Gabion Basket Retaining Walls | Gabion Retaining Wall Design | How To Build a Gabion Retaining Wall
What Is Gabion Basket Retaining Walls? | Gabion Basket Retaining Walls | Gabions Basket Wall Advantages and Disadvantages | Gabion Baskets Retaining Wall Design |How To Build a Gabion Retaining Wall
What Is Gabion Basket Retaining Walls?
A Gabion Retaining Wall is a type of retaining wall that is built with stacked gabions baskets. A gabion is a basket or wire cage filled with rocks or other materials.
Gabion retaining walls are walls that are made from a wire mesh filled with small stones or gravel and then encased in a concrete shell for stability.
The gabion is then stacked on top of the other, with gaps between to allow for drainage. They are easier to build than larger stone walls and are often used when allowing roots of landscaping plants to grow through the gaps in the gabions.
These walls are used to keep water and soil from slumping, and to create a barrier for heavy rains.
The stones inside the wire mesh create a porous surface that has excellent drainage properties, and because the stones are irregularly sized, they do not settle uniformly like they would in a concrete wall.
The posts are created by stacking the wire mesh vertically on top of each other and then bolting the wire together with steel rods.
Gabion retaining walls are most commonly used in landscaping projects.
This type of retaining wall is stronger, more cost efficient, and more environmentally friendly than the traditional stone retaining walls. The construction of gabion retaining walls can be as simple as stacking stone on top of each other.
However, they are much more common in the landscaping industry. A few times a year there is a need for retaining walls that are strong enough to hold back heavy rains and prevent erosion.
Grainstone gabion wall is the most common type of gabion retaining wall because it allows for the least amount of maintenance and is used in land scape projects that require extra strength.
Gabion Baskets/Gabion Cages
What are Gabion Baskets/Cages?
Gabion baskets are made of steel wire mesh and are used as engineering structures for stabilizing structures, reinforcement and drainage, and reinforcement.
They are also used in other structural applications such as retaining walls.
Gabion baskets have enormous strength and offer reliable support.
As their name implies, they are typically composed of an open-mesh wire basket that has either a cylindrical or box shape.
These wire baskets are lined with heavy-duty fabric and then filled with a soil and gravel mixture which is then compacted before being secured with steel bars.
After being installed, the firmness and stability of the gabion baskets protect coastal structures from erosion.
Invented in France in the 1830s, gabion baskets are made from metal wire baskets filled with rocks to provide support and are used as a substitute for vertical spans.
A gabion basket is filled with rocks or similar materials and used to control erosion, prevent landslides, anchor retaining walls, or provide support for other structures.
They can also be filled with soil for use as a planter or a low wall to divide the property. Gabion baskets are often seen fencing off construction sites to prevent damages to pedestrians and property damage.
Gabion baskets can be used in a variety of ways. They can attach to the sides of a retaining wall to provide an anchor.
They can be used as planters for plants. They can be filled with soil and create a lower wall to divide the property.
Gabion Baskets Retaining Wall Design
The design of a gabion retaining wall is very important. A well-designed gabion wall will not only be able to provide the correct amount of pressure at any point in the gabion retaining wall, but it will also protect anything in its path from damaging impact and erosion.
One of the most important factors that engineers and builders take into consideration when designing a new retaining wall or adding to an existing one is how easily materials can be placed over the top and down into the soil.
Before any type of gabion retaining wall can be built, engineers must also first figure out the number of gabions that will be needed.
The next step is for engineers to determine how strong and sturdy the structure needs to be by calculating the amount of pressure that will act upon the wall.
Benefits of Gabion Basket Retaining Walls
Gabions are a type of retaining wall made of wire netting that has been filled with stones and earth.
Gabions have been used for centuries and they continue to be popular even in today’s contemporary society.
The netting is typically composed of metal, stone, or plastic and the stones or earth fill the gaps in the netting.
The benefits include;
1. Gabions are the perfect choice for landscapers because they are inexpensive and versatile.
2. Gabions are durable and can be used in any environment. They are a great way to control erosion and provide valuable landscaping features.
3. They are easy to construct, they allow for easy placement in locations with limited space and minimal ladder access.
4. Because they are mesh, they provide excellent drainage, which is one of the benefits of a retaining wall in the first place!
5. In contrast to stone walls which require regular maintenance for erosion control and repair, gabion walls do not have this problem.
6. They are aesthetically pleasing, as well as ecologically friendly. They are a great-looking alternative to traditional stone walls and they don’t require the same maintenance.
