Looking for more eco friendly ways to live is par for the course with many people. Now, we know how important it is to preserve the environment and we have many ways of doing it, with eco friendly and sustainable products available in all walks of life. Gardens and outdoor spaces are no different, which is why eco friendly railway sleepers are catching on as a new trend. There are generally two categories of eco friendly sleepers: those that have been reclaimed, and those that have been sustainably sourced and treated using environmentally friendly materials. Both are to good choices and having two distinct options will give you a greater amount of choice when completing your garden project using sleepers.
Sleepers can be used to create a whole host of garden features. From flower beds, to raised vegetable beds, to vegetable gardens, to seating areas, to water features, there are many different possibilities. Choosing to pursue a DIY project using garden sleepers gives you more choice over how your garden will look, because sleepers can be fully customised. You do not need to go for an off the shelf product that everyone else will have – sleepers can make your garden more unique. You can also be in complete control of how environmentally friendly your project is by selecting the products that fit with your own preferences and plans.
When choosing an eco friendly garden project using wooden sleepers, one of the most popular options is to use reclaimed sleepers. These are sleepers that have been used on the railways and that have been reclaimed to use in domestic projects. They have a certain very distinct look about them as they may have been used for many years already. This gives reclaimed railway sleepers a rustic appearance, which some homeowners love. It adds a certain degree of character without having to treat the sleepers in a certain way and many people enjoy the fact that it is all natural.
The other option is to choose new sleepers. If prioritising eco friendliness, then the sleepers need to be sourced from sustainably managed forests – always look for proof of this from a supplier. If the sleepers are new, they will also sometimes be treated. If you want to choose a treatment (which can help to preserve timber and protect it from various threats, as well as its everyday environment, and give it a distinct and attractive appearance of your choosing), this is where you will need to be careful to pick out an eco friendly choice. One of the popular preservatives that you can opt for is called Tanalith E, which is safe for people and the environment. It also prevents the need to frequently replace wood, another environmental concern, by preserving it. There is a huge amount of choice when going for new garden sleepers and the timber can even be custom milled. Options include planed timber, green timber, bevelled and many more options, giving custom choices and a range of finishes to create the perfect garden.