s line into the ground, then level it using a straightedge to determine the height of the bottom and top step. Don’t forget to add markings.

4.       Using your tape measure, calculate the distance between your two markings. Determine the gap between the bottom and top step. This can help you to determine the number of railway sleepers that you need to use for the wooden steps.

5.       Dig two trenches at the bottom for installing sleepers flush with grade. This will serve as your bottom step. Make sure that the trenches are side to side and are measured based on your set width.

6.       Before placing any sleeper on the ground, add wood preservative to the ends to avoid early decay and deterioration. Drill holes at both ends of the sleeper, with 9/16 inch diameter.

7.       Set the railway sleepers in trenches. Make sure that they are perfectly aligned with the surrounding grade.

8.       Place two 6x6 railway sleepers on top of the wood base. This will serve as your first step. Fasten the wood using a 10-inch landscaping screw.

9.       Settle two more railway sleepers on top of the first step to support the second step. Repeat this until you reach the highest step. Always make sure you fasten the timber properly to prevent it from moving after installation.

10.   Backfill around the sleepers using pea gravel or any filler you prefer to use. This will give the perfect finish to your garden step.

What are the advantages of using railway sleepers for your garden steps?

•  Wood is less expensive compared to other materials like bricks, stones, etc.
•  It is easy to install and requires basic carpentry skills.
•  Wood has different natural designs that will add distinction to your garden.
•  Wood mixes well with other materials.

Visit the Railway Sleeper website or call 01536-267-107 to learn more. Phone lines are open from Monday to Saturday.

Image source: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/17/4d/1c/174d1c4b9d61e46c687459a99ceb1c7f.jpg

Different Causes of Wood Decay

Why Choose Wooden Sleepers Over Concrete?

Choosing the right type of sleeper will help you save on money and hassle. Here are the advantages of using wooden sleepers over concrete.

ü  Cost cutting

The price of raw wooden sleepers and the maintenance costs are a lot cheaper compared to concrete. Hence, you can save a lot of money if you choose the former.

ü  Transportation

Concrete is about three times the weight of wooden railway sleepers. This proves that transferring wooden railway sleepers from one place to another is easier compared to concrete. While in transit, railway sleepers are likely to bear hits and knocks. Wood is good at withstanding surface damage.

ü  Ease of installation

Since wood is lighter in weight compared to concrete, wood is easier to handle and install. Sleepers require less installation time and also required less supervision for maintenance.

ü  Availability

Wooden railway sleepers are easier to produce and have a higher supply rate compared to concrete. Readily available from Railway Sleeper UK, please visit our website for the complete list of our products.

ü  Low sensibility to shock

Concrete sleepers have been proven to be sensitive to shock. They need to be replaced immediately they suffer any damage, leading to further costs. As for wood, this tends to absorb the blow and remains intact. Wood doesn’t break easily.

Are you looking for cheap railway sleepers? Please contact Railway Sleeper on +44 (0) 1536 267107 with all your enquiries. You can also email your questions to sales@railwaysleeper.co.uk.

Most Commonly Used Timber for Railway Sleepers

The Benefits of Using Wooden Sleepers

For customers, it’s always a question of what the advantages are before using a certain material or a product for a project. It is a valid concern that should be answered before beginning any project so that time, effort and money would not be wasted. Every material has their own set of pros and cons but why look at the negative side, right? Here are some advantages that only wooden sleepers can offer.

BEAUTY

The appearance of using wooden railway sleepers is something that no other material can provide. They give an exquisite touch to the project that it is used for. Wooden sleepers, whether it is used for walls, floors or as furniture, gives a natural look to the room. The colour of the wood both untreated and treated adds to its sophisticated appearance. Aside from its natural look, it provides a simple and beautiful luster every time it is touched by light. It also has this unique pattern that differs from one another. Aside from its beautiful appearance, wooden sleepers also have different textures from “coarse” to “fine”. This texture, though only sensory, adds beauty to the product especially if it is used for furniture.

USABILITY

New or reclaimed, wooden sleepers can be used for other projects after being used. There are those who use reclaimed railway sleepers for a new project and still finds it useful for another. The beauty of using wood is that it is still usable after a long period of time. An old wooden fence that is to be replaced does not have to be thrown away because it can be used for other crafts. Unlike other materials, wood is easier to work with.

AFFORDABILITY

One of the main reasons why wooden sleepers are still used today is its affordability. With all its advantages, one would think that it is costly but fortunately, it isn’t. Wooden sleepers are cheaper compared to others so one can simply change and buy new sleepers while recycling or selling the old ones. New woods are already given an affordable price in the market but if one is looking for a cheaper product then see the availability of reclaimed woods.

ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY

It’s quite obvious that using wooden sleepers in projects is an environment-friendly act. Though it is given treatment, wooden materials still maintain its natural state. Regardless of what project it is used for, wooden sleepers do not pose any hazards both on the environment and the people around it.

There are a lot more advantages of using wooden sleepers, those listed above are the advantages that really need to be considered. With wooden sleepers, quality and affordability comes together without sacrificing one another. No need to worry about the cost because whether it is reclaimed or new railway sleepers, it will always make it to the budget. Look for the best railway sleeper store and see if they have what you need, just be sure that the product meets both quality and affordability.

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Even more uses for railway sleepers

We’ve previously covered using railway sleepers as steps, kerbing, retaining walls, and several other uses regarding gardening, art, and décor. There’s no end to the many ways a railway sleeper can be utilised, and the only limit is your imagination.

There are still a lot of projects you can do with railways sleepers. Before you proceed with this article, make sure that you are aware about the railway sleeper/s you have bought; treated railway sleepers can be hazardous and may be illegal in your area, so please read “Health and Safety Concerns When Using Railway Sleepers” first.

Fences

Railway sleepers are great when used as fences, particularly as border fences because treated railway sleepers are weather proofed, which can last for years before needing to be replaced. However, treated railway sleepers should not be used in gardens as the chemicals used for wood treatment can be absorbed into the soil, which harms the flora around the sleeper. Untreated or new railway sleepers are exceptions of course, although they should be treated later with an environmentally-friendly wood treatment to extend its lifetime.

Decking and Patios

Railway sleepers are good candidates for decking and patios. Why? They are readily available in large sizes and numbers, and they’re tough. You can trust them to be sturdy even through years of use.

Structures

Aside from walling, decking, and patios, railway sleepers can be used to build a variety of structures like tree houses, playgrounds, bridges, outhouses, etc. Do not use treated sleepers if human contact will be frequent (i.e. playgrounds).

Ponds

With some sealants involved, you can use untreated railway sleepers to create ponds as an addition to your garden.

Posts and poles

Wood is treated to lessen maintenance requirements, which is why treated wood is used in railways, telephones, signs, and the like. Use railway sleepers if you want to create projects similar to these.

Firewood

Untreated railway sleepers are perfectly safe to burn as firewood if already cut to an appropriate size. DO NOT BURN treated railway sleepers because it can ruin your burner or fireplace, and burning it will release noxious gasses and smoke in the vicinity or through the air.

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 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.