Why use DURA²® timber sleepers in your garden?
DURA²® sleepers are designed to thrive in ground contact and exposed conditions. Their deep preservative penetration shields them from fungal decay, insect attack, and moisture damage for decades. Once installed, they require no additional finishing treatments and maintain their uniform colour far longer than untreated or single-treated timbers. Over time, the surface will weather evenly to a silvery grey without the patchiness often seen in other products.
Their strength and stability make them an excellent choice for retaining walls, terraced gardens, and raised vegetable beds where timber integrity is essential. Because the treatment is fixed within the timber, there is no leaching of chemicals into surrounding soil – ideal for use in planting areas.
What is the DURA²® process?
For long-lasting, low-maintenance performance
Conventional treatment involves drying timber once, then impregnating it with a water-based preservative. While effective, it often leaves the inner cracks that appear over time unprotected. DURA²® solves this problem by treating the timber twice.
The first stage sees slow-grown pine dried to remove moisture and open the natural pores in the sapwood. It is then pressure-impregnated to full saturation with a maximum-strength salt solution. The timber is dried again, encouraging deeper cracks to form.
In the second treatment stage, the timber is once more impregnated under high pressure with the same protective solution, this time with a rich chestnut brown colourant. This ensures the treatment reaches right into the cracks and deeper layers of the wood, protecting it where decay would normally start.
The result is protection comparable to creosote-treated timber, but without the environmental and health concerns. The process is safe for humans, animals, and plants, making DURA²® a versatile choice for both residential and agricultural settings.
Choosing sleepers for your project
Matching materials to purpose
DURA²® sleepers are cut from slow-grown pine with a generous sapwood layer, which can be fully impregnated during treatment. This gives them consistent performance from end to end. The large sapwood area means the preservative reaches as much of the timber as possible, unlike hardwoods where dense heartwood can be impervious to treatment.
In landscaping, these sleepers are perfect for:
Raised beds – Providing a robust, rot-resistant frame for growing flowers, shrubs, or vegetables.
Retaining walls – Holding back soil on sloped sites with strength and stability.
Garden steps and edging – Creating level changes or defining paths.
Seating and furniture bases – Giving outdoor structures a sturdy, long-lasting foundation.
Sleepers can be laid directly onto level soil, grass, or a prepared hardcore base. For maximum stability, secure corners with long timber screws or heavy, galvanised steel sleeper plates or sleeper pins.
Their dark brown finish blends naturally with both planting schemes and hard landscaping materials, making them a good visual match for other DURA²® fencing or post-and-rail elements on the same property.
What's more, because DURA² sleepers are pre-treated to Use Class 4+, there is no need for additional painting or staining. However, if you cut the timber to size, apply EndSeal Black to the cut ends to maintain full protection and keep your warranty valid.
DURA²® Fencing
Other products in the range for fencing and construction
While DURA²® sleepers are ideal for landscaping and garden builds, Fountain Timber also stocks other products from the same range, all benefitting from the patented treatment.
Square post and rail – strong, straight fencing for paddocks, driveways, and field boundaries.
Round stakes – perfect for agricultural fencing, supporting wire netting, or marking boundaries.
DURA²® fencing products are particularly valued in agricultural and equine settings where strength, animal safety, and low maintenance are priorities. They’re safe for livestock contact and designed to stand up to weather, impact, and pressure without warping or rotting prematurely.
An environmentally responsible choice
Sustainability built into every stage
The DURA²® process uses water-based preservatives that are fixed into the timber, preventing leaching into soil or watercourses. Timber is sourced from responsibly managed forests and processed in a way that minimises carbon emissions, including open-air drying rather than kiln-drying.
The extended lifespan of DURA²® products means fewer replacements, less timber harvesting over time, and lower environmental impact compared with untreated wood or products with shorter service lives. Choosing DURA²® also avoids the environmental hazards linked to creosote, making it a responsible choice for both residential and commercial projects.
How can we help?
DURA²® timber sleepers combine the warmth and natural beauty of real wood with an advanced preservation process proven to extend service life to two decades or more.
From raised beds to retaining walls and steps, they provide both the strength to hold their shape and the treatment to resist the elements year after year.
For gardens, farms, and landscape projects, DURA²® offers the peace of mind that comes from knowing the structure you build today will remain strong and visually appealing for years to come.
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