So you want to build a timber sleeper raised bed, or retaining wall, one thing you must look for when selecting your timber, that’s the grade or treatment classification.
Prepared timber is graded according to the treatment process it has gone through and each is then given a grade, if you intend placing your timber below the ground or in contact with the soil, then the grade is very important.
You will need to enquire if your timber sleepers are treated to Grade UC4 or Class 4 Compliant, not all tanalised and pressure treated timber is necessarily suitable, to get the UC4 grade the wood should have been partially dried first to remove moisture content, before being put through the pressure treating process. This ensures the preserver penetrates deeper into the wood surface.
One thing to note, if you cut into the sleeper, then you are breaking the preserver seal, you will need to treat any cut ends with a preserver sealer in order to maintain integrity.
If you’d rather get this done professionally, get in contact.
