Using Railway Sleepers in Your Landscape Design

Timber railway sleepers have been used for centuries to fastening rails to the track bed. Although they are still used for this purpose today, landscaping professionals and trade craftsman have begun to incorporate these sturdy, hardwearing blocks of timber into the landscaping sector. Popular with garden designers, furniture makers and carpenters - thanks in part to their durability - railway sleepers are an ideal choice and have become popular with a number of trades within the design industries; including landscapers, carpenters and garden designers.

The most practical uses of sleepers are as an alternative material for constructing garden steps. The hardwood timber railway sleepers are designed to be hard-wearing enough to withstand the constant pressure of speeding trains, and this makes them an ideal material for steps or a shirt staircase. They provide an attractive finish when combined with stonework; and as the sleepers age their rustic charm will develop even further. Sleepers which are properly treated can last for many years, with relatively little upkeep. The ease of maintenance
Another popular use for sleepers is as raised flower beds. Sleepers are laid along the edges of the proposed bed and the inside is covered with a semi-permeable membrane (available from most gardening supply shops). This is done to ensure that contact between the sleepers and soil is kept to a minimum - ensuring their longevity. The sleepers can be fixed together using tradition railway sleeper fixings or by using Timberlok screws. These new styles of sleeper fixings have a unique tapered head which can penetrate the think timber without the need fro pre-drilling holes; allowing easy attached to decking, railing posts or simply to other sleepers.

For those with a little more time and an artistic disposition, sleepers are an excellent core material from which to make a range of different furniture. Popular items include everything from garden room tables, chairs and benches, to beds and fire-surrounds. For items such as this, untreated softwood sleepers are the preferred choice. Sleepers which are used in furniture making are often sanded to a very smooth finish and treated with either wax or specialist timber resins.

In recent years, using railway sleepers to construct a child’s sandpit has also become popular. Much in the same way as constructing raised flower beds, the internal sides of the sleepers are coated with a black membrane to ensure that the sand does not degrade the timber over time. It is extremely important that any timber sleepers use in the construction of a sandpit are purchased new and untreated. This is because some second-hand rail sleepers may contain creosote, which can be harmful to the environment, and should be disposed by a professional waste services or refuse company.
When it comes to incorporating railway sleepers in your garden design, there are limitless possibilities for inclusion. Whether it’s decorative or functional, their sturdy build and natural finish will suit almost any garden.

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