What are Sleeper Retainers?

A variety of hardwoods and softwoods are used in wooden sleepers. Historically, Jarrah and Oakwoods have been used. In untreated form, Greenheart, Mora, Karri, and Azobe woods are also commonplace, and they can last for up to a hundred years. Density and elasticity are among the strongest points of wooden railway sleepers. They are also the most lightweight option.

What are the benefits?

• Versatile - Thanks to their hardy nature, they can find a home in your garden as any one of a thousand different things. Sleepers can be used to retain exterior fencing, raise flowerbeds and define boundaries between various parts of your design. They can also be used to create natural steps in a garden or turn the uneven ground into a more even, staggered design. They can even be used as unique pathways through a garden as well and can create fantastic walkways.

• Unique - No other kind of wood can match the distinct appearance of a sleeper. Their natural and simple appearance means that they can fit into any kind of outdoor space, whether a traditional cottage environment or a suburban family home. If you choose to make the most of creosote-treated, reclaimed sleepers then you can enjoy a garden feature with a long and distinct history that is visible in every mark that the wood has obtained over the long years.

• Durable - As they are designed to deal with even the most adverse weather conditions and not lose their strength, they can provide long-lasting service in your environment without splitting or breaking apart. Newer models which haven’t been treated with creosote tend to last in excess of 10-15 years, whilst older, reclaimed models will often last for more than 40-50 years.

• Eco-friendly - If you choose to make the most of previously used models, then you are actively recycling! If you’re using this wood in your garden design, you are saving it from being destroyed and wasted. Thanks to their completely natural state, they will age over time and only help to create a more distinct and natural aesthetic.

The Installation Process

For a lawn that needs retaining:
To begin, holes will be marked at either side of the garden and spaced out every 1.2m. Holes will then be dug to a minimum of 400mm deep, with waste to be removed via skip. Once the holes are excavated, incised and treated timber posts (100mm x 100mm) will be set plumb and level to one another using postcrete. High-quality tanalised and treated timbers will then be fixed level onto the posts using 150mm timber fixings. The posts will then be cut down below the top of the sleepers so they are not seen. After the retainer has been installed the back will be dug down and filled with M.O.T creating a drainable layer at the bottom of the lawn. The M.O.T will be covered with a thick membrane and topped with soil, ready for the turf to grow back over.

For sleeper retainer planters:
The area will then be excavated appropriately, with any waste being discarded via skip, post holes will be marked and dug every meter. Incised and treated posts will then be set, level and plumb, deep into the ground holes using postcrete. After the posts have set, high-quality brown treated and tanalised sleepers will be fixed level into place, using long screw bolts. Courses will have staggered joints for extra support and rigidity. Once all of the sleepers have been set into place, the tops of the posts will be cut down neatly. The Sleeper beds will then be lined with Visqueen, and infilled with a super nutritious half mushroom half topsoil mix, ready for planting!