Thanks! Heading outside this year in an attempt to replace a brick retaining wall without loosing my wife’s beloved rose bed. Found your piece on railway sleeper construction, loads of tips and ideas. Just subscribed, Rog Reading, Berkshire
Great video. I have a garden that slopes to one side which will need leveling before finishing off with artificial grass. An Oak retaining wall will be a great way to complete the job. Thanks for the idea and the simple step by step guide. Busy few weekends coming up.
Can’t find the one with the UV oil going on But thanks for some of the details on here, which I have adapted and included into my project. The dowel pegs have been especially helpful
Hey mate, I found your videos great to watch and picked up some great little tips as a total novice! Im in Australia (from the UK)and was looking for tips on laying Jarrah railway sleepers as raised beds on a sand base, but will defs take your methods on board!
Firstly, thanks for inspiring me to do a retaining wall using sleepers. Difficult part was getting it level, which its close to. I have sanded them down. Do you think it's essential to use the UV?
Not at all, oak alone will last decades and pressure treated just as long is not sat in/on wet soil. UV was more just for the colour and finish. Most people just let it grey naturally.
Hi, Isn't it best to weatherproof the interior side of the sleeper before installation considering it's going to be covered by soil i.e. using something like Bituminous paint ? Thanks
Great vids. You've inspired me to build my own Oak sleeper wall. It's looking great and now time to finish it off. Where there are splits/cracks along the top horizontal surface, isn't there a risk of damp from dew, frost and rain pooling inside the cracks and causing rot, especially during the winter months? I plan to treat with Osmo Natural Woodstain Oil plus Osmo Anti Slip Decking Oil which will provide some protection, but I doubt the oils will get down deep inside the cracks. Did you fill any of the cracks on your top surface? If so, what filler did you use? If not, how have your sleepers held up? Any signs of weakness, softness or rot in those areas? I'm not too concerned about the vertical surface as gravity should help moisture drain away. Appreciate your thoughts/comments and thank you again for the great videos... Keep them coming 👍 Martin
May not have actually done that video, sorry! Went on easily and so far has survived the winter well. OSMO UV oil is recommended for vertical surfaces mainly, and from our experience over the winter the oak has darkened slightly on top of sleepers but fine on sides.
Morning, I’m thinking of doing it exactly how you’ve done it. So just so I’m doing it correctly - you’ve not used any supporting wood and just using the weight of the sleepers with dowels? What’s under the sleepers? Concrete?
Just sit bottom sleeper on a level gravel sub base. The strength comes from weight of sleepers and the corners. Otherwise you can secure to a concrete footing like in the earlier video.
Not a criticism, but just wondered if a belt sander would have been quicker than the orbital sander? just love oak, it wouldn't have half the job if you had done it in softwood - well done, the extra expense is so worth it!
Not if your belt sander is a pathetic thing like mine! :-) Sure it would have been better with a decent one, although if prepping them first and doing more of it I would have hired a floor sander which would have saved planing too.
Hi, how have your sleepers weathered? I built a network of retaining walls and steps using similar oak sleepers last year. I used the clear Osmo UV, as it has held up well on vertical surfaces, but not at all on horizontal ones. I sanded smooth as well, but the weather has raised the grain and taken all that away.
Hi, your videos are extremely useful, and inspiring. I have followed your method, and we are almost complete. We have hit some of the stumbling blocks that you have already brushed on in these videos, and I wish I paid a little more attention to everything you were doing. I might go down a couple of sleepers again to make the final wall as neat as yours. I did however, buy a waterproof sheet for behind the wall, to keep away any moisture. I also have fitted drainage behind the wall that will be fitted with gravel and landscsping fabric. Do you think that the waterproof sheet will help keep moisture away from the oak and extend its life? Or could it possibly worsen the life of the retaining sleepers by retaining moisture against the wood? We would value your opinion (and everyone in the comments) if you think there is a correct answer here! As for the stainless steel screws, we found Spax 160mm screws to be amazing, pulling the oak sleepers together even when bowed. We picked them up in B&Q, but they were extremely expensive for screws, but well worth every cent.
James Atkinson my thinking is that well drained is better than water tight as there is always a risk of trapping moisture. Landscape fabric and gravel sounds good to me. 👍
Great videos and a fantastic looking wall. I'm wanting to do a wall the same and fit some decking boards on top to create a walkway alongside my garage but the ground i have is deep clay which retains water so after a heavy rainfall the water can sit there for a few days. Is oak robust enough not to rot away in water or is it not worth doing? Thanks
Thanks! Heading outside this year in an attempt to replace a brick retaining wall without loosing my wife’s beloved rose bed. Found your piece on railway sleeper construction, loads of tips and ideas. Just subscribed, Rog Reading, Berkshire
Thanks, really useful video! Love your channel
Attention to detail.... Love it.... And so calmly presented, too
Great video. I have a garden that slopes to one side which will need leveling before finishing off with artificial grass. An Oak retaining wall will be a great way to complete the job. Thanks for the idea and the simple step by step guide. Busy few weekends coming up.
Can’t find the one with the UV oil going on
But thanks for some of the details on here, which I have adapted and included into my project. The dowel pegs have been especially helpful
Thanks I learnt a lot, stay safe.
Found your video most informative I am going to attempt a raised bed with a retaining wall thank you.
