subject: Using Railway Sleepers In Your Garden Projects [print this page] Railway sleepers are becoming an increasingly fashionable way to create interesting features in the home and garden. Sleepers are highly versatile and are both structural and decorative. Whether you are creating a raised flower bed or a peaceful outdoor seating area, railway sleepers are solid, long lasting and will provide character whatever the project.
There is a whole range of projects that sleepers are great for as they are highly durable and need very little maintenance once they are put in place. They come in a variety of sizes and can really give your garden a new look.
If you wanted to divide your garden up into sections but dont want fences or brick walls then railway sleepers can create the perfect subtle divider that will effortlessly fit in with the existing garden lay out.
Railway sleepers are also great for making the garden fun for the kids but still a relaxing and tranquil place for adults to spend time. You can incorporate a sandpit for the children made out of sleepers which is extremely easy to fashion and will provide hours of fun, but will still keep with the style of the garden when it is not in use, and when the kids grow out of it can easily be turned into a delightful flower bed.
Sleepers can also be used if you want to create something completely different in your garden that will be a talking point at summer garden gathering. A home-made seating area will be a great addition to a family garden and you can guarantee that no one else will have the same one.
There is also no reason why using railway sleepers in your garden should be boring. Places like schools and playgrounds have created some really fun and funky structures out of sleepers and by painting them in bright colours and patterns they have really brought the place to life.
There are some important factors to consider before you buy any sleepers though and you must ensure that you get the right sleepers for your project.
While older reclaimed sleepers look fantastic and create a natural rustic effect, many of them have been treated with creosote which can be harmful. They are best used in places where they will not come into to a great deal of physical contact. Untreated oak railway sleepers can give a similar rustic and worn effect but are generally safer to use in places that will come into a lot of human contact.
You should also consider the amount of labour involved in any project you undertake. If there is a project that requires a lot of lifting and carrying then softwood sleepers are much lighter and therefore easier to manoeuvre.
It is always a good idea to get help with large scale garden projects so as not to cause any injury to yourself or others.
