OAK vs SOFTWOOD for Garden Projects

A look at some of the pros and cons of using oak sleepers in garden and landscaping projects.
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[@braindeadtoo]

Thanks. this is just what I'm looking for. I've now decided to go for softwood.

[@Dazzlar7]

Glad I bought oak after this video. Just need to build my retaining wall now lol joys of having a sloped garden

[@davidgrover2665]

About to build oak raised beds - I have 6.7x150 stainless screws & wondered if you have any advice on both diameter & depth of pilot holes I should use for these screws please? Is it best to use an auger bit? Thx

[@rogergalpin]

Worth mentioning that sapwood is perishable (same with all species) so will not last very long in ground contact; mine have lasted approx. 3 years

[@edwardbass1929]

Is a wood preservative needed for oak?

[@BB-tx8ty]

I've used Oak sleepers as my posts for my woodstore, their's splits in the timber as it has dried but I'm sure they'll be fine

[@JB-ud2fr]

What size are those sleepers you used?

[@peteclarke4906]

Hi. I’ve come across Canadian new oak sleepers. Does Canadian have the same durability as euro oak for outdoor retaining wall ? Keep up the good work.

[@TheRestorationCouple]

All depends, I prefer European, main concern would be so make sure it’s white oak if from elsewhere as red oak not durable. Supposedly Canadian can be straighter but not had much experience with it.

[@lameduck3630]

For my raised bed I'll use bitumen roof felt adhesive painted on the areas where it's in contact with the soil.

[@Andylouisoulful]

I was advised to do the same last week

[@asensibleyoungman2978]

Doesn't that contaminate the soil?

[@richyandliz4802]

Hello. Could you please tell me which editing package you use for your videos? I recognise some music from the gopro app but I notice you can fade in and out the music and extend the music and other features I cannot do on gopro Quick. Thanks

[@TheRestorationCouple]

FCPX 👍

[@elcam84]

White oak is a great choice for that application however here in the US it's extremely uncommon to be used for landscaping due to the extremely high cost as well as availibility unless you live in a region with lots of oak trees and small sawmills. What do those cost there?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

A few similar comments, I guess this one is more suited to European viewers then. Here an 8' 8x4'' sleeper/beam is around £18 in pressure treated vs £25 in oak. The oak is of course a lower grade and not joinery quality, if you were to use better quality oak it would be 2-3x the price. Oak is still seen as a high end material for woodworking and interiors and demands a high price most of the time.

[@elcam84]

The Restoration Couple Thanks for the reply. That's not a bad price at all. Here in treated yellow pine it runs $30 to $35 and is a special order item at the commercial lumberyards. 4x6 is readily available but very poor quality as in preformed boat building lumber. The best treated lumber I have seen in the us was in Hawaii where I grew up and they had their own wood treating plant. Very well treated as termites are a huge problem that there. Next trip to England I plan to visit building supply stores and tool stores because I like seeing what's available in other countries and always looking for new tools to bring home.

[@Stunl3y]

Sorry probrably a dumb question, whats the difference between Oak L sleepers and French

[@nikcrosina]

I was advised by Osmo that their oils will not work (well) on green oak sleepers (as these are) as their moisture content is way above 20% (the limit on which their oils will work with. How did you overcome this, or did you disregard this? .

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Usually leave for a few months. With sleepers and raised beds you are usually only treating one face so not actually sealing in completely. Never had any issues. 👍

[@nikcrosina]

@@TheRestorationCouple thanks! :)

[@user-my9yn4yn6y]

I’ve always said if your building something you want to last for decades not years, always go for oak. Especially if your going to spend a long time building it to a high standard always go for oak it’s going to be worth the extra cost in the long run not to mention it looks fantastic. Unless you are using free wood always go for oak if you are buying some for a big project.

[@jwheeler91]

Where did you get your oak?

[@asensibleyoungman2978]

A tree.

