3 Things You Should Know About Oak

Oak is one of the most popular materials used for making wood furniture. Due to its durability, oak was used to build war ships during the 19^th century. Nowadays, it is commonly used for building aesthetically pleasing furniture to adorn the home. Let’s get to know a little more about oak.

1.   Features

·         Oak’s classic appearance can give a rustic ambience to any home.

·         It comes in different colour variations. (See photo below).

·         Oak is not prone to water damage or corrosion.

·         Oak is resistant to scratching, staining and dust.

·         It has smooth texture and good durability.

2.   Purpose

Oak can be used for different purposes. Commonly used for decoration, the construction of an infrastracture, garden furniture, etc., oak is a very adaptable material.

·         Oak as coffee table

 

·         Oak as garden furniture

·         Oak as a dresser

3.   Maintenance

Oak products are easy to maintain. You can easily use paste wax to re-finish old oak furniture. It acts as a protectant and is a good cleaning agent. You can also use oil to clean oak furniture. A linseed oil can make it more moisture-resistant.

If you want the simplest way to maintain oak, you can simply wipe your furniture with a damp cloth and dry it with a clean cloth, once a week, to clear dirt.

However, oak can be prone to wear if it is not properly maintained. Here are some things to avoid:

               

·         Avoid direct sunlight.

·         Avoid putting hot items such as pans on top of oak furniture.

·         Do not use strong cleaning agents.

Railway Sleeper offers different types of oak railway sleepers in the UK. If you have any inquiries about our products, please call +44 (0) 1536-267-107. We are always happy to help!

Various Materials Used for a Raised Bed Kit

Raised bed kits are used for growing vegetables, herbs or setting up a flower bed. They are often used for gardening and even in typical back gardens. They are initially created to deal with gardening problems like poor drainage, poor soil and soil compaction. Raised bed kits are primarily introduced with the use of wood. Today, people are more creative when it comes to installing raised bed kits. They use various materials depending on their unique preferences. Some of the most common materials used for raised bed kits include:

1.Wood

The most common and the least expensive material for a raised bed kit is wood. Redwood and cedar are commonly used due to their natural rot-resistance. They are easy to install and are widely available in the market. They work perfectly with a traditional or a contemporary style of garden. However, wood doesn’t last forever. You need to replace it after a decade. Still, it is considered as the most cost-effective choice for constructing raised beds.

2.Concrete

Concrete can last forever. However, concrete raised beds are expensive and are not always the best choice because they can’t be moved easily. They have to stay where they are forever.

3.Rock

Small rocks and large cobbles can also be used for raised beds. They don’t have to be mortared. The beds can be straightened or curved depending on the style chosen by the gardener. This type of construction doesn’t require any special equipment and is not permanent. It is ideal for people who love to make frequent changes in their garden design.

4.Steel

Steel is commonly used in landscapes and construction projects that require a touch of rustic sophistication. With an initial natural steel colour, it then beautifully turns into a stunning rusty patina several weeks after installation. The installation process is said to be difficult. The material is heavy and much more costly than others. Steel raised beds are not recommended for areas that can rapidly deteriorate materials.

5. Cinderblock

The cinderblock can be constructed in different ways. It can be stacked easily to a certain height or can be mortared in place to give a more elegant finish. Cheap and widely available, cinderblocks can fit in with a wide range of aesthetics, depending on the application. This material is difficult to install due to its heaviness and fragility.

In general, most people still favour wood raised bed kits. Unlike other materials that are difficult to install, wood is widely available and is cost effective.

Visit the Railway Sleeper website if you are planning to install a RailwaySleeper raised bed kit. You may also call +44 (0) 1536-267-107 with any enquiries.

Image source: http://www.tankworks.com.au/TankWorks/media/TankWorkMedia/Images/Products/Gallery/Garden%20Beds/garden-bed-1.jpg?width=300&height=250&ext=.jpg

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ldp3HD5lgYA/0.jpg

http://www.vegetablegardener.com/assets/uploads/posts/5123/raised-beds-1.jpg

http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Raised-Herb-Garden-6.jpg

http://homesteadingontheinternet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/fieldstone.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

Enumerating Different Railway Sleeper Uses

Railway Sleepers are functional timber products that can be used for various purposes. Here are some of them:

1.       Raised Beds

Cheap railway sleepers are great alternatives to bricks and stones. They are good for plants because they allow greens to breathe and grow properly. In addition, railway sleepers are also more attractive when used as raised beds. They are like wine – they improve in appearance over time. You can also put varnish on them directly or paint them with the colour that you prefer.

2.       Fencing

Railway sleepers are ideal for fencing because they are exceptionally durable, especially when pressure treated. This treatment protects the wood from pests and wood damaging chemicals. Railway sleepers are also affordable. In fact, there are treated fencing softwoods at Railway Sleeper that are offered for as low as £1.20 each.

