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All our sleepers are pressure treated with TANALITH.(green) or TANATONE (brown). The high pressure treatment process is carried out in a fully enclosed timber treatment vessel, An initial vacuum is applied which evacuates air from the chamber. The chamber is then flooded with the treatment and stain if required. Hydraulic pressure is then applied to the vessel, which forces the treatment into the sleepers. once this process is complete, the hydraulic pressure is released and and excess treatment is returned to an external tank. The sleepers are then left to dry for a period before they are ready to be used.
This process helps preserve the timber from insect damage and early decay seen in untreated sleepers. To prolong the life of your sleepers further we recommend the use of membrane where the sleeper comes into direct contact with soil, such as in raised beds or retaining walls. It is also important that adequate drainage is provided to the underside of the sleepers.
Our new sleepers are intended for use in gardens and shouldn’t be confused with the old reclaimed sleepers that were used on railway track. The old sleepers were treated with a tar creosote treatment, with the original intent to prolong the life for many many years for it’s intended purpose. Once removed from the tracks these were sold for a variety of uses and some used in gardens. This came with usage restrictions because of the chemicals used in the treatment for the original purpose. Our new sleepers do not contain the same chemicals as used railway sleepers and are perfectly safe to use in your garden.
We have sold these sleepers for many years, using predominantly the same suppliers throughout that period. issues with the longevity have been extremely rare. We have vast experience in working with timber ourselves and know fully that timber varies tremendously as it is a completely natural product. We therefore avoid offering any predicted lifespan for the sleepers even if the supplying sawmill does. We are mindful that every piece of timber is different and will therefore react differently to the elements and outdoor conditions, particularly if poorly fitted or misused. With that it mind, we feel that it is unwise to offer any guarantee and have never done so. We are often asked about treating sleepers periodically and whereas our sleepers are treated we would recommend that a good quality wood preservative is applied every 2 to 3 years. This will help to preserve the timber and offer a longer lifespan.