Railway sleepers in garden

[pepeben]

I have recently bought a property that has used railway sleepers as a low retaining wall on each side of the drive. During hot weather, tar seeps out of the sleepers and my pet dogs walk through and tread the tar through the house. Does anyone know of an economical way that I can seal the sleepers to prevent this happening?

[:Ace:]

You could perhaps varnish them?

[Sphinx_Svens]

There is no way to stop it completely ...one way is to have them shot-blasted, but it'll still leech out in hot weather eventually.

Maybe buy some thin planks and board over them?

[Sphinx_Svens]

Ace ... varnish definitely doesn't stop it permanently, it'll still leak through

[Gandy]

Depending on the age they may also be leeching out arsenic.

[Thunderbird+]

These old railway sleepers have now been banned for sale to the public in recent years by garden centers due to the creosote they contain.
I have one in my garden which seeps tar too, even in the winter, if the sun is strong, the sun just seems to draw it out, I dont think you can do much to stop it, I usually throw a hand full of saw dust over it if I think of it.
Some garden centres now offer an alternative, usually oak, same size etc without the banned chemicals, maybe replacing it / them could be another option. Good Luck T bird+