3.       Retaining Walls

                               

Railway sleepers are perfect retaining wall materials because they are long lasting and sturdy. The natural beauty of wood also blends well with nature. Some of the best railway sleepers for retaining walls are the Brown Treated Softwood Sleeper and the Rustic Oak Sleeper.

4.       Landscaping

If you want a more affordable alternative to landscaping boards, use railway sleepers instead. They are environmentally-friendly and are easy to replace. Railway Sleeper offers planed sleepers with a bevelled/eased edge that are virtually splinter free. They come in two types: treated and untreated. Treated timber has proven to be more durable.

5.       Water Features

Railway sleepers can make water features more dramatic. Since wood absorbs water, railway sleepers can also lessen the amount of water that leaks from the water feature. You can paint them with any colour that will enhance the appearance of your fountain. The mini sleeper is advised for this project.

6.       Furniture

Furniture is made using railway sleepers including beds, tables, chairs and cabinets. Railway sleepers are a practical choice because they are as durable and as attractive as other types of wood, although they are cheaper.

Please contact Railway Sleeper on +44 (0)1536 267107 for further information.

Railway Sleeper Garden Ideas

More From Railway Sleeper UK

Railway Sleeper is a UK based company that offers a wide variety of high quality railway sleepers. Their products are reasonably priced, yet premium quality is always assured. Railway Sleeper UK provides the most excellent selection of sleepers including new railway sleepers, reclaimed sleepers and even sleepers that are used for raised bed kits, decking, fencing and cladding. Aside from cheap railway sleepers, the company is also a distributor of the following:

Quick Drying Concrete

Quick drying cement that is perfect for your gate posts and fencing, this mixture is easy to use and very advantageous. Just add water and you can start your project – nothing more, nothing less. Enjoy its rapid drying properties as it assures the durability of your project.

Firewood

You can choose from seasoned firewood, sawmill offcuts and hardwood logs. These are freshly sawn logs from the railway sleeper offcuts. Firewood is usually sold by volume. At Railway Sleeper UK, 1 cubic metre bags of seasoned firewood are available, as well as single 1 cubic metre bags of Precut Unseasoned Sawmill Offcuts and 4 Bulk Bags of Precut Mixed Builders Unseasoned Offcuts.

Compressed Wood Brisquettes

Wood briquettes are made of compressed saw dust and wood chippings. One good characteristic of these briquettes is that they produce minimal ash, unlike other firewood products. Also producing less smoke - which is good for keeping your chimney clearer - these wood briquettes are more efficient to use than other kinds of wood. It may burn and light like other wood but the heat produced by a bag of wood briquettes is equivalent to the heat from 30kg of dry wood.

Wood briquettes are available in two types – the Ecofire Oak Nuggets and the Mechanically Pressed Hardwood.

Firewood Log Storage

Proper storage could shelter your firewood from exposure to the elements. This will prolong the shelf life and effectivity of the wood. Railway Sleeper UK's log storage is made from high quality materials, with air flow slats and tight roofing to prevent the water from dripping onto the wood. Once assembled, the firewood log storage unit measures approximately 1400mm in width, 620mm in depth and 1400mm in height. Firewood log storage units are made to order.

Special offers are also available. Check the Railway Sleeper UK website now and find the perfect deals for your requirements. To learn more about our products please contact us on +44 (0)1536 267107. Alternatively, you can simply leaving a message here.

Reasons Why You Should Use Reclaimed Wood

The Life Cycle of Wood

Types of Railway Sleepers

Railway sleepers were introduced as a building material fit for decking, cladding, or fencing in the late 1900s. Today, cheap railway sleepers are seen as a viable alternative to build garden extensions like patios, decks, beams and many other building projects.

Here's a fact: the market selling railway sleepers is huge. With four major sleeper options to choose from – timber, steel, concrete and composites, which one is the best option for your requirements? Consider the following advantages and disadvantages and then you can make up your mind.

Wooden or Timber Railway Sleepers

Perhaps the most ideal, most versatile and the most common choice, Timber sleepers are ideal building materials because they are naturally strong. Good insulators, suitable for any kind of building areas, not easily damaged given the proper care and the cheapest and most affordable railway sleeper to date, timber railway sleepers can be successfully paired with teal, sal, cedar and many more.

On the negative side, wooden sleepers can be infested resulting in premature rotting. They may also catch fire and are subject to a change in colour or texture over time, due to several conditions like constant foot traffic and the changing seasons.

Steel Sleepers

Solid, tactile, tough and strong, railway sleepers produced in steel come with the advantage of strength and resistance to infestation and decay. However, steel is susceptible to rusting over time, especially when constantly exposed to damp environments. Unlike wood, steel is not that versatile and might be expensive if you require a customised cut to fit your building project.

