I have built a railroad tie retaining wall for the end of my dirt berm before it goes on a trestle and need to backfill it. I found I have some decomposed granit that is the right size and was thinking of filling up the space with whatever except for about 1/2" just before the wood and then pour in the stones and secure with matt medium. Now is there anything I missed, better ideas etc.
What you're describing is similar to what I do.
I fill behind the cribbing or other wood material with sand and small rocks, then carefully soak with wetting agent and apply diluted white glue.
The wood retaining walls around this bridge were finished the same way.
Be aware that the scenery wetting/gluing process can introduce enough water to soften the glue joints. Use care to avoid bumping the structure until everything's dry.
Rob Spangler
Thanks for the heads up on the glue, should have used ACC instead of white glue which is what I always used to do but find I have better results with staining if I intend to do a glueup first and then stain. To avoid the problem, I was thinking of layers to reduce the amount of wet water needed to go to the bottom, what you think?
rrebell...should have used ACC instead of white glue...
Not a problem. Mine are assembled with white glue or water-soluble wood glue as well. Leave them alone while the dirt is drying and you shouldn't have a problem.
...I was thinking of layers to reduce the amount of wet water needed to go to the bottom...
That's a good option. I've done that at times, especially when I have a deep area to glue.
This is not going to be deep but about 1 3/4" high.
The yellow wood glue version of white glue. Has a water proof formula. Yoou could always assemble the retaining wall with that.
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Yellow glue leaves spots when stained later if glue is wrong place, white glue if wiped off dose not..
Note that all the wood in my walls is pre-stained. It makes no difference in the color of the finished product if you get glue on the surface of the pre-stained wood. If you're planning to stain afterwards, you're setting yourself up for a lot of extra work, as it's vitually impossible to keep glue off the surface. Even if you wipe off or otherwise attempt to remove the excess glue, it can still affect how the wood absorbs stain.
wp8thsub Note that all the wood in my walls is pre-stained. It makes no difference in the color of the finished product if you get glue on the surface of the pre-stained wood. If you're planning to stain afterwards, you're setting yourself up for a lot of extra work, as it's vitually impossible to keep glue off the surface. Even if you wipe off or otherwise attempt to remove the excess glue, it can still affect how the wood absorbs stain.
Just to let you know, turned out great.