Using railroad ties for garden beds can pose a threat to your soil, pets and children, as well as the food you grow. The wood is preserved by soaking it in creosote, which is composed of over 300 chemicals, many of them toxic and persistent in soil. Exposure to creosote has been shown to cause cancer.
Furthermore, are railroad ties illegal to use?
Every EPA site said the same thing about the main preservative in old railroad ties: “Creosote is a possible human carcinogen and has no registered residential use.” So it’s actually illegal to use old railroad ties in a home landscape. There are no approved residential uses of creosote treated wood.
Additionally, what can you do with railroad ties? One fantastic item you can use to create something amazing is a railroad tie. Here are 10 of them you may want to try for yourself.
- Raised Garden Beds.
- Fantastic Light Fixture.
- Bathroom Shelves.
- Railroad Tie Planter.
- Railroad Tie Swing.
- Picnic Table Set.
- Coffee Table.
Similarly, it is asked, are old railroad ties toxic?
If the railroad ties are old, creosote may ooze out, leeching the soil and killing plants, insects and small animals. The arsenic in the wood is toxic, making it a danger to plants and wildlife that have prolonged contact with it. CCA- treated railroad ties should be disposed of through municipal means.
What can I use instead of railroad ties?
Alternatives to Railroad Ties Some of the naturally durable woods that can be used to replace the creosote-soaked logs are redwood, cedar, cypress and black locust. It is also possible to buy pressure-treated wood or to buy clear wood and treat the timbers yourself.
14 Related Question Answers Found
Can I pick up old railroad ties?
Railroad ties can be used to make retaining walls, parking lot bumpers, etc. Local organizations such as Habitat for Humanity may be able to utilize the railroad ties. If recycling of your railroad ties is not an option, they should be disposed of in a solid waste or construction and demolition debris landfill.
How much does a railroad tie cost?
The tie is worth about $20. The sideboards may be $3-4 per log if it’s junky, maybe more if they are red oak #1 com or better. So if you can do 100 ties a day you can earn maybe $1100 a day before expenses.
How long will a railroad tie last?
Average life of hardwood ties is 20 to 25 years.” Kevin Haugh, president of CXT Inc., provides somewhat shorter estimates of tie service life: about 40 years for concrete versus a range for wood tie life of from 8-10 years up to 15-25 years dependent on the climate and wood type.
Can railroad ties be used for a retaining wall?
And perhaps the easiest way to build such a wall is with used railroad crossties. As you know, ties are 6 x 8 feet x 8 inches (more or less) chunks of pine, redwood, or oak treated with wood preservatives (usually creosote but sometimes also pentachlorophenol).
Can I take railroad ties to the dump?
Yes, all landfills accept railroad ties. However, they must be permitted into each facility and can not be longer than 8 feet.
Do railroad ties attract termites?
Research also has shown that mulch-fed termites have significantly lower survivorship than those that feed on other wood materials. However, infested products such as railroad ties have the potential to spread a colony. Mulch does not attract termites.
Why was creosote banned?
The European Commission has banned the sale of creosote-treated wood after it was found that there could be a cancer risk. Scientists carrying out a study for the commission have found that creosote is much more hazardous than originally thought. The ban takes effect from June 30, 2003.
How long does creosote last?
60 years
How do you anchor a railroad tie?
Burying the first row of ties and pounding ample steel spikes or lengths of rebar to hold levels of ties together effectively anchors the ties. Excavate a trench to accommodate the bottom layer of railroad ties. Tamp the soil at the bottom of the trench to compact it.
How dangerous is creosote?
Dangers to People Short-term exposure to creosote can cause skin, eye and respiratory irritation; longer-term exposure may cause organ damage or cancer.
How much does an average railroad tie weigh?
200 pounds
Do railroads own the land the tracks are on?
But, generally speaking, the railroads own the land on which their track is laid and a significant easement on each side of a couple-hundred feet.
How long will a railroad tie retaining wall last?
Around here (Atlanta), they sell different grades of used railroad ties. I’m sure the better ones last a little longer, but after 15 years, most RR tie walls start looking pretty ratty, and after 20 years, it would probably be replacement time.
What is creosote used for?
Creosote. Creosote is derived from the distillation of tar from wood or coal and is used as a wood preservative. Pesticide products containing creosote as the active ingredient are used to protect wood against termites, fungi, mites and other pests that can degrade or threaten the integrity of wood products.