7. Gabions do not generate dust during their construction. This is beneficial during the summer when there may be an abundance of dust in the air from other construction going on in and around your environment.
8. In many cases, gabion walls will provide more privacy than a standard fence. Obviously, the height of the wall determines this. Otherwise, they are an excellent way to keep your children and dogs from wandering out of the yard.
Gabion Wall Construction
The construction of a gabion wall follows the same basic process as any other retaining wall. The first step is to determine how tall you think you need your gabions to be.
A 3-4ft high wall is not too much for a retaining wall that is used mainly for landscaping. The height of the wall can be determined by subtracting the needed depth from the desired height of your retaining walls. This will give you the number of gabions that you will use.
The next step is to determine how thick you want your retaining wall to be. The thicker it is, the sturdier it will be and therefore the more money that you will spend on your project, so keep this in mind when deciding how thick your retaining walls should be.
If you are basing this decision on the type of soil condition that you have at your home site, then select a thickness of at least 6″. If you are basing this decision on other factors, such as a project budget, then select a thickness of 5″.
The next step is to determine how many gabions you will need based on the number of gabion courses you want to have in your wall.
The square footage of your wall will usually be between 10 and 20 square feet and each course should be one-third the height of your wall. The number of courses in your wall will ultimately determine how long it takes to build your retaining wall.
How To Build a Gabion Retaining Wall
In order to build a gabion wall, you will need to follow some basic steps.
These include digging the trench for your retaining wall, placing your first course of gabions in the trench, assembling and placing your wire mesh on top of the first course, filling the trench with stone or earth and then continuing building courses.
1. The first step is to dig a trench for your retaining wall. The trench will need to be deep enough for the height of your wall and wide enough for people to walk on.
It is best to err on the side of caution as you don’t want your wall falling down after you have finished building it. The trench needs to be at least 10-15% times the height that you want your retaining wall to be.
2. After you have dug the trench, it is time to fill the bottom of the trench with concrete or some other sort of support material.
3. Next, follow these steps and place your first course of gabions in your trench:
a. Set 20-40 rocks in each gabion on one side (the outer side) and fill the center with sand and/or gravel which gives it shape as well as strength.
b. Space the gabions about 1/3 of their height apart from each other.
c. The gabions will need some sort of wire mesh attached to them in order to create the retaining wall. It is best to use 2″ x 4″ galvanized U channel steel mesh for this purpose.
If you have access to a power screwdriver, you can easily attach the mesh using a short length of threaded metal that will fit in your electrical outlet or power drill.
d. Place your gabions in your trench and then pull the wire mesh into place.
e. When you have finished placing all of the gabions in the trench, fill it with stone or earth.
f. Repeat the same steps building additional courses of gabions until you have gone to as many courses as you want your retaining wall to be.
4. When you are finished placing the last course of gabions, fill the trench with rocks or earth.
5. When you are ready to apply the finish, simply water it down and cover it with landscaping mulch and topsoil. This will help protect your retaining wall from erosion and keep it looking nice for years to come.
Helpful Tips That Will Help You Build a Retaining Wall.
Listed below are some helpful tips that will help you build a more durable and aesthetically pleasing retaining wall.
1. Make sure that your retaining wall is level.
2. Make sure that you have added enough gravel to the soil to help support the retaining wall.
3. You will need to be sure that you keep an eye on your gabions as they are holding a lot of weight and if any should fail, you do not want the entire wall crashing down on your neighbors or your family!
4. Protect the walls of your gabions from the elements.
5. Make sure to seal all of the joints on your retaining wall so that water doesn’t get under them and cause them to collapse.
6. It is a good idea to start off your retaining wall by placing large rocks, boulders, or other natural structures in the earth in order to help provide stability and support for it as it grows over time.
7. Check your gabion walls for cracks or holes in the mesh wire. This can be caused by a number of different things, from insects living in your walls to excess rain washing away the cement that holds the mesh together.
8. Make sure that your project is legal and doesn’t violate any local ordinances before beginning work on your gabion retaining wall.
9. Make sure that you use gabions that are uniform in size and that all of your gabions are the same size. It would create complications on your project if there is a variation of even an inch when using different gabion sizes.
Gabions Basket Wall Advantages and Disadvantages
Gabion walls have some distinct advantages and disadvantages, depending on their purpose. There are four basic components of a gabion wall: wire mesh, vertical wire rods, protection material, and rock fill.
