Timber sleepers are the lowest entry cost for garden terraces, raised beds and low edging. We stock hardwood and treated pine, both 2400 x 200mm, in 50mm and 75mm thicknesses.The range Sleeper Size Weight...
Read the full buying guide
About Timber Sleepers
Timber sleepers are the lowest entry cost for garden terraces, raised beds and low edging. We stock hardwood and treated pine, both 2400 x 200mm, in 50mm and 75mm thicknesses.
The range
| Sleeper | Size | Weight | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treated pine | 2400 x 200 x 50mm | about 15kg | Garden edging, raised beds, low walls |
| Treated pine | 2400 x 200 x 75mm | about 22kg | The same jobs where you want more span or more life |
| Hardwood | 2400 x 200 x 50mm | about 26kg | Where you want the density and the longer life |
| Hardwood | 2400 x 200 x 75mm | about 38kg | The heaviest duty timber option we stock |
Hardwood is denser, spans further between posts and lasts longer in the ground. Treated pine is cheaper and lighter to handle. Both are light enough to carry in by hand, which is often the deciding factor on a tight block.
Hazard class: the part people get wrong
Treated timber is graded by hazard class under AS 1604, and the class has to match where the timber actually sits.
- H4 covers general retaining applications such as low walls under a metre, where the timber is in ground contact or continually damp.
- H5 is required where sleepers contact groundwater, exceed 1m, or serve critical applications.
They are not interchangeable, and putting H4 where H5 belongs is a wall that fails early. Have your engineer or certifier confirm the class for your wall before you order. Full detail on hazard classes and CCA treatment is in the FAQ.
Being honest about lifespan
Timber is the cheapest way to start and the shortest lived material we sell. In Queensland humidity, treated pine in the ground is commonly quoted at around 10 to 20 years depending on the treatment and how well the wall drains. Concrete and composite outlast it comfortably. If the wall is structural, or you want to build it once, look at concrete or composite instead.
Whatever the material, drainage decides the life of the wall more than the timber grade does. Cut ends need sealing, and the same galvanised steel posts and drainage apply.
Cosmetic timber seconds are available at a flat price for jobs where looks do not matter.