How to Build Stairs on a Hill Using Railroad Ties
- 1. Cut three railroad ties for the first step, making one tie equal to the desired width for the stairs and two ties twice as long as the desired depth for each stair tread. ...
- 2. Dig out the base of the hill to about 5 inches deep, making the space as wide as the desired width for the stairs. ...
Full Answer
How deep should a railroad stair tread be?
How to connect railroad ties to a U shape?
Can you put railroad ties on a garden?
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How do you use railroad ties for stairs?
Cut three railroad ties for the first step, making one tie equal to the desired width for the stairs and two ties twice as long as the desired depth for each stair tread. The treads should measure about 1 to 2 feet deep to provide plenty of room for feet to safely step and climb the stairs.
How do you connect railroad ties together?
4:0410:37How to Landscape with Railroad Ties - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn through the other one as well locking the two together and then hammering it down a couple feetMoreIn through the other one as well locking the two together and then hammering it down a couple feet into the ground as well so this really holds nicely.
How do you build railroad ties on a slope?
0:494:40How To Build Wooden Steps To Prevent Erosion On Your HillYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn half the long way. So to do that I took a wedge or a maul and spiked it in there and then use aMoreIn half the long way. So to do that I took a wedge or a maul and spiked it in there and then use a sledgehammer and beat it until it cracks in half that makes a step a little less tall.
What do they put on railroad ties to keep them from rotting?
The majority of crossties treated within the United States are preserved with creosote, but other preservatives are used, such as copper naphthenate, or ACZA.
What kind of drill do you use for railroad ties?
Single flute drills are also known as Bobbin Bits. Double Flute Tie Boring Bits are specifically designed for drilling holes in railway cross ties. The double flute design combines ease of penetration with rapid chip removal in deep hole, hardwood drilling.
Is it OK to cut railroad ties with a chainsaw?
1:044:34Cutting Railroad Ties with a Chainsaw vs Reciprocating Saw - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what you'll find is as you're cutting with your nice chainsaw you'll hit one those rocks and it'MoreSo what you'll find is as you're cutting with your nice chainsaw you'll hit one those rocks and it'll instantly dull the chain on your chainsaw.
What can you use old railroad ties for?
Many of the used ties, which on average are 30 years old, are burned to produce heat and electricity, and the remainder are recycled as landscaping timbers or disposed of in landfills, according to Nicole Labbé, Pyoungchung Kim, and their colleagues at the University of Tennessee's Center for Renewable Carbon.
How much does a railroad tie weigh?
200 poundsThe weight of a railroad tie depends on their size and specifications. They can range anywhere from 100 to 300 pounds. The majority of railroad ties weigh close to 200 pounds.
What sizes do railroad ties come in?
A standard railroad tie is nine inches wide and seven inches tall. Rails, however are not all identical because of milling and may very in size, up to 12 inches wide and nine inches tall.
Can termites live in railroad ties?
Use of insecticides like borates (disodium octaborate tetrahydrate) and/or pressure-treated wood (chromated copper arsenate) protect against termites and wood decay fungi. However, over time, even railroad ties, telephone poles and pressure treated wood can be subject to termite attack.
Do railroad ties attract ants?
However, not only is this incorrect, but railroad ties are one of the major sources of colonies of carpenter ants infesting structures.
Will termites eat creosote treated wood?
Borates and pressure-treatments protect wood against termites. However, even creosote-treated railroad ties over time can be damaged by termites. Never store firewood, lumber, newspapers, or other wood products against the foundation or within the crawl space.
How much does a 8ft railroad tie weigh?
An average wooden railroad tie weighs about 200 pounds but can range from between 100 and 300 lbs. depending on size, wood type, and age. A typical 8'6″ tie made of oak will often weigh about 200 pounds while softer woods will weigh less. Older ties will tend to be more dried out and weigh less.
How do you stack railroad ties for retaining walls?
How to Build a Railroad Tie Retaining WallStep 1: Level and Tamp Down the Area. ... Step 2: Cut the Area to Make a Snug Fit for the Railroad Ties. ... Step 3: Add in a Layer of Gravel. ... Step 4: Level the First Tie in the Wall. ... Step 5: Make Your Pins to Secure the Ties Together. ... Step 6: Drill Holes in the Tie for the Pins.More items...
Do railroad ties have metal in them?
