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!

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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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.

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.