A Gabion wall is an increasingly popular fencing solution in residential and commercial landscape settings as well as being effective in erosion control and major infrastructure projects such as railways, bridges, and highways
A series of wire cages hold rocks in place to form a really solid retaining wall or fence.
It’s the wire cage that allows a gabion wall to retain its shape and structural integrity so it makes good sense to choose superior welded steel wire panels to form your gabion baskets or mesh cages.
Gabion walls offer so many options for character landscaping. Use a gabion wall to create an impressive statement flanking your property driveway.
A Gabion retaining wall works well even on a very small scale in your backyard to define a bank or to separate sections of your garden.
Gabion walls also make great additions to the patio area; think attractive surrounds for seating.
Or use a gabion simply as a low garden border or as part of a water feature, they can even make the perfect setting for a rock solid letterbox. The potential uses of gabion walls are endless.
A gabion retaining wall is a highly effective way to control erosion and increase the amount of level space you have on your property.
Good drainage makes gabion walls especially useful.
This is because the gaps between the rocks prevent the build-up of pressure from trapped water that commonly occurs with other types of retaining walls.
Gabion wall designs can be highly flexible and are appropriate for any sized project from very small to very large.
A gabion retaining wall also looks extremely attractive with the range of natural rock colourings and textures.
And of course, they are quite literally rock solid. Their outstanding durability makes them very cost-effective options for any retaining wall applications.
As with any fencing project, it’s good to do your research first so here are a few tips about gabion retaining wall design and installation.
Once you’ve measured out your fence and purchased the required wire mesh panels, rocks, and other materials you’re ready to begin.
Obviously, you need to choose wire mesh apertures that are smaller than your chosen stones otherwise the rocks will fall out.
Level concrete footings provide a solid base for a gabion wall where the soil is really soft clay or sand.
However, concrete foundations can interfere with drainage and so may be counter-indicated in the case of retaining walls.
Join your galvanised wire panels together with wire to form the base and sides of the boxes. Hold each box in place by inserting wire down each corner of the box. This will hold the box shape while you fill the box with rocks.
Large size gabions may benefit from some diagonal bracing across the corners as well as horizontally at mid height.
You can save money by using old concrete blocks and cheaper stone in the middle of the gabion and saving the more expensive smart looking rocks for the visible outer parts.
Once you’ve got all the rocks in place simply wire the top panel on and you’re finished.
You may need a council permit to build a gabion wall but that will depend on the size of the wall and your particular local council regulations.
If you intend to use a gabion wall as a retaining wall you may need to obtain comprehensive engineering specifications and council approval and you may need to use a licensed builder.
The wire mesh cage is a pretty important structural feature of any gabion wall.
The type of wire you choose can have a significant impact on the lifespan of your new gabion wall. There are three important aspects to keep in mind when choosing the right steel wire mesh.
We supply steel wire mesh panels in galvanised steel and both 304 and 316 grade stainless steel.
Panel sizes are generally 2.4m x 1.2m or 2.4 x 3.0m but we can do custom sizes as well. We supply an enormous range of wire diameters (up to 10mm) and aperture sizes (from 12mm up to 150mm).
We do not supply ready-made gabion baskets but we do supply custom size panels and we can provide all the materials (including joining wire) you need to make superior gabion baskets.
It’s really important to get the right materials for the job. So, come and talk with the friendly experts at Protective Fencing.
We can help with all aspects of gabion retaining wall design and we’ll make sure you get the right wire mesh for your requirements.
Gabion walls offer highly cost effective solutions for many fencing and retaining wall challenges.
The size of your wall is obviously an enormous factor in the cost especially if your wall exceeds council specified dimensions.
Larger walls and gabion retaining walls will require comprehensive engineering reports, council permits, and licensed builders.
You may also need to install additional drainage or carry out other earthworks.
Good quality stone with attractive colourations and textures can be very expensive.
You might be able to save some money here by using cheaper stone or recycled concrete blocks to fill the centre of the wall and only using the more expensive stone for the visible exterior.
Gabion walls offer almost limitless possibilities for landscape designers. You can use gabion walls to control erosion and serve other very functional roles but gabion walls can do so much more.
Gabion walls can provide an aesthetic link between home and the outdoors either as a contrast with a timber backdrop or to blend in with a naturally rocky landscape.
There’s no need to feel trapped between a rock and a hard place; gabion wall design offers infinitely flexible options for creative landscaping designers.
