TIMBER SLEEPERS - 3 Ways to Build Walls and Raised Beds

[@jamesward2141]

Converted my garage following your videos and am now looking to do our garden and searched retaining wall in KZbin and couldn’t be happier to see you face - I haven’t even watched the video yet ha but know that I can trust your advice!

[@coffeefortwosolly]

I’ve watched every single one of your videos and still loved this .. I helped a friend lay a decking many year ago...we were novices ( and not too young ) and he sent a picture over after he had pressure washed like you do in isolation..and it’s still strong looking good...so proud! It’s good to look back and see these project stand the test of time. 🙋🏻‍♀️🇬🇧💕

[@sukikahlon1]

Thank you, I had so many questions about doing this properly, and you answered all of them. At least now I can do it with confidence and knowing it won't move or break.

[@martinb9996]

Great summary - thank you! A project for the Spring for me. I saw a nice lighting detail on another video which I’m going to use - sleeper wall built up on their edges with a top sleeper capping wide side down. Routing a groove along the underside to take an LED strip light. Looked great!

[@quasimsuhail8686]

do you have the link to that video please

[@Gaatyeo]

I did method #1 last year, followed your video. Very heavy work on your own, but results great. I bought the oaks dowels, but only used them as detail, I did not fancy being spun by the drill! Thanks for videos

[@TheRestorationCouple]

It was a little bucking bronco if you don’t hold on tight! 😂

[@Dogstho]

@@TheRestorationCouple Hi, can I build a small house out of this? Or no ? I just wondering because the wall out of this sleepers looks so good. Thanks

[@MrJarkeveld]

...perfect video..I have made a few ideas now..thanks for posting..Jason in Perth Australia

[@elizabethh4648]

Excellent work!! Thanks for sharing...

[@UKSegue]

Was thinking today about starting a project like this in the summer and then I see this notification. Very grateful !

[@jimmylittleuk]

Thanks for pulling this together. Great work. The cables hanging from your computer monitor triggered my OCD 😃

[@svong8789]

This is a superb video. Excellent build, and very well thought through.

[@jodybeard5974]

Great advice and such an easy video to watch and understand Tim. Thanks,All the best

[@JamesTombs]

Perfect timing. This is my project this summer. Currently doing lots of prep work getting lawn level.

[@philipoconnor2236]

How did you get on ?

[@metube5691]

Wondering the same!

[@cmsharpe2842]

I loved the vertical option but wonder if it holds up to boys walking across the tops like little squirrels. I know they will so thought I better ask!

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Yes definitely holds up. Can’t remember how old this video is but our girls still walk along it now ages 11,8 and 5!

[@markbutcher4100]

Looks very good. I’m surprised you didn’t include any drainage holes or pipes in the wall. Waters heavy.

[@stephenohear2133]

The colour on this sleepers at time 3:05 is absolutely fantastic deep colour. I heard you mentioned Osmo which I used for my internal oak flooring, but would anyone know what colour this is from Osmo external? Absolutely great job btw with those sleepers, its given me a bit of inspiration for another project, and i'd like them to colour match yours in the video!

[@rich3633]

I used a concrete strip footing and through bolted the the first row of sleepers down., Similar to a timber frame house. You have to counter bore the holes so the stud and nut sit below flush and you can get a socket on it. Its easy to get everything level first with the shuttering for the concrete. I just timberlock screw the rest together. Rock solid.

[@jodyking7020]

That was an amazing video. Thank you for the ideas

[@nickturpin709]

Hi, may I ask what saw you have now to cut sleepers? I need to cut a few, so any advice on this would be welcomed. Great video by the way 😊

[@heedmcheeed]

Hi in the raised beds (2nd project in this video) around 4:31 mins, you have some kind of black plastic lining with holes , is this for drainage /protection from soil touching the sleepers? And what is it called ? Many thanks , great work as always :)

[@MrWelshwhiz]

This is a really good video. Thanks.

[@gordonharper2869]

Great job looks amazing

[@hackettdavid]

Great video and information, but how can I fix sleepers down on to a concrete base that's already there . I'm stacking them up on the higher side as your 2nd video.

