Yes, they are toxic and will leach forever. But unless your kids are licking them or eating garden produce grown in raised beds made from them, I wouldn't be too concerned. And I say that as a very chemical-aware organic farmer.

Concrete does contain chemicals that leach, too. The only perfectly "safe" material would be a natural stone or untreated wood.

@Laura Mac funny how we both referenced kids licking them. (I was typing as you posted). You must have kids lol...

Wow thank you so much for quickly responding to my post! I have a load of keystones coming tomorrow but would rather not go through the labor and cost and I like the wood better. You are making me feel better about my choice! Do you think I should have the soil tested since the ties have been on the property for a few years?

I would assume it is in the soil. Do you plan to grow food in it?

Not where they were. I’m building cedar boxes in a different place that hasn’t been exposed to the ties.

At one point awhile back creosote contained 200 toxic compounds that had been identified. And it smells bad, comes off when treated surfaces are touched - creosoted railroad ties are completely unsuitable for any locations that are supposed to be safe or pleasant to be in. A landscape contractor friend calls them "tacky, tarry and toxic", never uses them.

I wouldn’t use them. They are toxic to the soil and deteriorate in spite of the chemical treatment applied to prevent it.

I neither grow things for consumption nor have small children.

If you are getting them from HD, they are not railroad ties, they are landscaping timbers - completely different beasts. I'd say the biggest concern with relatively new ones of those is that they may have already developed significant rot.

I agree they are not railroad ties just treated wood and a whole different material.Ask HD what the wood is treated with if it is a concern. Treated wood is used in many places in landscaping

considering that we struggle to even find a dump that will accept creosote treated RR ties, it seems off that Home Depot would sell them. Do you have pics of what you have?

I wouldn't be too quick to jump on the bandwagon that if recently purchased they are just "landscape timbers" and not railroad ties. Home Depot and other home improvement stores DO sell used railroad ties (location dependent). In fact, HD advertises theirs specifically as being creosote treated and that they bring "a piece of Americana to your landscape"!! For only $18.97 each! LOL!!

Not something I would recommend......they will continue to leach creosote forever until they rot, which can be a very long time. And the leachate will be sticky and gummy, just as one would expect of creosote. And they smell in hot weather - a strong chemical aroma similar to petroleum.

@gardengal I guess those ugly stink sticks have to be coming from somewhere. Fortunately I don't think they sell them locally here.

to the OP - if they are RR ties and you have the means and opportunity to get rid of them, I wouldn't even hesitate.

I am surprised to see them sold locally here as well. You have to take them to a hazardous waste disposal collection site to get rid of them and pay for the priviledge. They will not accept them at the landfill or regular 'dump'.

We are finally getting rid of creosote-soaked timbers that were used for our retaining walls when the house was built 30 years ago. They stunk so bad that we were never able to sit near them. They still stink, even though most of it has faded and rotted. They are horrible and I cannot wait for them to be gone forever. I cannot warn against them strongly enough - even if they aren’t as bad as they used to be. There are far-better options.

Nope. Nada. No, no, no.

As a matter of fact, they have to be disposed of as hazmat. Not regular construction waste.

I built a house in the year 2000 since I've moved into this house myself and my animals and a lot of people that have been in my home seem to always have respiratory problems. Could the railroad ties they use to build my wooden basement because of these problems?

Your basement is built of railroad ties? Where in the world are you?