Railroad ties are traditionally made of wood, but prestressed concrete is now also widely used, especially in Europe and Asia. Steel ties are common on secondary lines in the UK; plastic composite ties are also employed, although far less than wood or concrete.
Will railroad ties rot?
Railroad ties have to routinely be replaced because of the decay that happens in the center of the ties. These ties often get re-sold as landscaping timbers where the decay and damage from wood destroying insects can continue until there is virtually nothing left except the exterior shell of the timbers.
Railroad Ties are NOT Legal for Home Landscape Use - Gardens Alive!
Railroad Ties are NOT Legal for Home Landscape Use. Q: Pattie writes: "I recently bought a house just over the Pennsylvania border in Maryland. The previous owner had many garden beds, and the one he used for vegetables had old timbers surrounding it that looked questionable. I asked him if they were 'treated wood' and he said he didn't know; that they were there when he purchased the house ...
8 Railroad tie steps ideas | garden stairs, sloped garden, backyard ...
Apr 14, 2019 - Explore Diane Brown Olson's board "Railroad tie steps", followed by 130 people on Pinterest. See more ideas about garden stairs, sloped garden, backyard landscaping.
How to connect railroad ties to a U shape?from homeguides.sfgate.com
Set three railroad ties on top of the first course of railroad ties in a U shape. The railroad ties on the side should overhang the back of the first course of ties by half the length. Drive 12-inch landscape timber screws to connect the side timbers to the railroad tie at the front of the U-shape, as well as to connect the second course of railroad ties to the first course.
How to keep railroad ties from shifting?from gardenguides.com
Place the template perpendicular along the side of the stairs to form a retaining barrier. This is to prevent the railroad ties from shifting over time due to rain and heat. Spray paint this template down as well. This is not a mandatory step but it is highly recommended.
How to make a 3 sided step more resistant to erosion?from homeguides.sfgate.com
To make the steps more resistant to erosion, attach another railroad tie to the ends of each step at a 90-degree angle. These should run perpendicular into the slope at the same level as the surface of the step, they are buried in the hillside for anchorage. These three-sided steps form a basin to hold the soil, along with mulch or gravel used for a walking surface. Drive 12-inch timber spikes through the ties to connect them, and add a galvanized steel "L" bracket to the inside of each corner for extra stability.
What is the best tool to cut railroad ties?from homeguides.sfgate.com
A reciprocating saw or chainsaw are the only tools that can handle cutting through the thickness of railroad ties. It is slow and arduous process with a reciprocating saw, however, as the blades wear out after just a few cuts. A chainsaw is much faster and the blade will make scores of cuts before wearing down.
How wide is a railroad tie?from homeguides.sfgate.com
Measuring approximately 6 inches by 8 inches by 8 feet, railroad ties have the ideal dimensions for outdoors steps. Use the narrow side for the "riser" and the wide side for the "treads.". The width of a whole tie makes a grand staircase or cut each in half for a modest garden path.
Where are three sided steps buried?from homeguides.sfgate.com
These should run perpendicular into the slope at the same level as the surface of the step, they are buried in the hillside for anchorage. These three-sided steps form a basin to hold the soil, along with mulch or gravel used for a walking surface.
Can railroad ties be used for edible plants?from homeguides.sfgate.com
Railroad ties are preserved with creosote, making them unsuitable for use around edible plants and where children play. They are a long-lasting, easy-to install material for building outdoor steps, however.
How do you build steps on a steep hill with railroad ties?
Dig out the hillside to accommodate the remaining courses of railroad ties until you reach the top of the hill. Lay three railroad ties in a U-shape on the previous set of railroad ties, overlapping each new step by half the length. Drive landscape timber screws through the railroad ties to connect them.
Can I use railroad ties for a retaining wall?
And perhaps the easiest way to build such a wall is with used railroad crossties. As you know, ties are 6 x 8 feet x 8 inches (more or less) chunks of pine, redwood, or oak treated with wood preservatives (usually creosote but sometimes also pentachlorophenol).
How wide is a railroad tie?
Measuring approximately 6 inches by 8 inches by 8 feet, railroad ties have the ideal dimensions for outdoors steps. Use the narrow side for the "riser" and the wide side for the "treads.". The width of a whole tie makes a grand staircase or cut each in half for a modest garden path.
What is the best tool to cut railroad ties?
