Railroad Tie Retaining Wall Repair

Understanding retaining wall repair is often the best way of keeping your garden in its best possible condition. Retaining walls are often used in gardens as decoration, to prevent a built-up are from sliding down, and in order to provide support for landscaping efforts. In these cases, railroad ties, the wooden parts of the railway track, have often been used. These can deteriorate over time, and should be the focus of your retaining wall repair. Railroad ties can become rotten, or may crack under pressure, particularly when they are part of a retaining wall. Rather than replace these ties, you should consider performing a quick repair.

Step 1 - Assess the Damage

Begin by assessing the amount of retaining wall repair you need to do. Look at the railroad ties, and consider the damage on each tie. Look for large cracks on the surface of the tie, or any signs of rotting. Both of these can be easily discovered. Make a note of which of the ties need to be repaired. If there are large sections of the retaining wall which need to be repaired, then you should consider removing those few pieces, and replacing them with fresh railroad ties. Most minor damage can be easily fixed on the spot.

Step 2 - Sand the Ties

If your inspection has revealed that there are a lot of cracks or splinters on your railroad tiles, then you should begin by sanding these off. Use a small, hand-held sander, as these will allow you to cover the area most thoroughly. If you want the  finished result to be completely splinter-free, then you should consider going over each of the ties with a pieces of fine grade sanding paper.

Step 3 - Repair Holes and Splitting

If the railroad ties have split down the middle, or along one side of the tie, then you should try and nail the two pieces back together. Coming in from the side, nail the board horizontally, so that the nail goes through both sides of the split. Hammer gently in order not to further damage the wood. Holes should be covered by filling them with a wood caulk, and then covering the surface with wood glue. Wood which is rotted should be cut away with the saw, and the remaining parts of the railroad tie covered with a rot-preventative.

Step 4 - Prevent More Damage

In order to protect the remaining parts of your railroad tie, after you have finished your retaining wall repair you should coat the surface in a protective wood varnish. Put this on using a suitable paintbrush, and leave to dry. You should then add a second coat, making sure that any areas which have been repaired are completely covered. You can then paint the railroad ties, which will add another layer of protection to the wood. These will all create barriers between your retaining wall and the weather, particularly damp conditions which would otherwise encourage rot.