Protective has provided rock solid steel fencing and retaining wall products for major Australian infrastructure projects as well as commercial and residential projects for many years.
As an Australian owned company we pride ourselves on helping Australian communities to grow stronger and better.
We supplied steel and mesh wire panels for the brand new Mernda Rail extension in Melbourne.
The $600 million rail extension boasts three new stations at Mernda, Hawkstowe and Middle Gorge and it was ready six months ahead of schedule.
Check out the stunning gabion walls that greet visitors to Mernda station.
The gabion theme continues into the ticketing, lift access area and provides a marvelous contrast with the steel columns and glass panels.
As well as creating an eye-catching impression the gabion walls will help keep the station cool in summer.
Talk to Protective Fencing today about how our steel products can transform your creative vision.
Gabions are highly useful tools that were created long ago for defensive and structural purposes. Nowadays, they remain a staple in constructional operations, but they have also begun to appear in more creative commercial and residential undertakings.
A gabion is a mechanism made of wire that cages in sizeable debris. This word is actually a derivative of another that means large cage. The contents most often seen underneath the wires are types of terrain such as rocks and boulders, dirt, soil, or logs. However, the list goes on when the gabion is applied to alternate activities.
The gabion is essentially a heavy-duty type of hog wire. It's a mesh (otherwise known as a grid) of steel that has been treated to withstand a harsher amount of pressure from its contents and the elements.
At one time, gabions were made of lightweight wicker. It wasn't perfect, but it was innovative and effective. These days, gabions employ the tougher material which gives them greater strength and lifespan.
As the name suggests, this cage is meant to contain or trap, and they're used in the makings and maintenance of dams, foundations, pathways, trenches, sculptures, and more.
If you've ever driven through a natural bridge and marveled at the bravery of the workers who made it, you can also thank them for installing gabions to keep the rock and landslides at bay.
In recognizing the feat of trapping rocks and other mass debris from falling onto the areas beneath, one must also applaud this contraption in its ability to serve as a means to defend and support.
Gabions are an ancient technology used to fortify riverbanks, protecting nearby encampments and settlements from potential erosion. They've been helpful in quick and simple wall assemblies for military setups as well. Presently, gabions are being noticed for their aesthetic appeal as well as their functionality.
The usefulness of this tool allows it to be as versatile as necessary. Therefore, gabions are appealing to different people for different reasons. The fact that they serve a purpose, but also potentially increase curb appeal, makes them easily applicable to various environments.
Although you probably didn’t know the name, there are countless gabions displayed throughout cities and states, especially surrounding the mountainous regions and large bodies of water. Many travelers will see them alongside a precipitous highway as they climb up and brace the cliffs that tower above.
Other locations for gabions are typically lining road construction or other large-scale construction sites. They prove to be very effective in acting as retainers for chunks of debris that may hinder a project or harm passersby.
As mentioned, they were once a staple in the development of communities that flocked toward rivers. During wet seasons, the riverbanks were (and still are) subject to erosion, putting the community at risk. Creating pathways for flowing water to cities and for traveling through rough terrain are also jobs that are filled by gabions worldwide.
While a gabion may not seem so by these select encounters, its usefulness is not limited to creating roadways. You can actually use gabions in your own personal landscaping endeavors at your home or commercial lot. While using them in your own backyard is fairly new, the idea was bound to occur because of the gabion's many benefits.
We have many other options for construction, stability, and décor, but gabions are often preferred because they deliver a powerful combination of features that no other method can. The key thing to remember about gabions, and why they're becoming so popular in the non-engineering world, is that they are semi-cheap, semi-permanent, and semi-simple.
By filling the gabion with materials native to your area, you're more likely to save money both initially and long-term. Whatever you pay to install and customize the look of your gabion project, the increase in property value, enticing appearance for customers or guests, and the lengthy lifespan will help this addition pay for itself in no time.
You can fill the gabion with any item that suits your fancy as long as it won't slip through the grid, and the options are nearly endless. Also, by choosing options such as concrete or stone from demolition sites, you're reducing the amount of waste and energy needed to break it down for reuse.
The wiring is durable enough to contain heavier materials like concrete, yet flexible enough that you can shape it to your own desired forms. For example, if you'd like gabions around a firepit or constructed in an intricate shape to hold collectibles, bending the wires is an easy option.
However, the steel material is welded to ensure that it doesn't bend under pressure and holds its form, so your ideas should be presented to a professional capable of assisting you in your endeavors.
