Sleepers in the Garden Do they need treatment ?

wellused

As we don't know which wood the sleepers are made from then it may be wise to ask the landscapers for advice, but if they are coming from the same sorce as the railway companies get theirs from then I would say that they don't treat them with anything before they use them, although they may have specified that the supplier has it done beforehand. These sleepers lay without any other treatment for many years maybe as many as 30 or 40 years although they are sitting in free draining ballast rather then damp soil for most of their lifespan.

Ezekieljm

Morning,

Well, I know now that they are just hardwood cut to shape to look like old railway sleepers and will be pre treated before they are laid down. Sounds simple enough and sounds like what I would like.

Hintza

Ezekieljm wrote: »

and then pave it (Indian sandstone)

I looked at Indian sandstone and was worried that frost would delaminate it.

CashisKing

If they are old hardwood don't treat
If they are new hardwood only oil them etc if you want them to look different
If they are softwood ask them to be changed to hardwood!

Ionkontrol

Hintza wrote: »

I looked at Indian sandstone and was worried that frost would delaminate it.

It is stone and quarried, not made up of layers.

Hintza

Ionkontrol wrote: »

It is stone and quarried, not made up of layers.

Of course sandstone is made up of layers that is how it is deposited:-

The formation of sandstone involves two principal stages. First, a layer or layers of sand accumulates as the result of sedimentation, either from water (as in a stream, lake, or sea) or from air (as in a desert). Typically, sedimentation occurs by the sand settling out from suspension; i.e., ceasing to be rolled or bounced along the bottom of a body of water or ground surface (e.g., in a desert or erg). Finally, once it has accumulated, the sand becomes sandstone when it is compacted by pressure of overlying deposits and cemented by the precipitation of minerals within the pore spaces between sand grains.

My worry is the frost would get between the layers and after a few years the surface would become uneven.

cyclonebri1

wellused wrote: »

I don't think that it is legal to sell reclaimed railway sleepers anymore as they are treated with some really nasty preservers, and not only that but the trains used to empty the contents of the toilets onto the track up until a couple of years ago so they will be steeped in human waste.

Yes of course it's still legal to sell railway sleepers, if you are that sensitive consider the fact that the water you drink has probably passed through about 13 sets of "kidneys" before you drank it this time.

You can get sleepers in several grades and either preserved or untreated hardwood.

If you are growing veg you should not use treated sleepers in any form. For decorative purposes they may be ok but for kiddies again it's a no no.

I did the same exercise earlier this year and found the 2nd grade untreated autralian hardwood sleepers to be perfectly adequate, the chainsaw struggles with them so thats good enough for me.

Whatever you do don't by so called sleepers sold at garden centres that are simply young cheap softwood and even if treated with todays "tame" preservatives, won't last 5 or 6 years in ground contact.

Oh, if you do get round to doing it, the long screws to hold the thing together can be very expensive, I found 1 place selling them very very cheaply, I can dig out the details at some point if needed.:money:

Ezekieljm

@cyclonebri1

that was a very helpful post. Thanks

Ezekieljm

OK, I've been given the option of tanalised wood with Tanalith E treated sleepers. Reading up on the net this seems OK. This would be at roughly 1/4 the cost of the hardwood (hence I am seriously thinking about it) and according to the net (a quick read) this should be fine for the raised bed.

Any thoughts ?

EDIT : http://www.railwaysleeper.com/railway%20sleeper%20treatments.htm

seems to answer my questions with a "yep should be fine if ACQ/ Tanalised sleepers"

cyclonebri1

Ezekieljm wrote: »

OK, I've been given the option of tanalised wood with Tanalith E treated sleepers. Reading up on the net this seems OK. This would be at roughly 1/4 the cost of the hardwood (hence I am seriously thinking about it) and according to the net (a quick read) this should be fine for the raised bed.

Any thoughts ?

EDIT : http://www.railwaysleeper.com/railway%20sleeper%20treatments.htm

seems to answer my questions with a "yep should be fine if ACQ/ Tanalised sleepers"

1/4 of the price:eek::eek::eek:, the difference I found was only about 10 to 20%.

Do you mind me asking the actual prices?, and where abouts in the country are you?

Just another thing that sprang to mind after I'd posted last time, You will probably do the same as me and work in whole and 1/2 sleeper lengths in your construction, check the length very carefully, I found the ones in the yard varied up to -6" on odd ones, enough to screw up your plans,