How to protect wooden sleepers for in-ground use?

[robinbrar]

Hey, I am making retaining wall for my frontyard by using H4 treated pine wooden sleepers. I want the sleepers to last longer, prevent from decay as they are going to be in contact with soil and in ground use. Can you please suggest me the ways how to prepare the ground and the sleepers before laying them down. I also want some suggestions about which paint I can use?

 

[Noyade]

Morning @robinbrar 

I made treated pine boarders around garden areas with the lower surface resting at the level of the concrete. This was enough to stop bark/mulch from 'escaping' under the sleepers. I found the wet sleepers twisted, buckled and bowed if the ends weren't quickly fastened so I bolted and screwed them to brackets attached to gal pipe embedded in concrete. Various angles can be achieved

I painted with Dulux Wheathershield.

Nothing was applied to the wood underside - maybe I should have? - but my logic at the time was should a piece rot, simply unbolt it and replace.

This was 2005. No issues - yet.

Just a thought.

Cheers!

[JacobZ]

Hi @robinbrar,

Thank you for your question.

As they are treated to H4 standard, they are already protected against things like termites, borers and fungus, but to prolong your sleeper's life even further, you should try to keep water away from them.

Painting them with an external paint such as Dulux Weathershield or Taubmans All Weather will certainly help prevent water from soaking in. This would both look good and have positive effects on the sleeper's longevity as water will not soak in. 

Adding drainage gravel and agi pipe behind your retaining wall to direct water away from the timber will also help. Check out How to install garden drainage for some guidance.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob