French Oak Sleepers
High in quality as well as great value, our French Oak Sleepers are our best-selling railway sleepers across both Trade and Retail customers. These are available in a standard size of 2.4m x 200mm x 100mm.
Our Oak Railway Sleepers consist of untreated, hardwood Oak that obtain sought-after, natural qualities that make these sleepers a great investment; as they are more naturally resistant to rot, they are expected to last for around 20 years!
These FSC Certified Sleepers are untreated and are freshly cut from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified timber, meaning they are sustainably sourced without damaging forest areas.
The colour of our Oak Garden Sleepers are one of the reasons that they are so popular; they are a lovely mid-brown, oak colour and can be left untreated; although many people choose to stain or paint these to colour match with their existing landscape. If left untreated, it will turn a lovely, silver colour over time!
Additional Information
- Ideal for edging, borders and raised vegetable beds
- Can be hand sawn or machine
- Measures 2.4m x 200mm x 100mm
- Sustainably sourced
Need less than 10 sleepers? Call 01202 874207 to order over the phone.
Oak Sleepers as Raised Beds
One of the most popular uses for French Oak Sleepers are for creating raised plant beds in your garden or allotment. Oak Sleepers are generally easy to handle, although they aren't as easy as Pine Sleepers to saw by hand, but they can be machine cut easily for precision.
By having your plants in a raised plant bed, it eliminates a lot of the risk that comes with planting certain flowers at ground level, especially those that get affected by slugs. Having your plants raised also makes the maintenance a lot easier; you don't need to worry about using a kneeling pad when it comes to weeding or digging.
Oak Sleepers for Garden Edging
Many people like edging their gardens with colourful flower borders, or just to separate each landscaping feature from each other.
Oak Sleepers look great used as ground-level flower borders, as the lovely oak colour really enhances the look of your garden, and brings out the colours of your flowers. These can be easily installed and get then contain anything ranging from flowers, shrubs, by using our Wessex Soils or maybe Woodland Mulch as a decorative feature.
Whether your garden is on different levels or you just want to create a divide between each hard landscaping feature, Oak Sleepers make for a great way of doing this. Oak Sleepers look great alongside Artificial Grass, either Porcelain or Sandstone Paving, and especially next to areas that contain any form of Chippings or Decorative Stones.
Additionally, they also look great when it comes to edging outdoor paths. If you're going to use the popular option of Path Chippings to fill in your pathway, Oak Sleepers look really nice as edging, as the colours match in really well to create a subtle, natural look.
How to Create a Raised Sleeper Bed
Making your own raised sleeper bed is a simpler DIY task than many people might think, provided you have all the right materials and equipment you need, it can be completed by the experienced DIYer. With these Sleepers being perfectly rectangular shaped, it makes them easy to construct by attaching them together with Hex Head Timber Screws. Follow this guide for all the tips you'll need!
Suggested Equipment
- Spade
- Scissors
- Spirit Level
- Drill
- Sand Paper
- Exterior coach screws
- 10mm Flat Wood Drill Bit
- 32mm Flat Wood Drill Bit
- 17mm Socket and Rachet
- Weed fabric
Firstly, put your Sleepers down where you'd like them to go; the place in which you create your raised sleeper bed is vital, the biggest thing to consider is what you're planning on planting. If you're planting specific fruits and vegetables, you'll need to check how much sunlight they need; equally, you'll need to do the same for other plants you're planting.
Once you've chosen the optimum place for your sleeper bed to go, leave the sleepers there and, using your spade, dig out the area to include your sleepers to go in. Make sure you go at least 30mm deep into the ground, and take care to remove any stones, sticks and weeds. You can then use your spirit level to check that the ground is level.
We would recommend using weed fabric at the base of the sleeper bed, so the second stage would be the best to lay this down. Remove the sleepers from the desired area, and roll out your weed membrane to get an idea of how much you need to cut it down to. Cut around the fabric leaving a little extra around the edges, and lay down onto the area.
As an added option to this process, some people might choose to lay a permeable aggregate on top of the weed membrane. This step ensures good drainage to prevent over soaking your plants, as well as preventing rotting of you railway sleepers. Use either Scalpings or Crushed Concrete for a cost-effective solution, you only need a 10mm layer to cover your weed fabric.
The sleepers can now finally be put back into place. Drill 2 pilot holes into the end of the outer sleeper, into the shorter sleeper. You’ll do this by using the 10mm flat wood drill bit. Then use your 32mm drill bit to drill approximately 1cm into the wood on top of these 2 newly drilled holes. This will allow the screw heads to be recessed. Place the 15cm exterior coach screws into the holes and tighten with the 17mm socket and rachet. Do this process for all 4 corners.
You have a couple of options when it comes to securing multiple tiers on top of each other. You could drill pilot holes into the corners of the top tiers going into the sleepers below, securing with coach screws by using the same method in step 5.
Alternatively, you could buy some batten wood, which is readily available from most builders’ merchants, place in each corner and drill a pilot hole and secure with coach screws this way.
Ensure you use sand paper to sand down the corner edges of the sleepers as well as any visible areas to create a smooth finish. Ensure you wear gloves, a dust mask and goggles when sanding wood down!
How to Buy Oak Railway Sleepers
Our French Oak Sleepers can be collected for free at one of our depots in Wimborne, Bournemouth or Dorchester, or can be delivered for free to local postcodes in Dorset! We also deliver nationally to anywhere in the UK.
We can deliver less than 10 sleepers to your home address or direct to site. Please call our friendly team on 01202 874207 if you require this service.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the nature of our Sleepers, the colours and finished may vary. We would recommend choosing them from one of our depots if you are looking for consistent colours.
Buy With Confidence
- Our Garden Sleepers can be purchased with a minimum order of 10 online; you can phone us if you require less than this
- Please select the amount of sleepers you'd like and add them to your basket
- Our Sleepers will either arrive on a hiab lorry that can be used to lift the stone onto your garden, or it will arrive on a pallet for kerbside delivery; depending on your address
- You can choose free collection from one of our Depots or fuss-free, home delivery.
A Service You Can Rely On
- Our reliable service offers prompt delivery to any area in the UK
- Stone Zone is a family-run business that has been well-established since 1998
- Our efficient customer advisors can help you with your purchase
- We pride ourselves on offering a range of affordable garden supplies
A Delivery Service you can Rely on
You don't need to be there for delivery; if you're happy to do so, our delivery drivers can deliver bulk bags to your front garden without a signature.
Alternatively, our experienced drivers can operate their lorries to deliver bulk bags over fences at the front, side or back of your property, you will need to be present for this delivery type.
Please let us know if there are any access difficulties to your road or property. If your property has very tight access and we need to use a small lorry, a surcharge of £30 + vat will apply.
Any questions? Use our live chat to speak to an advisor, alternatively, you can fill out an enquiry form or call us on 01202 874207.
