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How do you build steps on a steep hill with railroad ties?
Dig out the hillside to accommodate the remaining courses of railroad ties until you reach the top of the hill. Lay three railroad ties in a U-shape on the previous set of railroad ties, overlapping each new step by half the length. Drive landscape timber screws through the railroad ties to connect them.
How do you terrace a slope with railroad ties?
Place a 1-inch layer of course sand into the foundation. Tamp the sand down with a tamping tool and lay a row of railroad ties over the sand. Drive railroad spikes through the holes at either end of the railroad ties and into the ground to hold the ties in place.
How do you add steps to a slope?
Steps built into a slope
- Fix two parallel stringlines from top to bottom of the slope, as far apart as the required step width.
- Measure a line to find the length of the slope.
- To measure the height difference between the levels, rest one end of a length of timber on the top of the slope and place a spirit level on it.
How long does 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.
How much does a railroad tie cost?
Railroad Tie – $25 – $30 per sq. Installing railroad ties is often one of the easiest and most cost-effective choices. With material and labor, you are looking at $25-$30 per square foot. The tie is worth about $20.
Can I cut railroad ties with a chainsaw?
If you’ve ever used railroad ties for a project, you know they’re heavy duty. However, this also makes railroad ties difficult to cut. You’ll need a chainsaw, a circular saw, and/or a reciprocating saw like a Sawzall to get railroad ties down to the size you need.
Can I use railroad ties 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).
How do you build steps on a small slope?
Divide the height of your slope by 7 ¾ inches (or however many inches tall you’ve decided to make the rise of your steps). If, for instance, your slope is 77.5 inches tall and you plan to build steps of 7 ¾ inches, you will need 10 steps.
How to build steps out of railroad tie?
i built some steps on a steep hill out of some railroad tie’s that i purchased at lowes and made a flower bed beside them. i cut them in half with a chainsaw, drilled holes about a foot off each side, and hammerd approximently 3ft sticks of rebar threw threw them Loading…
How many railroad ties do you need for stair treads?
Cut three railroad ties for the first step, making one tie equal to the desired width for the stairs and two ties twice as long as the desired depth for each stair tread. The treads should …
How do you build stairs on a hill?
Drive a tall stake at the base of the hill and a short stake at the top of the hill. Connect the two stakes with a level two-by-four screwed to the sides of the stakes. Measure from the bottom of the tall stake to the bottom of the horizontal two-by-four to find the total rise.