New Sleeper Retaining Border

Voyagerxp

Hi guys i'm wanting to replace my old retaining border made from gravel boards and concrete posts with sleepers but unsure the best way to go about it. the pictures below show my old boarder, it is higher at the front but lower up the side of the path.  What would be the best way to move up the side of the path due to the fact that it runs up at a steep angle. Any thoughts would be great as i've never used sleepers before.

hogweed

You would have to excavate down at bits so your sleepers still run horizontal. SO your sleeper foundations would be stepped. 

Voyagerxp

Thanks Hogweed, that's the way i thought it would have to be.

Samantha Powell

I would excavate a trench a long the side of the path and concrete the sleepers vertically this would eliminate the need for steps foundations. Just ensure you have at least 6inches of concrete backing/behind the sleepers. I've done this and it looks great as you can step the sleepers or slope them. 

Voyagerxp

Have you got any pics of your boarder Sam?

Lizzie27

I would be inclined to keep the concrete gravel boards in place, so they help to retain the soil and lay your sleepers in front to hide them. As the others say, you would have to step up the sleepers to accommodate the slope. The recommended way to secure sleepers is by drilling right through them and putting steel rods in, but our workmen just hammered in wooden long "pegs" and screwed the sleepers to them on the inside face.

Samantha Powell

As requested. 

Samantha Powell

In lieu of sleepers you could use 6x6 treated posts. These are ideal for forming retaining walls and cheaper than sleepers. Simply level the ground, drill 2-3 10mm diameter holes through and then hammer 600mm long 10mm rebar through the hole and into the ground. Very effective!! I formed my steps this way

Samantha Powell