[@keiftaff8244]

Great video and well explained method

[@EldenSC]

Great video! On the second method, you fixed the corners with posts sitting inside the bed (hidden) but I was wondering what you did on the corners angling the other opposite way? I don't really want to put a post on the outside. Thanks.

[@kevinblitzcki2709]

Hello, You did a wonderful display of workmanship and skillfulness on this build and I hope you would be kind enough to answer those few questions: 1- You have anchored yours down to the ground using metal spikes to concrete, I have seen many builds where they dig a 3' long metal spike/peg into the ground but not sure how that will hold up over time as metal will rust out over time. I prefer your method. 2- If we're comparing the same build to a stone retaining wall, would timber be more cost-effective, and if so, by how much? 3- What would be the longevity expected from this wall compared to stone/cement build? I'm really looking to do my own retaining wall and I already know hiring a professional is going to cost thousands and having watched a few vids, it looks more than doable but there's always questions to be asked. Of course there's engineering involved in this and absolutely no cutting corners or cheaping out and but the results are definitely worth it. Many thanks again! :)

[@michaelhaile4994]

Thanks for the great video! What drill bit did you use for the 25mm dowel hole? Do you need a special drill to fit that size drill bit? Thanks again!

[@Lee-kd3be]

Love all three ideas. Currently looking to convert the front of my garden with sleepers. It’s a new build so the soil is very clayey and crap if I’m honest. Not the best at diy but hoping it doesn’t look crap when I’m finished lol

[@chetanasantoshkumar4676]

Wow,that's so professionally built,amazing!

[@freeman7788]

Good clip bro cheers from Oz...

[@Luke-pt5rn]

Hi I want to do something similar, regarding to 25mm drill holes what size dowels did you use? Thanks

[@martyshannon2144]

Thanks for the good information on how the are built 💯. I will be using this advice on my own build. Thanks again 👍

[@andrewrayner9339]

Fair play just seen your video on raised beds and sleeper wall, good ideas will defo try out, send pics when done. 👍🏻

[@simongb7897]

Just spent most of today clearing paving and dirt ready to do exactly this,raised beds and seating combined. But where do I get nice oak sleepers like that and those great looking dowels? look great and keeps it nice and rustic but clean.

[@paulwebber3282]

Hi new to channel. How do I put a more obtuse angle in sleepers for a corner? And can I just use sand and gravel as the bed please? Thanks

[@asensibleyoungman2978]

3:48 Where's your big sore? Is it on your bottom?

[@396032]

Your videos have given me the confidence to remodel our garden using oak sleepers. I'm using one course of sleepers between the patio and grass, because these will be walked on how would you fix them in? I was thinking a full bed of wet cement mix, or would leveling onto a bed of compacted mot and digging a hole each end of each sleeper and filling with cement and using stainless hex screws like you did be enough?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

If doing one course the best to do an anchor bolt in concrete as you have suggested. If laying on wet concrete you would risk trapping water and rotting and also as oak shrinks and moves a little it may start to rock on the solid base. Other option is to drive metal stakes down through in to soil but you would then have to make the top look good with dowels or make a feature of them somehow.

[@396032]

@@TheRestorationCouple Thanks so much for your advice Tim.

[@nicknaughton9781]

Can you advise what kind of 25mm drill bit you used or would use (anyone) to drill all the way through those sleepers. I want to use a good one that won't get stuck.

[@homesteadhousewife9964]

Yay! I like this vertical design!

[@TimBruce1]

Awesome. Really nice work.

[@davecatalyst]

Really helpful, thanks 🙏

[@AndyTaylor_Paintguy]

Good stuff Tim. I saw the original videos but it's nice to see a recap, especially as I have 22 sleepers turning up on Monday for a low retaining wall. Ground works almost finished, two 90 degree returns at the ends and steps built in the middle to lock it all together. Sounds easy lol 😆

[@timwilcox960]

Hi Andy - your comment caught my eye as all the builders and timber merchants where I live (South Devon) are closed - so I'm intrigued to know who you've found that's taking orders and making deliveries during the lock down? A link to your supplier would be much appreciated - thanks in advance! ;-)

[@AndyTaylor_Paintguy]

Same here Tim, I ended up getting them online from railwaysleepers.com. Probably not the cheapest way of doing it but as you say, most timber yards are closed.