A reciprocating saw or chainsaw are the only tools that can handle cutting through the thickness of railroad ties. It is slow and arduous process with a reciprocating saw, however, as the blades wear out after just a few cuts. A chainsaw is much faster and the blade will make scores of cuts before wearing down.
How to make a 3 sided step more resistant to erosion?
To make the steps more resistant to erosion, attach another railroad tie to the ends of each step at a 90-degree angle. These should run perpendicular into the slope at the same level as the surface of the step, they are buried in the hillside for anchorage. These three-sided steps form a basin to hold the soil, along with mulch or gravel used for a walking surface. Drive 12-inch timber spikes through the ties to connect them, and add a galvanized steel "L" bracket to the inside of each corner for extra stability.
Where are three sided steps buried?
These should run perpendicular into the slope at the same level as the surface of the step, they are buried in the hillside for anchorage. These three-sided steps form a basin to hold the soil, along with mulch or gravel used for a walking surface.
Can railroad ties be used for edible plants?
Railroad ties are preserved with creosote, making them unsuitable for use around edible plants and where children play. They are a long-lasting, easy-to install material for building outdoor steps, however.
How to measure the number of steps in a staircase?
3. Measure down from the mark on the stake to the driveway at the bottom of the staircase. Divide by 5½ inches—the height of a 6x6 timber—to find the number of steps in the staircase. 4.
Why use shovel gravel behind steps?
13. Shovel gravel behind the step to enhance drainage and prevent erosion.
What are railroad ties?
Railroad ties are often discarded after repair work on railroads, which gives you a prime resource for making your own outdoor steps. The railroad ties are robust and weather-proof despite a lifetime of structural use and will make a great addition to your lawn or garden.
How to keep railroad ties from shifting?
Place the template perpendicular along the side of the stairs to form a retaining barrier. This is to prevent the railroad ties from shifting over time due to rain and heat. Spray paint this template down as well. This is not a mandatory step but it is highly recommended.
How many railroad ties per foot?
You will need three or four ties per vertical foot, depending upon how steep you want the stairs to be. Place the template perpendicular along the side of the stairs to form a retaining barrier. This is to prevent the railroad ties from shifting over time due to rain and heat. Spray paint this template down as well.
How many tie ties per vertical foot?
You will need three or four ties per vertical foot, depending upon how steep you want the stairs to be. Use a pencil and a pad of paper to record the different stairway measurements if your are placing steps at different points along a path and not placing steps the entire way.
Where to place a template for retaining wall?
Place the template perpendicular along the side of the stairs to form a retaining barrier.
What are railroad ties made of?
Railroad ties are made of tough oak and are soaked in tar and baked in. They're pretty tough. An auger bit will eat right through it and has the length to drill through more than one tie at a time when need be. Try not to hit the ground too much or your bit will go dull real fast.
How long should a pin be for a railroad tie?
Each of the pins should be about 2-2 1/2 feet long so that you get a good solid hold into the ground. If you cut one end at an angle, it will be a lot easier to drive the pin through the soil or through the railroad tie. Sometimes it can be near impossible to get a pin through a railroad tie without cutting a point on it.
What to use for railroad pins?
Especially if your pins are made out of rebar. The best thing to use is a long wood auger bit as opposed to one of those drill bit extender things. The drill bit extender will probably work, however, it will also probably come loose in one of the railroad ties at some point.
Can you use railroad ties to make a retaining wall?
If you have a slope that is need of a retaining wall and have access to railroad ties, this is the perfect project for you! We'll be showing you how we made a railroad tie retaining wall in between two of our shops. We had 18 inches of a hill that needed to be retained. This is how we made a basic retaining wall using railroad ties found on our farm.
How deep should a railroad stair tread be?
The treads should measure about 1 to 2 feet deep to provide plenty of room for feet to safely step and climb the stairs.
How to connect railroad ties to a U shape?
Set three railroad ties on top of the first course of railroad ties in a U shape. The railroad ties on the side should overhang the back of the first course of ties by half the length. Drive 12-inch landscape timber screws to connect the side timbers to the railroad tie at the front of the U-shape, as well as to connect the second course of railroad ties to the first course.
Can you put railroad ties on a garden?
The chemicals can leach into soil, so you shouldn't install railroad tie stairs near an edible garden. Alternatively, you can use 5- to 6-inch diameter, landscape timbers cut from a naturally rot-resistant wood such as the heartwood of cedar or redwood. The stairs are dug directly in the hillside from the base to the top.
