Sleepers make great landscaping materials, whether for garden beds or retaining walls. They’re durable, functional and stylish—which makes them a go-to for outdoor areas.
But laying sleepers down is a process, and you should be organised when doing it to make the job last. Here is a simple, step-by-step guide to help you install sleepers outside with ease and produce a chic, professional finish.
Choose the location where you want to place the sleepers and the purpose for which you intend to use them. A raised bed, a retaining wall, or garden edging—which one is it?
Creating a sketch of your design can assist you in determining the number of sleepers that you will require. And, of course, clear planning prevents your project from exceeding its intended space and requiring expensive modifications further down the line.
Concrete, timber, and composite materials are some of the materials that can be used to make the various types of sleepers of today. In accordance with the tasks at hand, each of them possesses a unique set of advantages.
For a durable building material, lots of people prefer Civilmart sleepers. In addition to being sturdy, they are able to withstand the elements of the outdoors.
Once your design has been established, you should get your website ready for the sleepers. In most cases, this entails clearing the area of any brush, levelling the ground, and constructing an appropriate foundation.
It is possible that once the sleepers have been placed down, there will be no movement or stemming because the ground will have been prepared in advance. If you do this, you will save a lot of time and effort in the future when it comes to fixing things.
You will require posts or supports in order to maintain the height of your wall or garden bed in accordance with the recommended height. This latter component helps to keep the sleepers in their proper positions and ensures that the structure remains stable.
Posts need to be driven into the ground at a great depth, typically in concrete, so that they do not move over the course of time. Basements that are of good and solid quality will be required for an ongoing and prolonged period.
After your supports have been prepared, it is time to position your sleepers in their proper slots. In order to achieve a smooth edge, place them so that they are flat against each other and even.
Bolt or bracket the sleepers to the posts, depending on your design and goal. This will help keep them in place even when the earth or the weather is not.
After the sleepers have been installed, the space behind the walls should be backfilled with soil or gravel or both. The backfill will also add some more stability and keep significant water from causing you problems. Most importantly, remember to ensure everything is solid and level before you start working.
Outdoor sleepers can be a big job, but it all seems straightforward when broken into simple steps. Strategy, preparation, securing, and finishing are all important to long-term success.
With quality materials and a little patience, you can build yourself a functional outdoor feature. With the proper treatment, though, your sleeper project will beautify your landscape and last for decades.