Gabion – A Versatile Construction Method

Gabion is a versatile construction method with a long history and many applications. It is often used as a solution for erosion control, but it can also be used for retaining walls and decorative landscape features.

Gabion is a steel mesh cage filled with material like stones, sand, or soil. These structures can be used to stabilize slopes, direct stream flow, and reduce water velocity.

Retaining Walls

You can find Gabion walls around the world in residential settings, from retaining walls to privacy fences and decorative landscaping elements. They’re relatively inexpensive and easy to build, especially if you use materials from your own property. And although they’re not as sturdy as other retaining wall options, they still resist erosion, which is a major cause of floods and landslides.

Because of the way they’re constructed, gabion retaining walls are also more environmentally friendly than their Gabion concrete counterparts. Because they use local material, you don’t need to import as much cement, which puts less of a strain on the environment.

In addition, Gabion retaining walls are stronger and more flexible than traditional retaining walls, so they’re better suited to seismic activity and other natural disasters. This means they can even be used to help prevent flooding by redirecting water flow and absorbing energy from waves along coastal shorelines.

However, it is important to note that the more a gabion wall is built up the deeper each basket will need to be. Generally, for every 1m increase in wall height the bottom basket depth will need to be increased by half a metre. This is because the heavier each basket will be, the greater the pressure it will exert on the wall. In order to minimise this pressure a geotextile filter fabric should be placed between the backfill soil and the gabion baskets.

Noise Barriers

Gabion noise barriers are a modern and cost effective solution for preventing highways sounds and protecting urban areas, neighbourhoods and homes. They have a rustic appearance that blends into the natural environment and offer a great alternative to concrete walls. They are easy to install without the need for specialised workers and large equipment. Unlike timber and hedge barriers, they are not susceptible to wind and can withstand high levels of rainfall.

Gabions are welded and heavily galvanized after production to ensure they are highly resistant to corrosion. They can be supplied in class A galvanized or PVC coated finishes to suit your project needs. This protects the interior metal from rust and allows you to use the wall for years with minimal or no maintenance.

Compared to other fences, gabion walls are more efficient in absorbing and blocking traffic noises due to its rough surface and bulk volume. Moreover, the dense filling materials reduce any gaps and holes that could cause noise to pass through. For instance, a gabion wall with a thickness of one meter can reduce noise by up to 60 db.

To achieve maximum efficiency, the barrier should be located near the source of noise and placed at an appropriate height. Gabion barriers are a great alternative to traditional roadside fencing, and can be used in various applications including roadside noise reduction and erosion control.

Water Filtration

Gabions are designed to help purify water bodies of pollutants, including heavy metals, silt and other organic matter. They also reduce soil erosion and promote ecological balance in the surrounding area. This can help to mitigate the impacts of pollution, which is caused by a range of activities such as oil production and transportation, mining, agriculture, urbanization and other forms of industrial development.

Gabion walls can also be used to manage stormwater runoff, which is important in cities because it can help prevent floods and promote groundwater recharge. They can also provide habitats for flora and fauna, helping to enhance biodiversity in urban areas. In addition, they can improve the aesthetic of urban areas, making them more enjoyable for residents.

A Gabion wall can also serve as an alternative to other protection methods, such as concrete foundations. Gabions are much less expensive than traditional foundations because they can be constructed on site with natural materials and do not require any pre-fabricated concrete components. This can help to reduce construction costs and environmental impact, as well as providing a more flexible solution for your project.

In the G series tests, filter gabions significantly reduced the time until slope failure was reached. The slope failures were muddy and fluid, and the fronts were generally consistent with the crests of the filter gabions (hereafter referred to as the apparent toe). The sizes of the failed areas were also significantly smaller than those in Case P-1, where no filter gabion was used.

Garden Walls

A gabion wall is essentially a cage that can be filled with a variety of rock materials. It’s often used in heavy road or commercial construction as retaining geomembrane factory walls, but some do-it-yourself landscapers use the structure to create garden walls and fences.

A key advantage is ease of installation. Compared to other types of retaining walls, Gabion walls can be built much faster as they usually don’t require a poured concrete footer. They’re also less expensive than a traditional stone wall, particularly if you use recycled construction materials or stones from your own property.

Another benefit is their longevity. The structure’s permeability allows water to pass through, eliminating hydrostatic pressure and reducing the chance of shifting or warping over time. If you choose a corrosive-resistant fill material, you can expect the wall to last much longer than a comparable masonry structure.

A possible drawback is the industrial look of a Gabion wall, which can be an attractive feature in some landscapes but may clash with others. A way around this is to contrast the sleek metal cage with rustic stones for an appealing mix of modern and natural styles. Another possible negative is the time and labor required to fill the structure, which can be tiring if you’re working alone and the cages are large. You might need to rent equipment to help with the work if you’re building a tall wall.