November 25, 20178 yr We need to built a retainer that runs along our neighbours property (boundary) at a height of about 2.5ft. We have chosen to use reclaimed hardwood railway sleepers at a quick and cost effective way to get the job done. Our neighbour who is a constant moaner is now asked if we can change these for untreated sleepers as he smells creosote and tar. As it happens there is no tar used on these but we couldnt smell either. Regardless, their use is perfectly legitimate. Any thoughts on dealing with this?
November 25, 20178 yr I agree with @Triassic, ignore him, after pointing out that these are HARDWOOD sleepers, so have not, and cannot realistically, have ever been treated with creosote or tar. We have oak sleepers as part of a low retaining wall and there's no detectable smell from them at all.
November 25, 20178 yr 9 minutes ago, Triassic said: Just ignore him, give an inch and he’ll take a mile. +2
November 25, 20178 yr I agree with the above comments. And add; do be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling them. I'll explain why if you like: just trust me.
November 25, 20178 yr Do not be tempted to use the softwood sleepers sold in most BM or garden centres they will rot away as soon as your back is turned.
November 25, 20178 yr We are doing EXACTLY the same. Reclaimed railway sleepers is the only option, rest just rot within a few years. What are you using to hold the sleepers?
November 25, 20178 yr 5 hours ago, ryder72 said: We need to built a retainer that runs along our neighbours property (boundary) at a height of about 2.5ft. We have chosen to use reclaimed hardwood railway sleepers at a quick and cost effective way to get the job done. Our neighbour who is a constant moaner is now asked if we can change these for untreated sleepers as he smells creosote and tar. As it happens there is no tar used on these but we couldnt smell either. Regardless, their use is perfectly legitimate. Any thoughts on dealing with this? You have my deepest sympathy Do what I should have done Ignore him and your own thing My neighbor can moan for England No pleasing some people
November 26, 20178 yr Author Oh if it were up to me I would stick him in the trench with the type 1 and get on with it. He has been a real nuisance.
November 26, 20178 yr Wait until Openreach or the DNO come along and replace an old pole with a new one near him! They smeech of creosote for at least a year or so. We have two that were put in around 3 years ago, and even now they smell on a hot day.
November 26, 20178 yr Go to the yard where the sleepers are stored and see if you can smell them. Some do some don't. Some will be in worse condition than others, very variable. Don't put them where people are likely to sit during a garden party or BBQ. Ours still leak something black and sticky ten years after they went in.
November 26, 20178 yr 24 minutes ago, Temp said: Go to the yard where the sleepers are stored and see if you can smell them. Some do some don't. Some will be in worse condition than others, very variable. Don't put them where people are likely to sit during a garden party or BBQ. Ours still leak something black and sticky ten years after they went in. But these are hardwood sleepers, so I'm guessing they are very similar to the oak ones we used as a retaining wall. They don't smell at all, because they aren't treated, and, AFAIK, creosote/tar etc just doesn't penetrate hardwoods well, which is why they don't bother to treat them. We bought new oak sleepers, rather than reclaimed ones, but only because around our way the new ones were both easier to get hold of and around the same price as the reclaimed ones.
November 26, 20178 yr I think creosote does soak into hardwood. I have been chopping up some old "rotten" oak fence posts for fierwood. It is only the outer half inch that is rotten and in the middle they are solid. I suspect they were soaked in a vat of creosote as it seems to have penetrated a long way in. As an aside, I had to drill some floor joists in an old cottage, and by the smell as you drilled them, they were soaked in creosote. First time I have seen it used indoors.
November 26, 20178 yr Regarding pining railway sleepers together, we use a long 1/2 inch drill bit and 1/2 inch reinforcing bars driven through the holes.
November 26, 20178 yr Author We have had 2-3 gone in and he has complained of a smell. These are hardwood sleepers from the polish railways, I assume put in during communist times with a generous coating of whatever. I have checked prevailing regulation and nothing stops me from using them so I am going to go ahead with it. Looked into new sleepers - pine, chestnut and oak. All about the same price or more but the guy I got them of recommended the reclaimed sleepers for longevity.
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