Concrete Railway Sleepers

First used in France in the early 1900s, these sleepers became more popular during the 1950s. Concrete sleepers are made up of cast concrete slabs shaped using internally reinforced steel wires. Concrete is a very good sleeper material because it has a longer service life, is virtually resilient to environmental deterioration, is resistant to fire and is efficiently strong.

Due to the high quality of concrete railway sleepers, they also come with an expensive price tag. They cannot be manufactured easily because they require a skilled workforce and special equipment to produce, so they are limited in the market.

Composite Railway Sleepers

Manufactured from various raw materials like plastics, rubber tyres and waste fibreglass, composite railway sleepers are an ideal choice if you want a synthetic material with the versatility of wood and the durability of concrete. Composite provides many advantages because you can customise it just like wood and is as durable as concrete railway sleepers, sometimes even more so. The only concern that you might find with composite railway sleepers is that they come at a price.

If you're looking for quality, affordable and versatile railway sleepers we advise that you consider wooden railway sleepers as your best choice. Contact us for more information on our railway sleeper products. 

Using Railway Sleepers for your Stairs

If you're looking for affordable but very classy materials for your stairs at home or in your office, cheap railway sleepers are perfect for you. Railway Sleepers are very flexible when it comes to style. Whether you want a spiral, helical, a simply designed one, or a grand staircase for your humble home, railway sleepers are surely on top of your list. Listed below are some of the reasons why it will be beneficial for you to use railway sleepers for your stairs:

Classically Coloured

            Railway sleepers are made of wood that's why they are naturally coloured. Brown is a classic colour for stairs especially if your home is a Mediterranean one. What's good about choosing wooden elements is that they have natural borders and lines that add detail and accent to the design of your stairs.

Good Quality

            Railway sleepers are usually thick that's why they do not break easily. Wooden materials last a lot of decades as long as they are maintained well. This is also the reason why there are a lot of second hand railway sleepers because they are very durable. Even if you want to repair your stairs, you can still use the railway sleepers for other construction projects; unlike cement that are usually demolished or literally broken down first before you can change the position or style of your stairs. This advantage will also allow you to save time and money to be allotted for renovation.

Considering Safety

            Wood properties are usually safer than cement. They are less slippery and they do not have hard and pointed edges. If you have a child at home, you really have to choose safer materials for your staircase because most children are very playful. They love to run and roam around the house. Because of their energetic nature, they end up injuring themselves – either they accidentally bump their head into the wall, got bruise because they stumbled, or they got an open wound because they fell off somewhere. Of course we do not want these things to happen, right? As the old saying goes, 'Prevention is better than cure'; so before anything worse happens, prevent major injuries by choosing much safer materials in your home like railway sleepers.

Easy to Cut and Attach

            Another advantage of using railway sleepers is the fact that they can be cut and attached easily. Whatever is the cut and design you want in your staircase, it's possible because of the flexibility of the railway sleepers. This advantage will also help you save time, effort, and money that you will allocate for labour.

            If you're convinced about the advantages of using these wooden sleepers for your staircase, kindly contact Railway Sleeper to help you out in choosing the right products for the construction of your staircase. Thanks for reading!

Looking for Quality but Cheap Railway Sleepers?

Today, railway sleepers are considered as one of the most popular building materials that designers and home builders use. Why? There are many reasons why they have become a favourite. Railway sleepers are unique, they can last for a long time and they are also versatile.

Some people use them for improving their garden, for landscaping and other similar functions. On the other hand, some people need them to create customised pieces of furniture that they can add to their homes.

Railway sleepers have come a long way. From being a simple element in the railroad industry, they are now essential in the world of construction and home design. Due to the high demand, there are various kinds of railway sleepers available in the market nowadays. Some of these include: reclaimed railway sleepers, new railway sleepers, oak railway sleepers and many others.

At RailwaySleeper.co.uk

Are you in need of railway sleepers for a particular project? The type of railway sleepers that you need to buy depends on your budget and your project itself, of course. If you prefer to purchase cheap railway sleepers, then there is no other place to shop but at RailwaySleeper.co.uk.  Here you can find quality materials without the extra cost.

At RailwaySleeper.co.uk, you will find that our stock of railway sleepers is simply unbeatable. We have all kinds of railway sleepers available in the market today. We can also deliver regardless of how many you need. You can depend on us in terms of availability, volume and the quality of our products.

We offer a wide range of railway sleepers. We have new railway sleepers, reclaimed railway sleepers, raised bed kits, decking, fencing, cladding, beams, oak products and many more.  No matter what kind of sleeper you need, we can guarantee that we have it in stock.

Railway sleepers are great because they are affordable and can be used for various projects. They have a special quality in them, too. Their colour and texture adds a rustic feel to whatever project they are used for. Railway sleepers are also highly durable which makes them just perfect when it comes to making things that are needed to last for a long time. Overall, they make a great investment as building materials.

For enquiries, please feel free to call RailwaySleeper.co.uk at +44 (0)1536 267107.

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.