Can you paint railway sleepers

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Looking at my back garden there was a space approximately 2 metres x 0. I wanted the nursery bed to be about the same height as the patio wall and the stone raised bed it was going in between. I bought 6 x 2. Varnishes Protect interior and exterior wooden surfaces with the unrivalled durability of wood varnishes. Worktop varnishes Floor varnishes Furniture varnishes All wood varnishes. Waxes A traditional way to seal and protect wooden surfaces whilst achieving a sympathetic natural finish.

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A great choice for winding walkways and a more natural inspired look, use sleepers as a garden pathway. Sink into the ground or fill the spaces between with decorative stones and gravel for a stylish landscaped look.

Both practical and attractive, sleepers make fantastic retaining walls. Positioned vertically or horizontally, design your space to follow the natural curves and slopes of your garden. Zone your garden and line your beds with sleeper borders. Use long lengths for straight edging or get creative with offcuts and shaped sleepers for some landscaped styling. When lined with landscaping fabric and mounted on castor wheels, sleepers make fantastic planters.

Go large and plant up a bed of mixed flowers and veggies or maximise year-round manoeuvrability for a small tree or large shrub. Build your own DIY garden furniture such as a garden table or bench. Sturdy, durable and versatile, sleeper furniture makes for a handsome addition to your outdoor spaces and when treated with adequate finishes, will last for many years to come.

Watch our sleeper system table project for more inspiration. A great way to use leftover lengths and offcuts, position around your garden for added decorative interest. Add a potted plant for additional height, use as a stool or enjoy as a bird perch amongst your flower beds.

Create an al-fresco relaxation area from sleepers. A stylish alternative to traditional decking, add a pergola for climbing plants and solar lights. Using the same design principles, secure and line with a good quality membrane before filling for your desired use. Conceal your recycling or make your own compost pile with bespoke sleeper storage.

Attach a hinged lid or door to a simple frame to hide your bins or nutrient-rich compost pile. Not just for outdoor use, highly finished sleepers can look fantastic inside. Used for anything from steps and mantles to dining and end tables, leave in their natural state or paint and sand back for interesting textures and repurposed appeal.

For more ideas, advice and DIY how-to guides, visit the inspiration hub; and share your WithWickes project with us online. My Account. Order line. Techniques for working with sleepers. Our recommendations are intended to help you choose the right techniques and working solutions to take on any number of projects.

Versatile, sturdy and durable, timber garden sleepers make a stylish addition to any outdoor area. Ideal for creating contemporary yet traditional landscaping, garden sleepers can be used for anything from raised beds and borders to retaining walls, steps, paths and garden furniture.

There is no one right way to work with sleepers, but as a minimum, you will need a well-stocked toolbox, a selection of power tools, a well ventilated working space and adequate protective equipment. For more sleeper inspiration, our building a sleeper table system project has advice on cutting, joining and finishing techniques for DIY garden furniture.

This will ensure you have enough materials to work with, can minimise cutting waste and have a visual guide for assembly. There are many ways to cut sleepers, but we recommend using a circular saw for accuracy, precision and speed. Consider the tolerance, runout and alignment of your power saw blades when making cuts.

Depending on your tools, you may find that the dimensions are adjusted by between mm. For consistency, ensure that you cut on the same side of the scribed line each time. We would not recommend cutting sleepers with a chainsaw or reciprocating saw as to do so can be dangerous, inaccurate and messy.

If you are having trouble cutting you sleepers, it can be worth contacting a local tradesman or specialist company. There are also many ways to join sleepers depending on your material and project. We recommend hex drive timber screws for softwood, however, if you use hardwood sleepers you will need to use stainless steel wood screws as the natural tannins can corrode ferrous metals.

Sleepers can be finished in many ways to suit your space and style. For a longer life against rot and decay, we recommend applying preservative treatments to protect your timber.

Working with sleepers can be very messy. Brush down your sleepers at regular intervals to remove any sawdust and thoroughly sweep or vacuum your working area before applying any finishes to the timber. Watch our top tip videos for our Wickes DIY skills, tips and advice. Staying safe Inspect the cables and blades of your power tools before they are plugged in to ensure they are in good condition.

If any of the elements need to be replaced, make sure this is done before construction begins. Cutting and sanding sleepers in very messy work so adequate ventilation and protective wear are essential.