| A faster and cheaper alternative to brickwork and | | | | Which Sleeper to Use? |
| masonry, sleepers can be used as edgings for | | | | There are two main types of Sleepers, New or |
| driveways or for retaining soil, as well as many other | | | | Recycled, with new being divided between Hardwood |
| uses. When compared to the time consuming task of | | | | Oak Sleepers and Treated Softwood Sleepers. The |
| setting kerbs in concrete or laying down a foundation | | | | choice will be affected partly by the strengths and |
| and building a brick wall, sleepers are very quick to use. | | | | weaknesses of each product, together with personal |
| Another great advantage in my view is the fact that | | | | preference and budget. |
| they are made from wood, a natural material which is | | | | Recycled Sleepers – These are very cost |
| visually soft so in keeping with many of the structures | | | | effective. Many of these sleepers are hardwood, |
| associated with garden landscaping. | | | | with a pressure creosoted treatment. This means |
| Sleepers for Soil Retention | | | | they are extremely durable but the creosote finish |
| Often we are faced with reconciling a difference in | | | | means they are not suitable where there is a risk of |
| ground levels between different parts of our | | | | frequent skin contact or indeed of marking clothing. |
| landscape projects. Our preferred answer is to build a | | | | One solution for tall structures is to clad over the face |
| retaining wall, which railway sleepers are great for. The | | | | of the structure with fencing products to cover the |
| height of the structure will indicate how the sleepers | | | | sleepers. |
| should be held in position. | | | | New Sleepers - Turning first to Oak. These are an |
| Generally the sleepers will be laid lengthwise and | | | | attractive product and oak in its natural untreated state |
| whether on edge or flat will depend on the strength, | | | | always gives off the impression of quality. These |
| your preference and budget. To hold them in position | | | | sleepers are also very durable even when cut up into |
| for walls proposed to be 1M high or more then steel H | | | | sections and inserted into the ground. Oak costs more |
| section columns (known as UC or Universal Column) | | | | than treated softwood, but normally outlasts the |
| can be used. Lower heights can be accommodated | | | | equivalent treated softwood product. |
| more cheaply using part of a sleeper dug into the | | | | Secondly turning to treated softwood sleepers. The |
| ground and erected in vertical fashion. The lowest | | | | benefits of these products are that they are a |
| heights of 150-400mm will require very little to secure | | | | cheaper option and they are lighter than oak, making |
| the sleepers into position, depending on the length and | | | | handling easier. |
| shape (right angles tend to add strength). | | | | Tips on Using Sleepers |
| Fixing Railway Sleepers | | | | - Cutting is easiest done with a chainsaw, but for small |
| Use Landscaping screws. These are extremely | | | | numbers a new handsaw will suffice. |
| strong steel screws available up to 250mm in length. | | | | - To move sleepers around will normally require 2 |
| These items have a hexagonal head and are fixed | | | | people due to their size and weight. |
| using a power drill. They will screw themselves right | | | | - New Oak Sleepers will have a best face and |
| through a sleeper and fix into the one below. They | | | | recycled are different in appearance each side, so you |
| need an extremely high force before they pull out so | | | | should rotate the sleepers to get the right look. |
| they make a really strong joint. | | | | |