[@daz8418]

great channel ....been thinking of a sauna made from sleepers for the backyard...any tips

[@amateurtorque6709]

Thanks so much for this video. Im pleased you've shown it four years after as well.

[@thebobsmith1991]

Great wirk. I always wish we could get price estimates.

[@callumshawyer-west1029]

What size circular saw did you upgrade to? looks the perfect size

[@niallkennedy23]

very useful video dude. thanks for posting it.

[@billsicander7371]

Sorry if I am wrong, but I did not heard about joints between sleepers ? Aren’t we supposed to install such joints ? Thank you for this video

[@shadsz1444]

Lovely advice and clear love it

[@olivermarsh2183]

You completely inspired me to build a Sleeper wall. Would never have had the confidence before so thank you. Its gone great and looks wonderful. Would you be able to provide a link to the osmo oil you used as I love the finish and colour you ended with?

[@bartoni79]

With the 3rd method, it doesn’t look like the sleepers are that deep? Do they not bow outwards due to the weight of soil and rain in the winter? Also how long before they rot on average?

[@FrancisForsyth-w6y]

For anyone looking to build raised beds which will last I recommend using oak gravel boards. These are fairly cheap compared to sleepers and are still thick enough for raised beds. Much longer lasting than pressure treated woods and won’t leach chemicals into soil!

[@markgriffiths6405]

How deep would you recommend for posts on a single retaining sleeper 200mm height upright?

[@daveyes9571]

Great video, thanks. What did you line the beds with at 4.34, and how did you fix it to the timber - stapled? Would DPM sheet do the trick? Presumably you have geotextile on the bottom? Thanks!

[@BanditEssex]

Some really excellent advice there. Great Video, at 3:00 minutes approx you've used OSMO UV Oil, would you happen to know which colour that was?.

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Oak colour. 👍

[@SteveZussou]

i like the vertical wall, 'im going to do a mix of horizontal, then add a vertical curve to retain a driveway space. Cheers

[@christophercrowley7574]

Does the sleepers on their ends save more in terms of using less sleepers ?

[@DavidJHarrisonEssex]

Thanks. Very good/interesting video. I was thinking of making a sleeper 'unit' but I was thinking on having the bottom one FLAT & the others.on top of that on their sides, what do you think? Now I've seen this I will put post at each corner for added strength. I'm now thinking of drilling holes through them as you did.on your 1st build but using METAL bars through the sleepers that are on their sides as well as metal plates screwed to them, what you think? Thanks.

[@BrasherFox]

Good greef, have I been watching these vlogs 6 years!!! How time flys and I remember watching those. But hey, your children where just babes then!!!!! Here's to the next 6.

[@joannelord5015]

Very helpful thank you!

[@jandusko]

Very nice outcome and precise trimming. The only question I'd have is how long would it last without chemical treatment of that retaining wall at the end of the video.. I woul be suspicious. Done some projects myself and seems to me that not only the soil is culprite but moisture generally, concrete contact would do same in my opinion but i wished I'd be wrong.

[@otway00]

I used rebar to hold my lumber together. drilled hole thru all of the stack of lumber and used piece of rebar long enough to go into ground to hold lumber in place.

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Yeah that’s a good option especially with softwood.

[@Varun9287]

Thanks for a great reminder video, very useful! I'm planning to put a retaining wall using sleepers in the middle of my sloping garden to create 2 separate flat terraces. Can you please suggest how should I tackle drainage in the garden area which will be behind the 600mm sleeper wall? The subsoil is heavy clay..

[@chchedda]

Excellent video mate. Just what I need for my garden project in summer. Is it best to set your sleepers first then do the crusher run/ soil bed.

[@glenbulman3362]

What did you use to fill in the raised beds??

[@graemesmith8509]

Great projects. With the sleepers soldiered end on how deep did you dig the trench ? For gravel and to the lower open side?

[@sp3nc3rda]

....okay, got to that part in the video. I have a small circular saw. What can you do to make sure the cuts line up and you don't end up with ugly ends?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Small circ saw from both sides should leave clean if blade set up square. A belt sander or plane can smarten up a little too.

[@raindance1962]

What size wood did you use?

[@lukesnell9277]

so should we really only look to use white oak for garden projects? is there much visual difference between white oaks?

