Covering Railroad Tie Terrace Walls in Los Angeles

LA backyard: 6' drop over 24', railroad tie terraces. Wants to hide ties with stucco, thin stone/brick, or premium wood (Ipe). Each wall ~50x3 ft.

Railroad Tie Hazards

• Core rot over time
• Creosote preservative: toxic, causes burns, liver damage
• Chainsaw cutting requires full PPE (expert's youth mistake: bathing suit/flip-flops on 90° day = sick)

Structural Reinforcement (Seismic Zone)

• Stainless steel cables: 1 anchor per 4 ties, corkscrew anchors 24" long, 18" deep, 10+ ft back
• Or full-length tie as deadman anchor with concrete collar
• Interlock perpendicular ties with lag bolts/large washers

Fascia Options

1. Wood (redwood, cypress, treated pine): Furring strips 12-16" OC over ties, then planking. Frame like exterior wall.
2. Stucco: NOT recommended—insects (wasps, termites, ants) nest behind it
3. Brick/stone veneer: Possible if ties very secure, but wood frame method safer

Site-Specific Engineering Needed

Soil samples, photos required for code-compliant specs. Two solutions offered may suffice. Contact: sdward79@hotmail.com (subject: AllExperts).

David