[@TRPGpilot]

An oak tree.

[@jeffstraw466]

Unthinkable in western Canada. There isn't an oak tree within 2000 klms. Cost would be through the roof - if they were available. Are these oak sleepers preferred over the myriad of precast concrete block products available?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Yet I bet your softwood is more affordable than here. As far as concrete options and natural stone, yes they all have their place and are perhaps more common than wood especially in commercial. However if you prefer to work with wood then oak is a nice durable option, well here at least. :-)

[@hifiandmtb]

@@TheRestorationCouple All oak should meet FSC - excerpt from another article: SUSTAINABILITY: Be on your guard when buying oak as imports from Poland, Russia and the Ukraine are often linked with the destruction of ancient forests and illegal logging. Oak from Estonia may well be illegal and French oak isn’t well regulated. Cork oak forests cover much of southern Europe and north Africa. In Spain and Portugal these forests are home to the Iberian lynx, the world’s most endangered big cat, and the Spanish imperial eagle, of which there are only 150 pairs the world. These forests need improved management

[@drazenbabich]

Jeff Straw - Same in New Zealand. Oak, Walnut, Ash, Beech, Maple etc are few and far between, pretty much unavailable to the general population. There are some importers here that would bring these "exotic" timbers into the country but they work on per-order, as well as mills which finish them up and ready them for larger commercial projects orders. We do however have plenty of a 'borderline hardwood' called Macrocarpa (Monterey Cypress), originally introduced to NZ from California. This is pretty much perfect timber for outdoor applications as it can be placed into the ground and doesn't require preservatives or protective oils, so comes to us consumers non-treated and natural. I use Macrocarpa sleepers for most of my garden work, they are available in many dimensions most popular being 100x50mm, 200x100, 300x150 etc. Radiata pine and Douglas Fir are the 'default' timbers in NZ, mainly used for construction. As you can see we aren't much sophisticated in this regard :). To use them in exterior applications they require at least H3.2 treatment, if in the ground like fence-posts, H4 or H5 is required as all pine rots eventually if not treated or looked after (oiled or stained) periodically. South Asia is a good source of some hardwoods like Kwila, Vitex, Garapa, Ipe, Jatoba, Purpleheart etc. However these all come with their fair share of issues requiring specific installations and all exude varied looks and finishes which aren't everyone's cup of tea..

[@geoffnewman3109]

No mention of warping !

[@TheRestorationCouple]

There isn’t huge amount to worry about in 8” beams, well certainly not in a garden situation. 👍

[@xX88B88Xx]

1:12 balls dropped

[@bobcharlie7982]

Price i paid it was £15 for softwood and £20 for oak. It was a no brainer really

[@samoanSAIYAN]

Softwood won't last long. Only way for it to last longer is to treat it. Treating it with poison to be durable and using that for a vege garden is plain fkn stupid. Hardwood is naturally durable in a vege patch garden and doesn't require treating therefore safer for veges. $20 for oak. No brainer

[@bobcharlie7982]

@@samoanSAIYAN yep exactly, the oak sleepers are currently sat in my garden haha Guna give them a coat of clear Osmo UV oil Im also backfilling behind the oak sleepers with gravel, with a non woven membrane seperating the gravel and earth Im also putting a 75mm perforated land drain to the rear in the gravel connected to my drain

[@martybli]

Good price that Bob. I’ve just bought 30 oak sleepers and had to pay £31 each plus vat. Even had to pay £30 delivery. Did you use the Osmo? I’m not sure yet what to do. Same with the SS fixings.

[@bobcharlie7982]

@@martybli yes very good price. I had to shop around but could say no at that price. But had to basicly take them there and then. Iv not used them yet. I will be in the next few weeks. I will be using osmo

[@robdavies9709]

Where did u get it that cheap?

[@jordanleigh6481]

Only con for me it's fucking heavy. Them oak sleepers are a back beaker on the 3m lengths