{"title":"UC4 Treated Railway Sleepers","description":"\u003ch2\u003eUC4 Pressure Treated Railway Sleepers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf a sleeper is going into the ground, or sitting on it, UC4 is the treatment level you want. It is the difference between a raised bed that lasts fifteen years and one you rebuild in five.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat does UC4 actually mean?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUC stands for Use Class - the British standard system for how much protection treated timber has and where it is safe to use it. The higher the number, the tougher the environment it is rated for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUC3\u003c\/strong\u003e - above ground, exposed to weather. Fence rails, decking boards, cladding. Fine as long as it is not touching soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUC4\u003c\/strong\u003e - in ground contact or permanently damp. Fence posts, sleepers, retaining walls, anything sitting in soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe rule is simple: if it touches soil, use UC4.\u003c\/strong\u003e UC3 timber in ground contact will fail years earlier, and no amount of paint on the outside fixes that, because the protection has to be driven into the timber under pressure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGreen or brown?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth are UC4. The difference is purely colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGreen\u003c\/strong\u003e - the natural colour of the preservative. Weathers down to a soft silver-grey over a couple of years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrown\u003c\/strong\u003e - a brown pigment added during treatment. Looks more like natural timber from day one and many people prefer it in a garden setting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey perform identically. Choose on looks alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is tanalised?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTanalith is a brand of wood preservative, and \"tanalised\" simply means treated with it. If a sleeper is described as tanalised UC4, it is pressure treated to Use Class 4. It is not a different or better process - just a brand name you will see used interchangeably.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy treated pine instead of oak?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOak is naturally durable and needs no treatment, but it costs more and is considerably heavier. UC4 treated pine gives you comparable outdoor life at a lower price and is much easier to handle and cut on site.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor most raised beds, edging and retaining walls, treated pine is the sensible choice. Choose oak when appearance matters or when you would rather avoid preservatives entirely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing vegetables?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis comes up constantly and deserves a straight answer. Modern UC4 preservatives are copper-based and are not the old creosote or CCA formulations. They are widely used for raised beds. That said, if you would rather have no preservative at all near edibles, \u003cstrong\u003enew untreated oak sleepers\u003c\/strong\u003e are the alternative - naturally durable with nothing added. Both are legitimate choices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat people build with them\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRaised beds and vegetable planters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRetaining walls and terracing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGarden steps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDriveway and border edging\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLow seating walls and garden features\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFixing and installation\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePre-drill and use structural timber screws.\u003c\/strong\u003e Ordinary screws will snap or split the sleeper.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTreat any cut ends.\u003c\/strong\u003e Cutting exposes untreated timber in the middle. Brush end-grain preservative on every fresh cut - it is the most common reason treated sleepers fail early.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAllow for movement.\u003c\/strong\u003e Leave a small gap rather than butting sleepers dead tight.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCut to size before delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe crosscut new sleepers on a mitre saw at \u003cstrong\u003e£6 per cut including VAT\u003c\/strong\u003e. Add your measurements to the order notes and we will invoice the cutting separately. Remember to treat the cut ends once they arrive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDelivery and collection\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe deliver up to \u003cstrong\u003e175 miles\u003c\/strong\u003e from Dunstable (LU6 3QL) and Brigg (DN20 0BN), unloaded by hand. Larger loads go nationwide by hiab or artic. ETA confirmed the day before.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCollection from Dunstable within opening hours - call 07498617279 first. Brigg by appointment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot sure whether you need UC3 or UC4? Call \u003cstrong\u003e07498617279\u003c\/strong\u003e or email \u003ca href=\"mailto:info@davidstimber.co.uk\"\u003einfo@davidstimber.co.uk\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"new-pine-brown-pressure-treated-railway-sleepers","title":"NEW Pine Tanalised UC4 Brown Pressure Treated Railway Sleepers","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNew Brown UC4 Treated Pine Railway Sleepers\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(3m x 200mm x 100mm), (10' x 8'' x 4'') (approximately)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e(2.4m x 200mm x 100mm), (8' x 8'' x 4'') (approximately)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe prices are for a single sleeper.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are new pine railway sleepers freshly cut by a machine. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sleepers are tanalised (pressure treated) to Use Class 4 to ensure their longevity. Most places sell UC3 treated sleepers, which are not suitable for direct contact with soil and won't last as long as UC4 sleepers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeep in mind that it is normal after couple of months for the new wood to change colour to a silver grey due to the bleaching effects of the sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe sleepers are perfect for:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Raised beds \u0026amp; planters,\u003cbr\u003e- A railway sleepers driveway,\u003cbr\u003e- Stepping stones \u0026amp; steps,\u003cbr\u003e- An exterior feature wall,\u003cbr\u003e- Lawn edging,\u003cbr\u003e- And much more..\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe \u003cstrong\u003eare able \u003c\/strong\u003eto drop the price if you placed a bulk order.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe \u003cstrong\u003eare able\u003c\/strong\u003e to cut railway sleepers crosswise to your specification, but we \u003cstrong\u003earen't able\u003c\/strong\u003e to cut them lengthwise.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Davids Timber","offers":[{"title":"3000mm x 200mm x 100mm","offer_id":49443847897409,"sku":null,"price":37.6,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"2400mm x 200mm x 100mm","offer_id":49443847930177,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/5381\/3569\/products\/d7a03b_2b628e888bb745d78d1ca661b2d85d03_mv2.webp?v=1741171533"},{"product_id":"new-pine-green-pressure-treated-railway-sleepers-2400m-x-200mm-x-100mm","title":"NEW Pine Tanalised UC4 Green Pressure Treated Railway Sleepers","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNew Tanalised UC4 Green Pressure Treated Pine Railway Sleepers\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(3m x 200mm x 100mm), (10' x 8'' x 4'') (approximately)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(2.4m x 200mm x 100mm), (8' x 8'' x 4'') (approximately)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe prices are for a single sleeper.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are new pine railway sleepers freshly machine cut. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sleepers are tanalised (pressure treated) to Use Class 4 to ensure their longevity. Most places sell UC3 treated sleepers, which are not suitable for direct contact with soil and won't last as long as UC4 sleepers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eKeep in mind that it is normal after couple of months for the new wood to change colour to a silver grey due to the bleaching effects of the sun.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe sleepers are perfect for:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Raised beds \u0026amp; planters,\u003cbr\u003e- A railway sleepers driveway,\u003cbr\u003e- Stepping stones \u0026amp; steps,\u003cbr\u003e- An exterior feature wall,\u003cbr\u003e- Lawn edging,\u003cbr\u003e- And much more..\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe \u003cstrong\u003eare able \u003c\/strong\u003eto drop the price if you placed a bulk order.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe \u003cstrong\u003eare able\u003c\/strong\u003e to cut railway sleepers crosswise to your specification, but we \u003cstrong\u003earen't able\u003c\/strong\u003e to cut them lengthwise.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Davids Timber","offers":[{"title":"3000m x 200mm x 100mm","offer_id":49447638532417,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"2400m x 200mm x 100mm","offer_id":49447638499649,"sku":null,"price":27.4,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/5381\/3569\/files\/1_mainphoto.png?v=1741171484"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.davidstimber.co.uk\/collections\/uc4-treated-railway-sleepers.oembed","provider":"Davids Timber LTD","version":"1.0","type":"link"}