If you have just built something out of tanalised sleepers then you no doubt want to know how long your marvellous creation is going to last. Well, let’s have a look and find out. Tanalised sleepers are likely to last between 10-15 years. This can change depending on what conditions they are placed in, usually…
If you have just put in some nice new sleepers in your garden then you will no doubt want to protect them and extend their lifespan. but what is the best way to do this? Can you just paint sleepers? Let’s have a look and find out. Yes, you can paint sleepers. Fence paint or…
So you want to know whether sleepers are hardwood or softwood? well, let’s have a look. The simple answer is sleepers can be hardwood or softwood. Genuine reclaimed railway sleepers will be hardwood. They are usually made from oak but can be other hardwoods but oak is the most common. Softwood Sleepers Softwood sleepers are…
Raised garden beds made from sleepers look amazing, but which type of sleeper should you use for them? Hardwood? Softwood? Maybe even reclaimed? Why You Shouldn’t Use Reclaimed Sleepers While they look amazing and are pretty much guaranteed to last decades you shouldn’t use reclaimed railways sleepers for raised beds. The reason for this is…
If you are planning on building a sleeper wall then you will have come across protecting the wood with a membrane, but is this needed? Let’s have a look. Why use a membrane? The idea behind using a membrane behind a sleeper wall is that it helps keep water and moisture away from the sleeper….
Sleepers are a great way of building steps in the garden, but can you use them to build a retaining wall? The good news is that yes, you can use sleepers for a retaining wall. This is actually a really common use for sleepers. They are chosen because of the ease of building and the…
Sleepers are a versatile building material and if you get the softwood type they are quite affordable. For these reasons you may well be wondering if you can use them for garden steps, well let’s have a look! Yes, you can use sleepers for steps. In fact, this is something I have done myself to…
If you have a few sleepers to cut then you will be trying to find the easiest method possible. This has obviously led to you considering a chainsaw, but will this work? Can you cut sleepers with a chainsaw? Let’s have a look! Yes, you can cut sleepers with a chainsaw. A chainsaw is often…
Cutting sleepers can be a tricky proposition, especially for a DIY’er who doesn’t have massive powered saws. So can you use a humble hand saw? Will it go through a sleeper? Yes, you can use a handsaw to cut a sleeper. Not only can you but it is often one of the best ways for…