Asked on Apr 08, 2012

I have a retaining wall made of railroad ties that has rotted. What advice do you have for replacing?

Smittie
by Smittie
  8 answers
  • You could do a masonry wall
  • 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) on Apr 08, 2012
    Depending on your budget and size of the wall you could use 6x6 treated timbers, or retaining wall block or have a poured concrete wall. If you are attempting removal yourself please be careful with those railroad ties and use some heavy duty gloves. Beware of spikes, rebar and splinters jabbing into you with the creosote coating.
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Apr 09, 2012
    I built a wall project last year using the 6" landscape timbers.
  • Walter Reeves Walter Reeves on Apr 10, 2012
    many landscape companies in GA survived the recession by replacing failed railroad tie walls. They typically fail at 20 years.
  • Nicole H Nicole H on Apr 11, 2012
    We've recently been adding in retaining wall blocks directly in front of failing railroad ties at our house. We remove the top level and backfill with pea-gravel. It's prevents us from having to remove all of the railroad ties.
  • 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) on Apr 11, 2012
    wow Nicole you have beautifully transformed the landscape. Well done!
  • Kim S Kim S on Apr 24, 2012
    What a difference!!! Beautiful!
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jun 06, 2015
    I think if I was going to put work into this project, I would pour a footer and place concrete wall building landscape blocks there. This is good if you are going to be there a while and excellent for resale. People can look at RR Ties and tell they need replacing and a patch job takes value from your home. If it is not a large wall and you have the cash, call someone to do it...but make sure they lay a proper foundation!
    • Geeta Lall Geeta Lall on Apr 22, 2020

      Way too expensive. i have several yards on my property in NJ that needs to be replaced.