Hey mate, I found your videos great to watch and picked up some great little tips as a total novice! Im in Australia (from the UK)and was looking for tips on laying Jarrah railway sleepers as raised beds on a sand base, but will defs take your methods on board!
Thanks Paul. Glad it helped!
Firstly, thanks for inspiring me to do a retaining wall using sleepers. Difficult part was getting it level, which its close to. I have sanded them down. Do you think it's essential to use the UV?
Not at all, oak alone will last decades and pressure treated just as long is not sat in/on wet soil. UV was more just for the colour and finish. Most people just let it grey naturally.
Have you ever done a garage conversion into a granny flat?
Hi, Isn't it best to weatherproof the interior side of the sleeper before installation considering it's going to be covered by soil i.e. using something like Bituminous paint ? Thanks
Great vids. You've inspired me to build my own Oak sleeper wall. It's looking great and now time to finish it off.
Where there are splits/cracks along the top horizontal surface, isn't there a risk of damp from dew, frost and rain pooling inside the cracks and causing rot, especially during the winter months?
I plan to treat with Osmo Natural Woodstain Oil plus Osmo Anti Slip Decking Oil which will provide some protection, but I doubt the oils will get down deep inside the cracks.
Did you fill any of the cracks on your top surface?
If so, what filler did you use?
If not, how have your sleepers held up? Any signs of weakness, softness or rot in those areas?
I'm not too concerned about the vertical surface as gravity should help moisture drain away.
Appreciate your thoughts/comments and thank you again for the great videos... Keep them coming 👍
Martin
Great content, just subscribed. Can't find the next video though, showing how you coating and finishing them in UV oil?
May not have actually done that video, sorry! Went on easily and so far has survived the winter well. OSMO UV oil is recommended for vertical surfaces mainly, and from our experience over the winter the oak has darkened slightly on top of sleepers but fine on sides.
Hi, fantastic videos with great advice and tips. Have you put a photo up to the finished patio area?
It’s there somewhere. Patio playlist.
Love the vids. Did you ever do the video with the UV oil? I can’t find it on your channel.
I can't either, use osmo 420 anyway. Cheapest from Brombrough paints
Morning, I’m thinking of doing it exactly how you’ve done it. So just so I’m doing it correctly - you’ve not used any supporting wood and just using the weight of the sleepers with dowels? What’s under the sleepers? Concrete?
Just sit bottom sleeper on a level gravel sub base. The strength comes from weight of sleepers and the corners. Otherwise you can secure to a concrete footing like in the earlier video.
The Restoration Couple thank you. Amazing work.
Really inspiring ... I've ordered my sleepers today ... Can't find the next video though ?
Can someone tell me why they are called "sleepers?"
Railroad Sleepers
Not a criticism, but just wondered if a belt sander would have been quicker than the orbital sander? just love oak, it wouldn't have half the job if you had done it in softwood - well done, the extra expense is so worth it!
Not if your belt sander is a pathetic thing like mine! :-) Sure it would have been better with a decent one, although if prepping them first and doing more of it I would have hired a floor sander which would have saved planing too.
Hi, how have your sleepers weathered?
I built a network of retaining walls and steps using similar oak sleepers last year. I used the clear Osmo UV, as it has held up well on vertical surfaces, but not at all on horizontal ones. I sanded smooth as well, but the weather has raised the grain and taken all that away.
How do you know how much to plain off? I worry I'll over plain
Great videos thanks. For a raised bed is a membrane not required on inner wall to prevent rotting?
If soil backfill then I would use membrane and gravel. I talk through it in the other oak wall series.
Nice videos..
Hi, your videos are extremely useful, and inspiring. I have followed your method, and we are almost complete. We have hit some of the stumbling blocks that you have already brushed on in these videos, and I wish I paid a little more attention to everything you were doing. I might go down a couple of sleepers again to make the final wall as neat as yours.
I did however, buy a waterproof sheet for behind the wall, to keep away any moisture. I also have fitted drainage behind the wall that will be fitted with gravel and landscsping fabric. Do you think that the waterproof sheet will help keep moisture away from the oak and extend its life? Or could it possibly worsen the life of the retaining sleepers by retaining moisture against the wood? We would value your opinion (and everyone in the comments) if you think there is a correct answer here!
As for the stainless steel screws, we found Spax 160mm screws to be amazing, pulling the oak sleepers together even when bowed. We picked them up in B&Q, but they were extremely expensive for screws, but well worth every cent.
James Atkinson my thinking is that well drained is better than water tight as there is always a risk of trapping moisture. Landscape fabric and gravel sounds good to me. 👍
The Restoration Couple Thanks, I was starting to think this might be the better approach too. Thanks for the reply!
Great videos and a fantastic looking wall.
I'm wanting to do a wall the same and fit some decking boards on top to create a walkway alongside my garage but the ground i have is deep clay which retains water so after a heavy rainfall the water can sit there for a few days. Is oak robust enough not to rot away in water or is it not worth doing?
Thanks
Hi how much did you pay for the oak sleepers?
Can you use oak dowels on soft wood sleepers?
No problem why not. You use oak or hardwood dowels in softwood timber frames.
You need a belt sander instead of planer.
I quite agree - I have found that a belt sander (using 40 grit) is best to remove rough material quickly. Thanks for a great video.
Send us a picture of them now please? maybe on Twitter if you have it
Many thanks
Woodglut is a good solution for every woodworker.
Im concerned you're stroking dogs wrong.