Gabions Basket Retaining Wall Advantages
1. Gabions Retaining walls are Durable:
The gabion walls are made of strong, durable materials that can hold heavy weight loads such as soil and rocks. Gabions have been used since the 8th century in Asia and Europe for transport purposes.
A similar strategy was used by the British Army during World War I in France to build a defensive trench system, which became known as “The Big Push”. The gabion wall is also commonly used in hydraulic engineering applications.
2. Provide Privacy
In some cases, gabion walls will provide more privacy than a standard fence. Obviously, the height of the wall determines this.
Otherwise, they are an excellent way to keep your children and dogs from wandering out of the yard.
3. Gabions are Versatile:
A retaining wall can be used to stabilize slopes, raise property levels, retain water or any combination of uses.
4. Gabions are Quick:
The gabion walls can be constructed in a weekend or less, depending on size and complexity.
5. Gabions are Strong:
The strength of the retaining wall can be increased by filling gaps between the rods with rocks or soil.
6. Gabions Last a Long Time:
The gabion walls can last as long as the material used for its construction, which in turn depends on several factors such as application, the materials used and their durability.
7. Gabions are Efficient: The gabion wall can use a much lower amount of material than traditional methods of retaining soil.
8. Gabions are Economical:
The construction and maintenance costs of a gabion wall are substantially lower than those for other types of retaining wall.
This makes them ideal for situations where resources are limited and the cost to construct and maintain a wall is high.
Gabions Retaining Walls disadvantages
1. The walls are Not Inexpensive
Gabions are a more expensive choice of retaining walls than other methods such as retaining walls made with conventional soil and stone.
2. The walls are Not aesthetically pleasing
The materials used to build the walls may not be aesthetically attractive.
3. The weight over the entire gabion wall can cause damage to other structures:
Depending on the type and size of the gabions, the odds are greater that an area could experience structural damage that could hinder use of space or cause collapse.
4. The gabion wall can collapse if it does not have a good drainage system:
Since the weight of the soil and rock over the entire section of wall is uneven, the gabions may not be able to handle the pressure.
If this happens, a natural depression in the ground can develop and cause further damage to other structures, as well as to people that may be in contact with it.
Gabion Retaining Walls Cost
The cost of constructing a retaining wall will typically vary depending on the materials used and the design. Retaining wall stones account for roughly 70% of the total cost.
However, the delivery distance, site accessibility, and installation costs can quickly double or triple what you pay.
Gabion baskets cost start from $35 for 500 × 500 baskets and go up to $160 for larger baskets.
The cost of professionally installing a gabion retaining wall begins at $100 per basket to $500 per basket (materials and installation).
Gabion Basket Retaining Walls FAQs
1. What are gabion retaining walls?
Gabion walls are retaining walls that are constructed from wire mesh cages and filled with rocks, gravel, or sand. They are typically used in lieu of larger stone blocks and are often used in urban construction.
The use of gabion walls is mostly for aesthetic purposes that allow for more natural stone to be used on the surface of the retaining wall.
2. What are gabion baskets?
Gabion baskets are filled metal cages that have a stabilizing wire mesh grid. These baskets are then filled with rock and soil to create a gabion.
Gabion baskets are then used as boulders to shore up the terrain. The goal of a gabion is to stabilize the area and create a path to walk on. Gabion baskets are often a common form of erosion control.
They can also be used for structures such as reinforcement in retaining walls. Other common materials such as gravel, sand, or soil can also be used to create a gabion.
The first use of gabions was when the French engineers invented them in the 1850s
3. What are gabion baskets used for?
A gabion basket is used in many ways. They can be used to stabilize a retaining wall or as a form of soil reinforcement. They can also be used in other applications such as retaining walls and structures.
4. How should retainers be tested?
It is important to check on the stability of the gabion retaining walls and baskets before they are installed.
When testing the stability of an existing retaining wall, it is important to test what is already in place. The gabion baskets come in different sizes to accommodate varying amounts of rock.
The baskets can be filled with any type of ground material that will work for your application. You should test if the gabion baskets are stable before installing them on a property.
5. How long do gabion walls last?
Most gabion retaining walls, baskets, and fences are made to be sturdy enough to withstand the wear and tear of time.
They are made of strong metals such as steel and recycled wire mesh. A gabion basket typically lasts from 50-100 years under normal conditions.
6. What is a French drain?
A French drain is a trench filled with gravel that collects storm water.