[@hilshils3426]

We have used method 1 & 2, using sleeper brackets to fix firmly into the ground for first ‘layer’, also keeps corners rigid. Loved your third way too...saw an example locally. Have you done one on sleeper steps?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

There were two steps last months in the bbq area build. 👍

[@darkspeed62]

Do you only have to overlap at the corners as long as the length of your project allows for it if doing a raised bed?

[@themechanicaladvantage3697]

Great video, I’m starting my own sleeper retaining wall project soon, I’m going to stack them with the thin side down as in your second video, with support sleepers at the front vertically, would you concrete in the first course of sleepers?

[@lewispewsey6843]

Hello Tim how are you and the family loved the video as always stay safe

[@TheRestorationCouple]

All good here thank you. Keeping busy. 👍

[@munafmufc01]

Always helpful and inspiring, excellent techniques. Your a pro. Hope you are all well and safe.

[@szim71]

What do you think about painting the base and the sides of the timber where it meets soil with bitumen paint? Is it going to protect the oak from rot or the waterproofing mght be a bad idea since timber rots more quickly mainly due to water not being able to seep away? Thanks

[@gwp1ohio]

were these green or kiln dried

[@MrJohnnynapalm7]

A very useful summary, Tim. Hope you’re all keeping safe and well 👍

[@antoniohenrique7966]

I love it!!!

[@davescopes249]

I'm building one soon in vertical. From about 4 foot down to about 8 inch. In a curved pattern. Thanks for sharing your video. 👍

[@tomdavis8644]

Hi, how deep did you dig down n your vertical wall? I’m looking for a 60cm wall, and hoping 30cm (90cm sleeper length)trench is deep enough

[@davescopes249]

@@tomdavis8644 Hi I'm a bit old school and measure in feet and inches most of the time. But on the sections of railway sleepers that are around 4foot out of the ground I dug down around 18 inches and put around 2 inches of gravel for drainage then concrete. As I worked down to the lower sleepers I just dug a bit less. On the ones that are only around 4 inches out of the ground I just used around 3 inches of concrete. I did it a few months ago now and it's as solid as a rock. I did fix a metal strap to the rear of them just below ground level. The galvanised metal strap was just the mesh trim that plasterers use. I hope this helps you mate. Good luck 👍

[@tomdavis8644]

@@davescopes249 Thanks Dave, Imperial mine will be 2 foot out and 1 foot deep, which sounds sufficient... What concrete mix ratio did you use?👍

[@davescopes249]

@@tomdavis8644 yes mate. If you are only having the sleepers 2 foot out of the ground then one foot deep is more than enough. I used a 6 part ballast to one part cement mix roughly. It won't need to be spot on. 👍

[@tomdavis8644]

@@davescopes249 was it a dry mix like in the video? Thanks 👍

[@sp3nc3rda]

What did you use to cut them?

[@RADCOMJ1]

loved watching this, great ideas!!..it actually made me a bit tired watching you work though lol

[@davenunn7259]

Bahco 244. 7 teeth 8 points handsaw. Fantastic cut edge and only takes 2 mins to cut

[@jonny5777]

We’ve built our raised bed using sleepers but I can’t find how I should fill them. The base is old paving slabs so I need a base of gravel or something then a membrane and the soil etc. I’m just not sure about drainage and planting (furniture maker not a gardener ha) Good video by the way 👍

[@bryancarder5943]

Great video. Stay safe

[@KevinSmith-bj3td]

Great vid, really useful👍👍

[@allthegearuk]

Hi Tim, for the wall around your patio what size sleepers did you use? thanks

[@SamDaviesBuilder]

Very helpful video, going to try a small raised bed today! (I normally only work with masonry related stuff!)

[@nigelbullock9039]

You inspired me to build some walls using sleepers. I used a mixture of your great ideas. I built the walls by using the 200mm height on top of each other. Then I drilled a hole and then used timco long screws to secure. Then used dowls to fill the space I have drill out to make it look like Tim's impressive dowls that had been drilled all the way through all the sleepers. This way I hid the screws and had dowls instead.

