Can you paint railway sleepers with fence paint

AdventureRocks

Hi all,

Just wondering if i can paint railway sleepers with cuprinol fence paint or if it is a bad idea?

Thank you

peter_the_piper

I would imagine one of the old ones would not need treating but one of the "new" ones I can't see any reason not to.

AdventureRocks

Anyway to know if they are old or new ones ? I did not purchase them myself

Thanks

Stevie_Palimo

http://www.railwaysleepers.com/railway-sleeper-questions

peter_the_piper

Old ones would be blackish, oil/tar treated. New ones are chunks of wood, to the approximate size, and will be a "woody" colour. See Steves link.

AdventureRocks

will they look better painted or better left as is anyone had any experience?

londonTiger

fence paint will give very basic surface level protection, in addition fence paint as the name suggsts is for fences which do not contact the floor. So fence paint does not have protection against constance contact with water - which sleepers will do.

You will need a much better level of protection - creosote as a minimum and tanalised to the highest degree with at least 2" penetration.

Ralph-y

why do you want to paint them?

for protection or decorative ?

Ralph:cool:

AdventureRocks

More for decoration to try and tidy the place up

Ralph-y

It will all depend on the oil content of the sleepers , and how weathered they are .......

if you are after a nice wood colour then some thing like teak oil may be better

this is a good time to look as lots of supermarkets sell off the summer range stuff .... Asda will (if not all sold) have some .5 ltr(ish) spray guns that you could try for effect

good luck

Ralph:cool:

Davesnave

Ask yourself how often people with large gardens, like the RHS, use fence paint on objects in contact with the ground.

I can think of bridges, but not much else!