Wooden railway sleepers have been popular design elements in the past because of their rustic surface and robust properties. It is now known that the wood preservatives used are dangerous to he alth and the environment. Therefore, the legal situation was adjusted in the 90s.
Are railway sleepers allowed in the garden?
The use of old railway sleepers in the garden has been prohibited by law since 1991 because they were treated with wood preservatives that are harmful to he alth and the environment. For gardening and landscaping, we recommend purchasing untreated garden thresholds made of oak or beech.
Information on purchasing and using railway sleepers
Railway sleepers look romantically rustic and are nice and robust
Old railway sleepers have long been a popular outdoor design element because of their rustic look. Because of their durability, they were used as floor coverings, for fencing or for decoration. However, there are strict regulations regarding the use and sale of used wooden railway sleepers. If you would like to use the rustic look as a design element in the garden, you should buy new garden thresholds.
Legal situation
Since 1991, the further use and distribution of railway sleepers to private individuals has been subject to a legal restriction. This has been set out in the Chemicals Prohibition Ordinance (§1 and Section 17 of the appendix) since 2002 and states that old sleepers treated with Cabonileum or copper-chromium-arsenic compounds may no longer be used in gardening and landscaping. The reason for this are substances that are hazardous to he alth and the environment and which the wooden beams secrete.
Prohibition on the use of old sleepers:
- indoors, agriculture and gardens
- on playgrounds, for furniture or toys
- in environments with farm animals and plants or in the food sector
Why can you buy railway sleepers?
Wooden sleepers are used for renovation and maintenance work. It is still possible to buy used railway sleepers from Deutsche Bahn today. They are offered in internet auctions or given away due to ignorance of how dangerous they are. In principle, the sale or distribution of used old sleepers is not permitted. Anyone who puts these materials on the market is committing a criminal offense. If you have bought used old wooden sleepers, contact the seller and make them aware of the applicable legal situation.
If you want to buy used railway sleepers, you should only choose untreated wood.
What you need to consider when disposing of it
Due to further residues of pesticides, used oil, soot and exhaust gases, the material is treated as hazardous waste. It is not permitted as a fuel in private small combustion systems (Section 3 No. 6 of the 1st BImSchV). Therefore, you must not burn old railway sleepers in your own wood stove or on an open campfire. The contact person for disposal is the municipal or municipal waste service.
Dispose of railway sleepers
As a rule, recycling centers accept tar oil-impregnated old sleepers in small quantities free of charge. If you want to dispose of larger quantities, costs may apply. These depend on the region and weight. Special waste companies offer the option of disposal via containers. With this variant you can book different price models:
- Flat fee: complete disposal including delivery and collection of the container at a fixed price
- Weight billing: Individual list of items such as transport, rental period and waste weight
For smaller quantities, billing by weight is the cheaper option, provided that you cannot send the hazardous waste to a treatment facility within the meaning of the Waste Wood Ordinance. The flat rate calculation is worthwhile for waste quantities that significantly exceed 20 tons.
Background
Carbolineum as a waterproofing agent
Carbolineum is an oily liquid that is insoluble in water and flammable. The brown-red color and the tar-like scent are typical. It is made from coal tar and has both anti-fouling and disinfecting properties. Due to these effects, the agent was and is used to impregnate posts, masts and railway sleepers. Wood that is in constant contact with the ground is therefore permanently protected from weathering and pest infestation.
Railway sleepers made of wood or concrete?
Railroad sleepers are also available untreated
If you want to use railway sleepers as a rustic design element in your own garden, you should use untreated wood. Numerous sawmills now offer sleepers made of oak that have not been impregnated with any dangerous substances. Alternative materials such as plastic or concrete with a wood look have further advantages.
| Wood | Plastic | Concrete | Rubber | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per piece | 60-100 euros | not yet available on the market | 10-20 euros | 25 euros |
| weather-resistant | no | yes | yes | yes |
| easy care | no | yes | yes | yes |
| non-slip | no | mediocre | yes | yes |
| Features | natural material | elastic, light and sound-absorbing | deceptively similar wood look | made from recycled car tires |
Concrete as an alternative
If you don't have the opportunity to buy untreated wooden sleepers, you can use imitation wood. Bauhaus offers EHL railway sleepers at a unit price of around 20 euros. These 90 centimeter long concrete slabs with a wood look are weather-resistant and non-slip. You can also buy inexpensive concrete garden thresholds from Obi. Depending on the model, the price is around ten to 20 euros. The concrete elements are between 60 and 90 centimeters long and structured on all sides, creating a deceptively real wood look.
