Strata Oak & Softwood Sleepers
🌱 Sustainable Sourcing: Softwood and Oak
According to Strata Timber: stratatimber.com.
They sustainably source three types of new sleepers: softwood (treated), hardwood (treated), and oak (fresh sawn, untreated)
Softwood sleepers are available in green or brown (tanalised) treated forms in nominal dimensions such as 95×195 mm or 120×240 mm and lengths from 1.2 m to 3.0 m. Treatment levels are UC3 or UC4 for high rot resistance
Hardwood sleepers are similarly brown‑tanalised and sold in comparable sizes and lengths with UC3 treatment
Oak sleepers are fresh sawn and untreated, making them ideal for high‑end landscaping finishes. Available dimensions include 100×200 mm or 120×240 mm, with lengths up to 3.0 m
✅Oak vs Softwood Sleepers?
1. Durability & Appearance
Oak: Naturally strong and visually appealing, oak gives a high‑end look—though being untreated, it’s prone to natural cracking, checking, and colour variation over time.
Softwood: Pressure-treated (green/brown tanalised), softwood offers excellent rot resistance and is a cost-effective, practical choice for structural use or raised beds.
2. Applications
Oak: Favoured in premium landscaping—raised beds, retaining walls, decorative features—especially when appearance matters.
Softwood: Ideal for fence posts, edging, heavy-duty garden features where weather resistance is essential.
3. Cost & Treatment
Softwood sleepers are pressure-treated, making them resistant to decay and suitable for ground contact.
Oak sleepers remain untreated to preserve a natural aesthetic, but may require sealing if long-term durability is needed in damp soil.