How to stop railway sleepers from rotting?

[jojo76]

I have some old railway sleepers I plans standing up for our letterbox and concreting them into the ground. My question is what can I put on them to preserve Them as they are now and not breaking down any further

[JacobZ]

Hi @jojo76,

That sounds like a fantastic letterbox that I would love to see when it is done.

My suggestion is to paint the portion of the railway sleeper that is going into the ground with 2-3 coats of Bitumen Waterproofing Membrane. This will help to keep water out of the timber, which can lead to premature rot.

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

Jacob

[jojo76]

thank you. Is there anything I can put on what will sit above ground?

[JacobZ]

Hi @jojo76,

You could paint the sleeper with 2-3 coats of an external paint such as Dulux Weathershield.

You could also use a few coats of an exterior grade varnish such as this Bondall 1L Satin Monocel Gold Marine Clear Timber Varnish.

Even some decking oil will help protect and enhance the look of the above-ground portion. 

Really, any kind of finish or sealer that is suitable for external use will do a wealth of good; it just depends on the aesthetic you are looking to achieve.

Jacob

[jojo76]

Thank you so much