Gabion wiring materials come in an assortment of options for buyers that vary depending on the job. Baskets are largely available in a galvanized steel that lasts a decade (perhaps longer when applied to lighter jobs or simple landscaping).
Another option is the heavier duty gabion baskets that are coated in galfan, a combination of aluminum and zinc. This is a more expensive, but highly necessary option for bigger jobs like those you'd find on roadsides and in construction. The galfan coating simply protects the metal from the elements for longer, but the strength and durability come from the design of the cage.
They were designed for big jobs. They're also resilient, but they don't have to be a permanent fixture in your lawn if you ever change your mind. The ease of assembly requires nothing more than placing the baskets as you like, filling them up, and fastening the wire in place.
The grid pattern of the gabion lets water, air, and light pass through each crevice, so there is a lesser chance for the elements to knock down retainer walls. When it comes to stability without a foundation, the heavier the filler material, the better.
Placing stone-like items that imprint themselves into the ground more and more with added weight helps with permanence and solidity. A hundred pounds of rock is already hard to move, but it becomes even tougher as it forces a constant pressure into the ground, gaining a stronger bearing in time.
Additionally, this ability to shape the environment makes the gabion a most effective architectural device in areas prone to shifts in the earth. For example, regions that experience heavier rain or snowfall, earthquakes, or other phenomena that cause the earth to change beneath your feet.
Even if you're not a resident of a changing environment, the knowledge that your landscape contains such a substantial, sustainable, and long-lasting component is something worth appreciating.
You don't have to think large-scale with gabions. A wonderous feature is that they're available for purchase in cut panels, lengthy rolls, or sizeable baskets. The welded, treated mesh wire comes in all manners of cuts and installs very quickly.
Depending on your ideal placement, there is a gabion basket that fits best. Whether you intend to build an aquatic arrangement, vertical accent wall, heavyweight boundary, or soundproof barrier, there is a particular gabion manufactured for high-performance in that arena.
The assembly process doesn't require much more than having the inspiration and following through with installation, which is remarkably simplistic. There is no need to lay any initial foundation as the contents within are generally bulk items that create a natural grounding for themselves.
The gabion itself is merely there to serve as a reinforcement and containment. It can be large, premeasured baskets that you fill and stack or line up. It can be a series of panels that are linked together to create baskets in the sizes you prefer, or it can be a roll of mesh wire that is cut to lengths that aren't offered.
The reason gabions are shaped into basket formations is because they're smaller and easier to transport or shift one by one as opposed to a single, large enclosure full of material. If you're considering a DIY gabion, remember that working in increments is wiser than attempting a complete coverage in one fell swoop.
It's customizable to an extent and can be a range of heights, opening itself to endless possibilities, and the possibilities continue as you choose the contents within the gabion.
Although harder, heavier parts are the go-to for filling up a gabion, you have a chance to really make a statement with your landscape as you fill your gabions with objects according to your needs.
Retainer walls need heavy objects that compact together and hold their form. They can't be something that easily bows or breaks under immense pressure. This is why stones or concrete are often the top choices here.
Some homeowners choose to place crystal, glass, or other transparent substances inside lower gabions and illuminate them with LED lights at the bottom or weaved through the crags and crevices. This idea isn't meant for holding up walls, but it makes for a unique surrounding for a fish pond or bar.
Perhaps you'd like a seating area for outdoor dining. You can fill gabions of differing heights as you please and top them with smooth cuts of wood to make seats and tables. They can be transformed into benches, counters, bars, or any other flat-surfaced furniture that can also stretch to lengths beyond those of store-bought furnishings. This is an ideal solution for people on a budget.
You can now use this technology to obtain the firepits, waterfalls, raised planters, ponds, and sculptures you've been craving. Landscaping architects are known for getting creative with projects, and gabions are no exception to their talents. Gabions are used in the civil engineering world frequently and have been adopted into the world of commerce and residence seamlessly.
Knowing what you want and getting a professional consultation helps to plan out the process. When considering something elaborate or highly dependent on a sound framework, a professional is the way to go.
This is especially the case for retainer walls as they call for a specific and trained eye to know the proper placement and material to use. For smaller tasks, the process should be simple enough if you already have a good grasp of what you'd like to create and the best way to proceed.
Using a gabion for modern landscaping plans is one of the greatest ways to get creative on a budget. While it does take some planning and knowledge to install gabions properly, they assemble quickly and offer a very natural look to your landscape that lasts through any weather for spans of 10 to 40 years.
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