How To Build a Retaining Wall with Sleepers? Different Types of Retaining wall Sleepers
How To Build a Retaining Wall with Sleepers
Retaining Wall
A retaining wall is a structure in which soil and other materials are held in place by the weight of the materials adjacent to it.
This usually happens as a way to prevent soil erosion, or on hilly landscapes as a way to keep the land level when there is no natural slope.
For many homeowners, a retaining wall is a necessary addition to their property. Retaining walls provide a way to increase the usable space and create more usable landings for an area. Construction can be difficult, but sleepers provide a solution.
How To Build a Retaining Wall with Sleepers?
Before building a retaining wall, it’s important to have a plan in order to ensure the wall is structurally sound and to allow for proper maintenance.
When deciding on the layout, be sure to take into account what you want to use the wall for. Retaining walls are built with layers of stone or concrete that are placed one on top of the other.
They have no allowance for drainage, so water will pool at the bottom of a wall.
Once the wall is complete, you can make sure it’s structurally sound with a soil test and fill in the gaps if necessary.
Retaining walls are built against a prepared surface, so they need to be level or nearly level creating an even slope.
Retaining Wall Sleepers Types
There are several types of sleepers for retaining walls, and they are made to last for extended periods of time.
There are also several types of materials that can be used to build a retaining wall with sleepers, and the choice will depend on several factors.
Concrete, timber, and railway sleepers are the materials most commonly used for retaining walls, and each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
The choice will depend on the budget, purpose, and availability of the materials used. Concrete is a material that can withstand the elements for a very long time, but it is also quite expensive.
Timber is a cheaper option and it lasts just as long as concrete, but it needs to be sealed to protect it from moisture damage, such as rotting.
Railway sleepers are inexpensive compared to timber or concrete sleepers. While they are not as solid, they are good for creating a temporary wall until a more permanent wall can be built.
Railway sleepers can also be reused, and they come pre-treated to make them resistant to moisture and other weather conditions.
Other materials that can be used to build a retaining wall with sleepers include corrugated iron sheets, wood pallets, bricks, stone blocks or boulders, and timbers. For each of these materials the work will vary depending on the structure.
Step 1: Gather the Materials
These materials are available at most hardware stores, and you will need to check with them which materials will work the best in your situation.
The materials you gather for building a retaining wall with sleepers should include:
Railway sleepers – you will need to check which type of timber sleepers you want, as they come in pine, beech, or oak.
Keep in mind that using a railway sleeper for temporary walls might take more than one layer of sleepers to achieve the desired height.
Use a steel tape measure to make sure that you lay the sleepers in a straight line. Concrete sleepers – also known as precast concrete slabs, these are made of solid concrete and are easy to apply.
Timber or stone – timber will be used for the side wall on the ground level, and there will be stone or boulders for the top part of the retaining wall.
Pallets or wood pallets, bricks, rocks, and stones – these will be used for the bottom part of the retaining wall.
Step 2: Install Sleeper Beams/Rails
The next step in building a retaining wall is to install sleeper beams down the side of the hill you’re planning on using as your wall.
When choosing the size and placement of your wall, think about what will be on the other side.
If you don’t have enough space on your property to build a wall, consider using the area to build a retaining wall instead and make use of the area for whatever purpose you want.
You can choose to put in stairs or steps on the paths near your retaining walls, but keep in mind that this is not always possible depending on how steep your terrain is.
The next step is to properly prepare for construction. When preparing for construction, make sure there aren’t any trees or other obstacles in the way of where you want to place the wall.
If you’re going to construct a wall, then it needs to go up straight.
You need to dig trenches along the wall that are at least 15 inches deep and allow for the width of the beams as well. This will create a level base and allow achieving a consistent height with no gaps.
Before you install your beams, you’ll need to make sure the bed of your trench is wide enough to hold a 2×4. Be sure to measure carefully and use the proper sized cordless drill, so this step is completed correctly.
The bridge and track will be located under the sleepers. The bridge and track will serve as support for the sleepers so they do not move. This is where you need to make sure that you use proper spacing between each sleeper. This will help the wall to support the weight of soil and other materials on top of it.
Step 3: Lay out the Sleepers
How to build a retaining wall with sleepers? Check out the list, assemble all the materials needed for making a deck; Place concrete sleepers or pre-cast concrete slabs into position and fix them into place with metal brackets;
Place your timber supports on top of them. The next step is to add either stone or timber slabs on top of the sleepers.
The stone or timber will be fixed into place with metal brackets, and this can vary depending on how tall you want your retaining wall to be.
Step 4: Fill in the Gap between the Top of the Wall and the Ground Level
The top part of a retaining wall will have soil filled in there, and this soil will make sure that it is level with the ground around it.
Depending on your needs, you can use about either 10cm or 25cm of soil, but make sure that there is an easy way to add more soil later if it begins to slip. Make sure that the timber supports for the upper part of the wall are well spaced out as well.
Step 5: Make a Decorative Touch
Depending on what you want your retaining wall to look like will depend on what you will do with it. You can add a pillar, or design the wall with a structure on top of it to make it more interesting.
You can also add a top layer of stone, which will protect the timber from rot and moisture damage.
Step 6: Protect Your Retaining Wall
To keep your retaining wall safe for a very long time, you need to make sure that you go through a sealing process.
This will protect it from moisture damage, such as rotting or fungal growth. You will need to check with a professional how to best proceed with this step.
Even if you don’t seal the wall, it should be safe for many years, especially if you use railway sleepers for a construction retaining wall.
Step 7: Secure Your Retaining Wall
Your retaining wall is now finished and ready to be used. Make sure that you secure it to your land so that the weight of soil and other materials on top of it does not cause it to collapse.
How to build a retaining wall with sleepers? Check out the list, and follow these steps, and you will end up with a quality wall that can last for a very long time.
Building your own retaining wall is not an easy task, but it can be fun and a great do it yourself project. Once you get the hang of it you won’t need any professional help in building your retaining walls.