7. How are gabion baskets installed?
Gabion baskets are typically installed by a skilled contractor. They can be filled with soil, rock, used as a planter, or other materials as needed.
8.How is the Gabion Wall Installation Procedure?
These is the step-by-step procedure of installing a gabion basket retaining wall;
1. Using a string line and a level, mark the area of the gabion wall. Check to see if the ground is flat in both directions.
2. Clear the construction site of grass and weeds. If you have hard soil, you can dig your gabion wall into it. If the soil is sandy, you will need to add roughly six inches of compacted gravel or concrete; otherwise, the soil may not be able to support the weight of the wall.
3. Because the walls are wire, support posts should be spaced around six feet apart. These should be embedded in three to four inches of concrete and can be placed in such a way that stones hide their view.
4. Slide the gabion baskets over the support posts, with the bottom panel flat on the prepared base. The baskets are held together by a galvanized steel spiral that loops around the edges of the panels. Pinch the ends of the spirals once they’re in place to keep them from falling out.
5. Fill your gabion baskets with your favorite stones. You should make your outer stones somewhat larger than the openings in your wire mesh. To fill the middle of each basket, you might use less expensive and less appealing stones.
6. To make your barrier taller than three feet, stack baskets on top of one another. After filling the bottom layer of baskets, wire the lid shut and add a second layer. Fill these baskets in the same way as you did before.
9. What can I do to help prevent erosion?
When building a retaining wall or gabion wall, it is important to build the retaining wall on top of an existing level area of land and away from any water sources.
It is also important to build the retaining wall on top of a down slope area. This will help prevent water from entering the walls and giving them added stability.
10. How do I know if my gabion baskets are good for my application?
There are numerous factors that play into how well a gabion basket will work for your application.
First, the baskets or retaining wall must be sturdy enough to support the capacity of what will be placed inside of it.
Next, the size of the basket should be large enough to accommodate the size stone that will need to be used within it. The baskets can be filled with any type of ground materials that will work for your application.
11. How should I build a retaining wall?
Retaining walls are usually built on top of an existing level area of land and away from water sources.
They are usually built on a down slope area to help prevent water from entering the walls and giving them added stability.
12. How do I know if my gabion baskets are good for my application?
There are numerous factors that play into how well a gabion basket will work for your application.
First, the baskets or retaining wall must be sturdy enough to support the capacity of what will be placed inside of it.
Secondly, the size of the basket should be large enough to accommodate the size stone that will need to be used within it.
The baskets can be filled with any type of ground materials that will work for your application.
13. Do gabion walls need foundations?
No. Gabion baskets are typically installed on top of dirt or loose soil to give the walls additional support.
The baskets can also be filled with a layer of gravel before being filled with more soil to give added stability to the retaining wall.
14. How is gabion secured?
Gabions, or gabion baskets, are usually secured to a foundation for added stability and support while retaining walls are attached directly to the ground.
15. How big are gabion baskets?
Gabion baskets are typically sized with measurements in feet or inches. They come in different shapes and sizes.
16. How do I know if my retaining wall is secure?
A retaining wall should be installed on a flat area, at least 6 inches in width, and stay away from any water sources such as ponds, lakes, or rain gutters.
When building a retaining wall, it is important to build the structure on top of an existing level area of land and away from any water sources.
A retaining wall should be built on a down slope area to help prevent water from entering the walls and giving them added stability.
17. Can I build a gabion basket?
Yes. You can build a basket or gabion basket. You can choose to build your own or use a professional for your DIY project.
Building a gabion basket does not have to be difficult. Building a gabion basket is a simple process. Allow some time to learn how to put one together if you are creating one for the first time.
With little practice, you’ll be able to put together a basket in 10-15 minutes if you’re making more than one.
A gabion can be made by making a wire basket or building a wire wall and filling it with stones of various sizes and hues.
18. Do they need to be installed by professionals?
Yes. A skilled contractor should install your gabion baskets on your property and make sure that they are made from the right materials and dimensions to suit your application.
It is possible to purchase gabions and baskets ready to go, or you can build them yourself.
19. What are some key advantages of gabion walls?
Construction of a gabion wall can be made much cheaper and quicker than traditional methods. Gabions can be constructed in a weekend or less, depending on size and complexity.
Gabions are also significantly faster to construct than other options such as retaining walls made with conventional soil and stone.
This makes them ideal for situations where resources are limited and the cost to construct and maintain a wall is high.
