Our inspection report for our new home labels the material of the backyard retaining wall as railroad ties. The results of a Google search has sent us into a bit of a panic regarding the potential for creosote leakage and soil contamination and the costs associated with removing and disposing of railroad ties. Before we look further into all of this, can anyone tell from these photos— are these, in fact, railroad ties? Do they appear to be creosote-treated? These are different parts of the retaining wall in different lightings. Thank you!
by Keepingswimming88
4 Comments
The darker ones look like they might be. You can typically smell the creosote, especially on a warm day. Give it a whiff.
I don’t see any railroad ties
Not railroad ties. Not soaked in creosote.
They don’t seem too worn down to be “repurposed tracks” worthy. The smell test is a good indicator. There are also testing kits you can buy online.