What can I do with this rotten sleeper?

[redhexagonal]

This allegedly reclaimed railway sleeper retaining wall got really wet because a downpipe was missing the drain for some time. i’ve fixed that, and I’m trying to dry it out and scrape out all the rot. Its pretty f*cked up, but I don’t really want to replace it because its still fairly solid overall (its 125mm x 250mm) and its got the fence posts screwed into it on the other side. Also at some point I will have to replace the entire retaining wall anyway because its all railway sleepers which are deteriorating due to no membrane/drainage being installed. Basically I just want to try and slow down the rot of this one sleeper and patch it up cosmetically where its visible next to the patio. i was thinking of letting it dry over summer and then using wood hardener or preservative, then filling the big voids with expanding foam to keep out soil and water, and then probably wood filler on the visible inch or two at the top (then covering the reat with gravel) . I know this is a bodge, but if you have any better bodges please let me know

 

[Wayners]

Solvent primer preserver will help.

Not much you can do with that other then dog out the rot and treat

 

[blup]

That’s as good a bodge as any

 

[Why Not Indeed]

How about, scrape out the rot as planned but just "veneer" it with some treated boards. Less fiddly and quicker. You will be able to reuse the boards elsewhere as this is only a temporary bodge.

 

[redhexagonal]

Solvent primer preserver will help.

Not much you can do with that other then dog out the rot and treat

Is primer preserver better than using a wood hardener?

 

[redhexagonal]

How about, scrape out the rot as planned but just "veneer" it with some treated boards. Less fiddly and quicker. You will be able to reuse the boards elsewhere as this is only a temporary bodge.

I wanted to fill in the holes to stop moisture /soil getting in there

 

[Wayners]

Hardener is different to primer preserver.
You will have to decide what's best.
Hardener is best if you are filling