Railway sleepers in garden design
Railway sleepers can be used as bed borders, fences or stepping stones
The fibrous structure of the wood, which was created through weathering, creates a rugged and rustic look. The wood has been tanned by the sun over the years and shows characteristic cracks, nicks and chips. This is exactly why old sleepers are so popular in garden design. If you want to use railway sleepers outdoors, you should use untreated wood from the hardware store. Any material that has not been impregnated with the toxic tar oil is permitted in the garden.
Inspirations for decoration and
- Playground: Edging for sandpits or flooring for boules courts
- Bordering: for raised beds or fences at property boundaries
- Useful objects: as a surface for tables or for insect hotels
- Design elements: for benches, flower boxes and fireplaces
Pretreatment
Untreated railway sleepers should be impregnated with a natural wood preservative before installation. Linseed oil is suitable for sealing. It penetrates deep into the fibers and forms a shiny protective layer. Linseed oil inhibits the growth of fungi, protects against moisture and prevents insect infestation. You can then paint and saw the material as you wish. Make sure that you also waterproof the interfaces.
Tip
If you buy pressure-treated garden thresholds, you save yourself the pre-treatment. In this process, s alts are pressed into the wood at high pressure, which not only protects it but also gives it back its original shape.
Oil instructions:
- Sand the surface with sandpaper (grit P 120) against the fibers
- Apply linseed oil with a brush so that the wood appears wet
- wipe off excess oil with a cloth after 30 minutes
- Allow wood to air dry for 24 hours
- Repeat the process until a shiny layer has formed
alte Holz Balken restaurieren, aufbereiten, hobeln, streichen, richtig ölen Leinöl Firnis
Build a table out of railway sleepers
Some online retailers who specialize in wooden products offer rustic wooden tables made from used railway sleepers. The raw materials come from France or Indonesia, where the wood was used in its natural state and therefore does not emit any harmful substances. If you are unsure about the origin and possible contamination of the materials, ask the provider directly. Untreated squared timbers are an ideal alternative and are ideal for building a wooden table:
- three to four squared timbers with a width of 26 centimeters form the table top
- two wooden planks with a length of 260 cm when sawn into four table legs
- A glass plate protects the wood and ensures a flat storage surface
Tip
With old squared timbers there are no limits to your imagination. They provide the basis for bar stools or counters and can be perfectly highlighted with LED fairy lights.
Frequently asked questions
How toxic are railway sleepers?
In order to protect the old railway sleepers from the weather, they were treated with wood preservatives. These contained tar oil, which liquefies when exposed to sunlight and forms a black, sticky mass. Individual components of this impregnation such as benzo(a)pyrene lead to unpleasant odors and are considered carcinogenic and genetically damaging. Sensitive people may have difficulty breathing. Irritation is possible upon direct skin contact. The toxic substance could also be detected in very outdated wooden sleepers, although these did not show any tar oil secretions on the outside.
How do I recognize old railway sleepers?
The black deposits are typical for old sleepers that have been impregnated with tar oil. They sometimes form a sticky residue or can be completely dried out, giving the wood a black color. The material gives off an unpleasant smell that is reminiscent of tar. In very old wooden sleepers, the black secretions may be missing.
What dimensions and weights do railway sleepers have?
Railway sleepers are usually 240 to 270 centimeters long, 26 centimeters wide and 16 centimeters high. The distance between each other in the track bed is 60 centimeters. The weight varies depending on the type of wood. At 70 kilograms, oak sleepers are slightly lighter than blocks made of beech wood, which are 100 kilograms. With the attachment, the weight remains comparatively low at 120 kilograms.
Are concrete slabs a suitable alternative to railway sleepers?
The companies Kann and EHL offer concrete blocks that look amazingly similar to real sleepers. They are characterized by a rustic look as well as a non-slip and easy-care surface, which makes them ideal as patio slabs or as paving for the driveway. While an elastic layer was glued under the railway sleepers in the track bed for storage quality reasons, concrete sleepers do not have a sole for decorative purposes. The stone material is not negatively affected by a bed of gravel on the terrace.
