Retaining walls
Holding back soil to create level terraces, lawns and patios on sloping ground.
Get a quote about retaining wallsPN Landscapes builds timber sleeper retaining walls and raised beds in Uckfield using ground-contact treated sleepers fixed to posts set in concrete, with membrane and drainage behind so the walls stay straight.
Timber sleepers are one of the quickest and most natural-looking ways to level a sloping garden, build raised beds or edge a lawn. They are also easy to get wrong: sleepers stacked on bare soil without posts or drainage will lean, bow and rot within a few years.
We build sleeper walls and raised beds across the Uckfield area. This page covers which timber to choose, how we build walls that stay straight, and when a different material is the better option.
What we build with sleepers
Raised beds
For vegetables, herbs or flowers at a comfortable working height. Sleeper tops can double as seating.
Get a quote about raised beds
Steps and edging
Sleeper steps up a bank, and clean edges between lawn, gravel and borders.
Get a quote about steps and edging
Seating and features
Built-in benches, play-area edging and borders around patios.
Get a quote about seating and featuresChoosing the right sleepers
| Type | Good for | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| New pressure-treated softwood | Most walls and raised beds; good value | Must be treated for ground contact (Use Class 4). Cut ends need re-treating. |
| New oak | Premium look; long life | Heavier and more expensive. Can bleed tannin stains at first. |
| Reclaimed railway sleepers | Rustic character for edging only | Often treated with creosote, which should not be used where skin contact is likely, such as seating, play areas or vegetable beds. |
How we build a sleeper retaining wall
Assess the slope
We look at the height of soil retained, the ground type, nearby paths or drives and where water runs. Walls retaining more than about a metre, or near a driveway or building, need an engineered design.
Posts in concrete
Vertical posts are set deep into concrete footings at regular centres. These posts, not the weight of the sleepers, are what resist the soil.
Fix the sleepers
Sleepers are laid level on a compacted base and fixed to the posts with heavy-duty timber screws, with joints staggered.
Membrane and drainage
The back of the wall is lined, and free-draining gravel with a perforated pipe or weep gaps lets water escape.
Backfill and finish
Soil is backfilled and compacted in layers, and tops are finished square, capped or chamfered.
When sleepers are not the right answer
Sleepers suit low to medium walls in informal gardens. For higher walls, walls holding up a driveway, or anywhere you want a 50-year life, brick, stone or reinforced blockwork is the better choice. We build those too, and will tell you honestly which suits your slope. See garden wall installation for the masonry options.
Questions we are asked
Sleeper wall FAQs
How long do sleeper retaining walls last?
A softwood sleeper wall built with ground-contact treated timber and proper drainage typically lasts 15 to 20 years. Oak lasts longer. Walls built without drainage fail much sooner.
How high can a sleeper wall be?
Sleeper walls work well up to about a metre of retained height. Above that, or where the wall supports a load such as a driveway, it should be designed by a structural engineer and is often better in masonry.
Are sleepers safe for vegetable beds?
New untreated oak or modern pressure-treated softwood sleepers are suitable, and a liner between the timber and soil adds reassurance. Reclaimed creosoted sleepers should not be used for food growing.
Should sleepers be laid flat or on edge?
Either works. On edge gives more height per sleeper and a slimmer wall. Flat gives a wider, sturdier look and a top wide enough to sit on.
PN Landscapes
Get a quote for sleeper walls or raised beds
Book a free visit and we will measure the slope and recommend the right construction.
Phone: 01825 733317
Email: info@pnlandscapes.co.uk
Address: Flitteridge Farm, Daleham Lane, Splaynes Green, Uckfield TN22 3TQ
Hours: Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 8am–1pm
Paving and stone: visit PN Paving Supplies, our sister company on the same site.