Rairoad Ties For Retaining Wall?

[ning]

Have not read through the thread so this may be a repeat. On the west coast many of the railroad ties are treated with creosote. Depending on age and wear of ties it can smell strong, especially in hot weather, and is not healthy. If you expect to be spending time in the shed ties may not be the best idea or may need to put plastic over front side as well.

It may not be healthy but I love the smell!

Another count against railroad ties - don't plant a food garden near them.

 

[spitter]

I remember when I was a kid some fool had the bright idea of installing a play fort swing set sand box made out of creosote RR ties.:confused2: Needless to say when we all came home all covered in creosote are parents had them put a ban on the play ground and they tore it down after 6 months. When they pulled the rails on the high tracks over here everyone put in free retaining walls that was in the 70's and the creosote RR ties are still holding up. As a carpenter who put up lots of pressure treated 6x6 walls I have seen them rot out in as little as 5 years .My shed was built on PT 6x6 sleepers rotted out in 7 years and that was the good wolmanized not the new stuff that seems to not be fully impregnated. Especially the garbach you get from home cheapo.:thumbdown If you want it to last go the Versa block route. By the time you figure in extra ties in for proper tie backs and everything probally come out close in price.:drink:

 

[sandman2234]

They do make concrete cross-ties...
David from jax

 

[Handloader109]

Dont use rr ties, and forget treated lumber. The newer treatment is still warranted for 20 years, but lasts maybe a decade. Junk in ground contact. Use brick, concrete block, anything but wood......

 

[3Ts]

I had a RR tie retaining wall. Will never have one again! The smell in the summer time coming into the bedroom window was awful! And there was also cresote oozing out of the wood (also in the summertime).

 

[ultrarunner]

I have some of the Green 4x4 fence posts installed in 1983... kept the receipt and warranty tags... 40 warranty.

I'm not a betting person but so far not a single failure out 65...

I really think they will go 40 years and more...

Now... the Green stuff is high regulated and very hard to get

 

[RalphVa]

I saw there is another retaining wall thread and thought of adding there, but the purposes seem too different.

I need a short wall about 3 feet high on one side and close to 20 feet long. The other side would "L" off at 90 degrees and taper from that 3 feet down to nothing. I though about concrete block, but there is a significant cost for a few hundred blocks and mortar and I'm not very good at that kind of masonry. The current wall is just treated 2x8s stacked and held with fence posts. It has done the job for several years but is now leaning and bowing quite a bit as expected. It held lot longer than I thought it would though.

I could re-do that, but the purpose is changing and I want the new wall to help form two sides of a storage shed. So, I thought about railroads ties that I can buy for $10-15 each. I would stack them so the ends are staggered to help interlock them Maybe drill holes and drive re-bar through them. The dirt side would be lined with a couple of layers of 4 or 6 mil plastic. I'd add a few 4x4 posts on the 'inside' which would both reinforce the ties and support the roof section.


Thoughts?

I've built 2 or 3 walls both here in Va in and La with those mortarless brick walls that you can buy at Lowes and Home Depot. I've seen them here nearly 20 ft tall. They use them now around highway over/under passes. Very easy to use, and you can do curves, bends, etc. so easy.

Ralph

 

[Barnbuilder]

I wouldn't use PT posts. That stuff just doesn't last anymore.

 

[Streetcar]

I've built 2 or 3 walls both here in Va in and La with those mortarless brick walls that you can buy at Lowes and Home Depot. I've seen them here nearly 20 ft tall. They use them now around highway over/under passes. Very easy to use, and you can do curves, bends, etc. so easy.

Ralph

typically 4 ft is maximum height without a design

 

[EddieWalker]

How long has this post being here and I just now realized that Railroad is missing a "L" in the title!!!