How to Treat Railroad Ties

Railroad ties make attractive building materials for use around the home. Use them to build a sturdy garden bench or border a garden in the yard. Railroad ties contain creosote, a product that prevents the ties from rotting. Creosote slowly leeches out of ties into the surrounding soil. The Environmental Protection Agency has determined creosote to be a toxin, so you should not use railroad ties in direct contact with vegetable gardens or in places with poor ventilation. However, by treating the railroad ties before you use them, you can lessen the risk of contamination.

Things You'll Need

• Urethane, epoxy or shellac
• Heavy black plastic
• Paintbrush

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Cover railroad ties with two coats of urethane, epoxy or shellac to seal the creosote in the wood, using a paintbrush.

   • 2

     Place a layer of heavy black plastic between railroad ties and the soil of vegetable gardens. This step is not necessary if you are using the ties around a flower bed, unless there is a possibility of a human or pet consuming the plants.

   • 3

     Reapply your sealant if you see any black substance oozing from the wood.

   • 4

     Dispose of treated wood by burying it or through ordinary trash collection.