Table of Contents
How do you make a sleeper retaining wall?
Constructing a retaining wall out of upright sleepers is pretty straightforward. Simply dig a trench, lower the sleepers in vertically side by side, and then backfill with a dry concrete mix, that you can ram down around the railway sleepers untill the wall is rigid.
How do you fix railway sleepers to the ground?
Cut your sleepers to your required length, which could be random for a rustic look. Then mix up some lean mortar, such as 6:1, to be used as a concrete base and haunching. Place at least a 50mm bed of concrete in the bottom of the trench and start inserting the sleepers, haunching them up as you go.
How deep should sleeper posts be?
The theory I work on is – half the height of the wall plus 100mm. For example if your wall is going to be 800mm high, the holes for your posts should be 500mm deep. Time now to concrete your posts into position. Sleeper retaining wall posts come in two varieties – steel galvanised H Beams or a vertical sleepers.
How do you build a retaining wall with sleepers on a slope?
In Summary: Plan out your wall. Dig down to firm ground. Lay the first course of sleepers, levelling them with sub-base and leaving gaps for drainage. Install a drain behind the wall. Lay the next course, butting them together and staggering the joints. Screw the courses together.
Can you lay sleepers on soil?
Can you lay railway sleepers on soil? Yes you can. If you’re only creating a structure that’s one or two sleepers in height you don’t necessarily need foundations, which means you can lay your railway sleepers onto the soil.
Do sleepers need foundations?
The most important thing is that the railway sleepers are laid on a surface that is level and firm. Perfectionists and Engineers will do this on a foundation of concrete, but more mortal people will often simply use gravel or hardcore or sand or even the soil itself if it is solid.
How do you secure a sleeper to the ground?
Secure your sleepers Haunch at the back end of the sleeper and if possible, the front end too. This will help fix sleepers to the ground so they remain stable. If using sleepers for a low border or planter it may well be enough to fix a wooden post or spike behind the sleepers and fix this into the ground.
How long will sleepers last in the ground?
As a rule, hardwood oak sleepers tend to last the longest naturally with an expected lifespan of around 100 years. An untreated softwood will last for between three and five years if it sits on the ground, whilst treated softwoods can last between 20 and 30 years if they are maintained correctly.
How do you prevent sleepers from rotting?
To preserve the sleepers further, we would recommend treating them with an exterior wood oil or decking oil, ideally twice a year in Spring and Autumn. This will help to repel water and prevent water ingress, the main cause of wood rot.
How far apart should post be on retaining wall?
Retaining wall posts should be at least three feet apart. The distance can be slightly longer or shorter if it works better with your measurements. However, you shouldn’t go more than seven feet apart to make sure your wall is sturdy enough.
How long do sleeper retaining walls last?
Softwood sleepers are uniform in their dimensions, giving a clean modern appearance. They’re lighter to handle than reclaimed sleepers and are easier to cut. When regularly treated or painted they should last at least 20 years.
How far apart do retaining wall posts need to be?
Put timber pegs in the ground at both ends of the wall and set a string line between the pegs to indicate the back of the wall. Measure for, and place a peg along the string line to mark the position of each vertical post. You should allow 10 mm tolerance between the rails so the posts should be at 1.310 m centres.
Does a 2 foot retaining wall need drainage?
These walls need a drainage system regardless of the wall height. If there are poor draining soils such as clay behind the wall, there needs to be drainage incorporated the wall system. Clay when wet is very weak, so it is essential to provide a way for water to escape from behind the wall.
How do you connect sleepers?
When building sleepers in layers, it’s a really good idea to overlap the right-angled corners for added stability and strength. Simply place your length or frame on top of the first layer so the joins are overlapped like a brick wall, then work in the same way to secure.
How thick should a retaining wall sleeper be?
When you’re building a retaining wall, the most important thing is to make sure that you use sleepers thick enough to withstand the force of the earth pushing against them. Sleepers that are at least 75mm (3 inches) thick are the best to use. Anything thinner can be too weak, and can easily buckle or warp or break.
What screws to use for sleepers?
Timberlok screws are an alternative to traditional coach screws and can be used in a number of timber to timber applications. One of the most popular uses for Timberlok screws is fixing timber sleepers together.
