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Raised Beds using sleepers

willtoymarJvJtsbkhwilltoymarJvJtsbkh Posts: 7
in Tools and techniques
Hello all,

I plan to make some wooden sleeper raised beds. Should I line them to help prolong the life of the wood?

If so, what should I use? Pond liner?

All the very best  :)

Will
"Time you enjoy wasting, is not wasted time." John Lennon.

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,341
    Hi Will
    I had raised beds put in a few years ago using pressure treated sleepers.
    I didn't use any lining as I thought anything plastic-like between the soil and the wood would trap moisture making it unable to 'breathe'.
    5 years on and the sleepers still appear to be fine
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • willtoymarJvJtsbkhwilltoymarJvJtsbkh Posts: 7
    Hi @Pete.8 ,

    That makes sense actually, I think I will go with your suggestion, thanks Pete.

    All the very best

    Will
    "Time you enjoy wasting, is not wasted time." John Lennon.
  • Mrs-B3-Southampton,-HantsMrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants Posts: 580
    If you do want to line them then a common suggestion is using empty compost bags. Probably on the basis that you'll be buying the compost anyway.
    Southampton 
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,371
    As an 'anti-Raised Beds' person, I was browsing the Internet recently for a totally different reason and came across 'British Recycled Plastics' who produce a large variety of what they call 'lumber' in a choice of black or brown, for a number of applications.  I've no experience of its durability or whether one can drill it etc., but it's worth a look if RB's are what you want?
  • willtoymarJvJtsbkhwilltoymarJvJtsbkh Posts: 7
    Hi @Mrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants and @nick615,

    Much appreciated suggestions. I'm now thinking not to use a liner, but thanks.

    Very interesting @nick615, looking at that now.

    Thing is though, I'm looking to do something similar to this with seats. So it will need a lot of cutting and joining and not really sure if the plastic will do the trick here.

    Les Mable39s raised beds with bench seats from new railway sleepers

    I really do appreciate the feedback folks.

    Thanks

    Will :)
    "Time you enjoy wasting, is not wasted time." John Lennon.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,341
    Wow that's impressive. Hope you manage to create something similar.
    My woodworking skills only developed to the stage of making a milk bottle holder at school 😁
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • willtoymarJvJtsbkhwilltoymarJvJtsbkh Posts: 7
    edited June 2021
    Hi @Pete.8,

    Ha ha ha, I get you man. Yup, remember though, this is an example of what I'd like, not actually what I have. So with that in mind, I still have a long way to go, and perhaps a few swear words in between....  :D
    "Time you enjoy wasting, is not wasted time." John Lennon.
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,371
    willtoymarJvJtsbkh  I managed to find their website   https://britishrecycledplastic.co.uk/ and, from the look of the products they show, some of them are screwed together etc.
  • willtoymarJvJtsbkhwilltoymarJvJtsbkh Posts: 7
    Hi @nick615,

    Thanks mate, I had a look and it seems they have kits for differing lengths. But I'm not sure how easy it would be to go "off piste" so to speak with adding the seats I'm after.

    Perhaps I can talk to them. Thanks for the info though.
    "Time you enjoy wasting, is not wasted time." John Lennon.
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