How to stop weeds and fix rotting timber steps?

[nishtha]

 

 

We have a few wooden steps in our backyard which are rotting.

We got a few quotes and both the carpenters mentioned that removing them would be too much work and that we should spray them and then they can put a fresh slab of wood on top of the existing steps.

My question is will that stop the weeds from growing as it's too close to the soil?

Or do we really need to do the hard yards and have them removed.

Even if we have them removed then do we need to take any additional steps to make sure weeds don't grow in between them?

[MitchellMc]

Hi @nishtha,

Weeds are a constant battle in gardens—wherever there’s soil, they’ll try to pop up. Whether you lay new sleepers over the existing ones or completely replace them, it’s likely that weeds will continue to make an appearance. Regularly spraying or pulling them out as they emerge is the only way to thin them out and prevent them from returning as often.

The decision on whether to overlay new timber or remove the old steps depends more on the condition of the existing sleepers. If they’re heavily deteriorated, it would be best to remove them to ensure you have a solid base to work with. If they still have some structural integrity, adding a fresh layer on top could be a simpler option, but it won’t necessarily stop weeds from growing in gaps around the timber. If you’re concerned about weeds, you could consider installing a weed barrier fabric underneath before laying new timber to help reduce their growth. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

[nishtha]

Thanks for the very helpful reply.

I agree with adding a layer of weedmat fabric in between but I was just thinking about it.

What would be a good way to hold the weedmat fabric in place?

Weedmat pins won't go down in the wood underneath?

[robchin]

Interesting challenge here. 

I reckon I'd pull up the rotting sleepers and start again. 

As noted you will always get weeds where there is soil. I would offer a counter opinion to the weedmat though. The weed mat will stop weeds keeping from the ground up but won't stop them coming from the top or roots coming laterally. If you really want to stop weeds the only way to stop them is to carefully apply a path weeder - residual action. I work at Bunnings and we sell a few o these: Yates 3L Ready To Use Path Weeder - Bunnings Australia

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @nishtha

Id also be tempted to pull them up and start again. The photo dosnt really show the height of each step to the one before it. What is the height of the the top of one tread to the next?

I was thinking of maybe replace the steps with Pioneer 200 x 75mm 1.2m Grey Reinforced Smooth Concrete Sleeper and either embedding them into the slight rise (depending on the height of your existing steps) or resting them on bessa blocks Brighton Masonry 390 x 190 x 190mm Full Besser Block 

Now you may go but it will sink, If you compact the soil first (could even put down some road base but not really needed) then the answer I would say is not fast My place had steps like this in the front yard for a decade before I pulled them up in when doing landscaping. I expected a concrete base, footing and reo... Nope, just compacted soil, bessa blocks laid on top. A little mortar for some parts maybe and a capping stone... I was surrprised it stood up so well for 10 years plus... probally another 20 years before going by the style.

Note - You may need two people to pick up concrete sleepers. I went for the shorter ones in my suggestion.

Dave

[EricL]

Hello @nishtha 

If you were to place the weed mat over the old steps and place new timber steps above it, the new steps will hold the weedmat in place. There will be no need to fix it in place as the weight of the new step is holding it in position. If you were to remove the old steps then using weedmat pins would work as you are placing the weed mat on soil.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric