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I am in the process of redesigning my back yard. My goal is to make really strong and sturdy wooden edging which won't warp. I had some edging in this home when I moved in and if the timber was 2cm thick that's probably being too kind and the stakes were short, small and pretty pathetic. It warped and completely dislodged within 12 months.
I have now manually edged my lawn to the shape I want it(see attached pictures) and my plan is to use 50mm thick treated pine sleepers for the edging and possibly some timber posts cut to 500mm in length for the stakes to solidly hold the sleepers upright in the ground and for a long time.
I will need to join sleepers together at 90 degree angles as i turn corners and also join sleepers in straight lines as some of my lengths are over 4M long.
Could I ask for some advice on:
1) the best material to use when joining 2 sleepers together in a straight line and at 90 degree angles(I was thinking a timber post could be used but there may be something better to achieve this?)
2) which timber screws would you recommend for this project?
3) any other advice you have for me would be most welcome as I am handy but have never done this before.
Thank you.
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Ifckop5. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about installing sleepers.
As you mentioned, the sleepers themselves can be used as the posts, or if you wanted a particularly strong board, you could use Ridgi 50 x 50 x 3mm 0.65m Galvanised Steel H Joiner Post and Ridgi 50 x 50 x 3mm 0.65m Galvanised Steel Corner Post. They would be overkill for a single sleeper high wall but are convenient to use as the sleeper just slots in.
It's advisable to break up your spans to avoid distortion of the sleepers. Sleepers will come in 1800, 2400, and 3000mm lengths, and if you are not retaining any soil, you could lay them in those lengths. However, to avoid warping, it's best to have an upright post at least every 2400mm.
If you decide to use all timber, then these landscape screws would be the best choice for your project.
Check out these helpful step-by-step guides: How to build a retaining wall and How to build a simple raised garden bed.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
Timber posts will be OK to use in the corners and for the central piece of the join, @Ifckop5.
Half-burying the sleepers shouldn't throw any spanners in the works.
Mitchell
Hi @lfckop5
"My goal is to make really strong and sturdy wooden edging which won't warp."
I found the warping ability of wet sleepers simply amazing. To 'tame' them I went with welded steel brackets set in concrete where the 'arms' could be bent to any angle that the bordering required and adhered with M10 bolts. In this example - scrap gal pipe for the post, which I filled later with spare concrete mix.
I would very much like to see your finished bordering. 👍
Sorry @Ifckop5, I missed your additional question. The soil will most likely work if you're not building up the garden bed behind the sleepers. However, given your requirement for a sturdy wooden edging, I'd recommend using concrete. It doesn't need to be a huge footer, perhaps 250 x 250mm.
Mitchell
