Replacing Garden Sleepers

[jdouds]

Guys just looked at photo again and see what is in place is not sleepers as I would have thought. I wrongly assumed they where proper railway sleepers which tend to be oily and last far longer. To replace what you have I would definitely paint with bitumen and put a waterproof membrane between them and the soil

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by jdouds

Guys just looked at photo again and see what is in place is not sleepers as I would have thought. I wrongly assumed they where proper railway sleepers which tend to be oily and last far longer. To replace what you have I would definitely paint with bitumen and put a waterproof membrane between them and the soil

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You are spot on. Old Railway Sleepers if you can lay your hands on them are Pitch Pine and invariably saturated with oil etc. Will last for donkeys years.

Nowadays people call them sleepers but they are more like floor joists e.g. 9 x 3 or 8 x 2.

[megaflyer]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

You are spot on. Old Railway Sleepers if you can lay your hands on them are Pitch Pine and invariably saturated with oil etc. Will last for donkeys years.

Nowadays people call them sleepers but they are more like floor joists e.g. 9 x 3 or 8 x 2.

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Or old telegraph/electricity poles. Used whole or halved will last your life - certainly outlasted my Father . Drenched creosote etc for years being used in the 30/40/50/60 can still be found (certainly in Lincolnshire where some overhead power is till fed from them)

[Button17]

We redid out garden last summer and were going to use sleepers. But in the end did gabion walls. More time consuming to build but will last for approx 50 yrs.

[jim jehosofat]

We used old railway sleepers about 20 years ago to build a pond and to be the edge for pathways around the garden. So far we've had no problems with them. Some of them even came with the metal work on them that holds the railway lines in place!

[jdouds]

Originally Posted by Button17

We redid out garden last summer and were going to use sleepers. But in the end did gabion walls. More time consuming to build but will last for approx 50 yrs.

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Good job

[Loopylooloo]

We are about to build much needed raised beds, as our soil is so hard and impossible to dig any depth for planting. Am looking for sleepers and am now dismayed to read negative reviews of them, we dont want brick, or concrete. Anyone got any positive thoughts please?

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by Button17

We redid out garden last summer and were going to use sleepers. But in the end did gabion walls. More time consuming to build but will last for approx 50 yrs.

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One word sums this up for me. Awesome.

[cornishfrogboy]

As others have said, the only truly effective and long lasting wood that can be used to hold back soil is a genuine railway sleeper. These are pitch pine and in addition soaked with often a century of creosote. They are becoming increasingly rare and in any case, can look unsightly to some, with the holes drilled in them for the track pitons and damage caused both through life and upon replacement with concrete ones. You can also get them in double lengths (one track formerly going each way).

Another alternative, not yet mentioned is a block wall, rendered with KRend.
KRend is render that is precoloured and thus, does not need repainting every few years. It is apparently rather more difficult to use and certainly, more expensive than the standard grey stuff. My house is K Rendered, as is my recent garage to dining room conversion front wall.
KRend would give you the finish as in your first photo, but without the need to paint/repaint.

[disney1st timer]

Originally Posted by cornishfrogboy

As others have said, the only truly effective and long lasting wood that can be used to hold back soil is a genuine railway sleeper. These are pitch pine and in addition soaked with often a century of creosote. They are becoming increasingly rare and in any case, can look unsightly to some, with the holes drilled in them for the track pitons and damage caused both through life and upon replacement with concrete ones. You can also get them in double lengths (one track formerly going each way).

Another alternative, not yet mentioned is a block wall, rendered with KRend.
KRend is render that is precoloured and thus, does not need repainting every few years. It is apparently rather more difficult to use and certainly, more expensive than the standard grey stuff. My house is K Rendered, as is my recent garage to dining room conversion front wall.
KRend would give you the finish as in your first photo, but without the need to paint/repaint.

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Do you have any pictures of your k rendering?