How to Make Concrete Sleepers

Making a decision on sleepers for your retaining wall is not as simple as it seems. It requires thoughtful consideration and careful planning to ensure that your wall will withstand the test of time while offering both aesthetic appeal and practical functionality. 

Cement sleepers may appear easy to install, but their long-term durability and value for money are important factors to consider.

When it comes to sprucing up your garden or creating a reliable support structure for raised beds, concrete sleepers stand out as an appealing option favored by experienced DIY enthusiasts and landscaping professionals. 

Delving deeper into the world of cement sleepers reveals intricate details about their construction, installation process, maintenance requirements, and overall benefits. Explore below to gain comprehensive insights into these robust and versatile landscape components.

Austrina Steels Concrete Sleepers

Concrete sleepers have become increasingly popular in railway and construction projects. They are also utilized for embankments, roads, and canals. Originating from the United Kingdom, these sleepers have been used since Victorian times and are now widely employed in the UK, Europe, Australia, and North America.

Due to their affordability, durability, ease of construction, and maintenance, concrete sleepers continue to be a favored choice in modern construction systems. They are environmentally friendly as well because cement can be recycled at the end of its life cycle while showing minimal expansion or contraction with temperature changes.

Available in various colors and finishes that require minimal maintenance to sustain their appearance; concrete sleepers resist insect attacks without rotting or splitting. Additionally, they do not warp crack, or shrink; they work well with underlying soil and rocks due primarily fit compatibility.

With outstanding fire resistance characteristics—concrete sleepers do not burn—and very good insulation properties make them suitable for use near track-circuited lines. These qualities help reduce noise pollution when building near busy roadways or railways too. 

Furthermore, less overall maintenance is required compared to wooden/steel options due to their longevity exceeding those materials' lifespan which often provides cost-effective long-term performance consistently superior over time comparatively.

Ideas for making Concrete Sleepers

Concrete is commonly used for railway sleepers in Australia, and in the UK, Network Rail replaces 200,000 wooden railway sleepers with concrete ones annually. These sleepers are typically made from cast concrete slabs reinforced internally by steel wire. 

Earlier versions made with traditional reinforced concrete were often too brittle to withstand high levels of dynamic load. Nowadays, pre-stressed concrete is primarily used to manufacture these sleepers—a technique that introduces internal tension before casting to counteract external pressure during service.

The cement mix recipe involves 6 parts fine gravel, 4 parts sand, and 2½ parts cement. Once the basic design and dimensions are decided upon, a metal mold must be created using a 3mm galvanized steel plate—with slightly tapered sides and ends essential for removal after setting.

A reinforcement bar (or ‘reo’) is also necessary for strengthening the sleeper and accurately positioning the rails. This assembly is bolted into the mold while rail securing bolts hold it in place during pouring; nuts seal holes to prevent wet cement leakage. 

Before pouring, applying a release agent on the mold's internal surfaces is crucial for removing the completed sleeper afterward.

Looking for Concrete Sleepers for Retaining Walls?

At Austrina Steel Supplies, we take pride in offering a comprehensive selection of high-quality concrete sleepers tailored to meet the diverse needs of your retaining wall projects. 

Our concrete sleepers are meticulously crafted from 40 MPA concrete and reinforced with 2 N12 Reinforcement Bars, ensuring exceptional durability and structural integrity. They have been rigorously certified by experienced structural engineers to guarantee their reliability.

Furthermore, complementing our range of concrete sleepers are the hot-dipped galvanized steel posts available in a variety of sizes, providing you with versatile options to support your chosen sleeper configurations.