[@jontoasland6336]

I noticed you had a membrane on the raised bed where the sleepers are on their side . Would this just be a DPM stapled to the sleepers just to give a bit more protection ?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Dpm could trap moisture. Raised beds I usually leave or use a tanking membrane that keeps a gap between membrane and wood.

[@viciousonion]

Going sound like a daft question but what type of sander do you use to get that finish?

[@andrewwhitaker4578]

Hi thanks for sharing this brilliant video. I'm going to be making a raised patio using the sleepers on edge method with 4x4 fence posts as supports (the 2nd way shown here). Apart from the fixings being stainless steel what thickness should the coach screws be? and how long? 7"? Thanks a lot. Really enjoyed watching the video. Thanks.

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Take a look at last weeks video. Might be a better guide, 150 landscaping screws are best.

[@ianh9871]

Laying them on the 4 inch edge, say three high with concreted posts behind, is the gravel foundation so important (30 metre straight run to do)

[@KaemanR]

Great video - really helped me decide layout and fixing. Can you tell me which specific Osmo oil you used on the laid flat? Looks great!

[@wemoveforward6413]

Hi mate. Hope you're well. I'm in the process of building a sleeper retaining wall. I'll be using RSJs vertically concreted in. Might be a silly question but how big should I dig the holes. I'm doing half in the hole half out. It's just the diameter of the hole I'm curious about. Thanks

[@xbox360charlie]

Used your method before for stacking! Great video as always. I am going to do vertical now for a retaining wall on a driveway(sloped) how deep does the the trench have to be to support the load behind? Cheers!

[@TheWidowMaker.]

Hi mate, did you figure this out at all? I got the same project, my slope is quite steep and I need a height of about 3-4ft

[@xbox360charlie]

@@TheWidowMaker. Hi, what I did was cement a sleeper deep every 6 and used fence rails on the back side and have a smaller trench in between. I cemented the trench and applied tar to the back to protect them. You might want to do every 4 or so deep or a deeper smaller trench as your wall will be higher than mine but it should hold, I've had no problems since I finished the project.

[@wizspencer]

Well this came at good time

[@niallkennedy23]

Nice one mate. Gony have a bash at this over the summer.

[@shaughnmcgurk5891]

Just about to start on my sleeper beds, I was wondering what concrete you used for the posts on the kitchen garden build - where you just pour in the mix and then just add water. Any advice gratefully received. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@TheRestorationCouple]

It was just postcrete. 👍

[@shaughnmcgurk5891]

@@TheRestorationCouple Thank you - any particular brand?

[@shaughnmcgurk5891]

Blue Circle - discovered myself. Thanks very much.

[@alastairb9866]

Hi Tim - not sure if you'll see this but if so I have a question. In my back garden I have a patio that goes most of the width of the garden but had about 70-90cm on the sides where it's just soil. It's a total mess and not be touched in 10+ years (I only just moved!) but my plan was to build a 'raised' bed with oak sleepers, maybe only two high. However I'm wondering if I can just lay them on top of the pavings at the edge? There is concrete at an angle at the end of the pavings and there is no tidy edging to them, so my plan was to disguise that with a sleeper on top as the break between paving and bed. Appreciate any response in advance if you're able to give one!

[@TheRestorationCouple]

I doubt you would have any issues. We have a few that were ‘temporarily’ sat on soil as lawn edging and they haven’t budged in years. Perhaps shim them with some slate if they are rocking at all. I guess you just need to think ahead and see if it will be an issue for any future plans.

[@SolivG]

Some great tips here and love the channel. Followd quite a few of your projects. Any tips on dealing with slightly sloping garden when laying long sleepers?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Doing it this week myself. I will put a post in and mark the brightest finish height, then run a string line to the start and measure down. You usually end up having to dig a bit more out to make sure the ends of the sleepers don’t show as the finish in to the slope.

[@SolivG]

@@TheRestorationCouple thank you for the reply. It is tricky as my garden slopes from end to end and also a bit side to side but I want my sleepers to be level rather than follow the ground.

[@cardiffrunner]

@@SolivG To save on timber the best way is to start at the lowest point, lay a length long enough to offer support to the next level, but don't leave too much below the ground level and then lay the next length on top, you just keep repeating the process. Happy to share photos of examples I've done.

[@rickswalsh]

So I’m design 1 you didn’t put screws in the top course?