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Protecting railway sleepers, what have you used?

MissymrMissymr Posts: 24
in Tools and techniques

Hi Guys

 

We have ordered our railway sleepers which have been treated. 

We want to paint them when we get them, one for colour and also to protect them further. 

Any suggestions on what to use without it being too expensive? 

Thanks 

Missymr image

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Central Norfolk UKPosts: 54,528

    We've not used anything - we like the way they're developing a patina and blending into the garden.  However, if you want something less natural and smarter, I'd use one of the coloured fence paints - we've recently used Cuprinol Garden Shades Seagrass on our fences and are very pleased with it.  Our builder recommended it as being good quality.

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • PalaisglidePalaisglide Posts: 3,414

    My question is why????

    The sleepers will have been pressure tannalised which will last for years gradually mellowing with time. You buy sleepers as a focus point lifting plants to a higher viewing point, if you want fancy colours then do not waste money, build raised boxes and paint them. Remember the paint as with a fence will need renewing every couple of years to keep it looking fresh, once started it becomes a continuous job.

    Run ferns and lichens over the edges of the sleepers to soften them, ivy and creeping plants trailing down will give colour, you could always do what the railway do and tar them, OK silly though I think you would live to regret painting them.

    Frank.

  • Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800

    I've had sleepers all the way round for my borders and wouldn't paint them, I wanted them for the natural effect and as Frank says, I have put a couple of creeping plants over the edge to soften them, also used some plants with longer leaves so they hang over too. The borders still need to establish, but in time will look lovely image (I hope)

  • ObelixxObelixx Vendée, Western FrancePosts: 16,805

    This has been discussed on another thread - http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/garden-design/worn-looking-railway-sleepers/285659.html where the general consensus was also to leave them natural.

    The only reason to paint them would be as a design statement - like those fuchsia/orange/turquoise walls Diarmuid Gavin used to put in his garden designs for TV.  In which case Cuprinol is a good quality, water based product but you'll need several coats and will have to maintain it over the years to keep it looking fresh. 

    Faded Cuprinol is not pretty.  OH and I have just been replacing posts and trellis panels following storm damage.  The posts were once blue and are proving a nightmare to sand down.  In my case, I want them natural for another project but it would be just as hard to clean them up for repainting.  I shall probaly end up buying new and cutting these down to make new coldframes.

    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • MissymrMissymr Posts: 24
    Yeah you're all right, we have decided to keep them as they are.

    We don't want to ruin them and start something we'll need to maintain. We just thought they would need some extra protection so we're happy image



    thanks all, now I need help with what plants to put in the borders so I'll start another thread



    Missymr
  • Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800

    Good decision missymr image, I hope you'll like them as much as I like mine.

  • Karen.mcmahon1Karen.mcmahon1 Posts: 1
    Hi all
    i have some very old dark hardwood sleepers that I am using in my garden.
    i really wanted to paint them grey but feel they are too dark (tarry in some places) will they eventually go grey?  Or can I do something with them?  Thank you Karen 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Central Norfolk UKPosts: 54,528
    If they're tarry then paint won't 'take' on them.
     I would leave them as they are and over time you'll get mosses and lichens growing on them and theyll look wonderful - just as beautiful in their way as mossy old rocks. 
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • ObelixxObelixx Vendée, Western FrancePosts: 16,805
    We used old, ex railway dark sleepers to make retaining walls and edges in our last garden.  They didn't take long to fade and go silvery and start growing moss.  probably something to do with all the rain in Belgium.............

    If you're in a hurry to lighten them, use a pressure washer to speed up the process.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
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