Gabions, metal containers filled with rock, make excellent components for retaining walls and have long been used in Europe. The container, typically made of metal wire, can hold a large number of rocks, making it much easier to build a retaining wall without the rocks' collapsing. Gabion wall are now increasingly used all over the world.
Description
A standard gabion wall consists of numerous individual metal wire baskets, or cages, joined together by wire ties to form a unified structure. You can build a single level of baskets or stack baskets on top of each other for a taller wall. The size of the baskets and the rocks varies according to the builder's needs. In some cases, crushed stone is used in place of rocks. You can place the walls vertical to the ground or leaning inward.
Basket Assembly
Gabion sections come from the distributor in flat panels that you need to assemble to create the upright square or rectangular basket. Proper installation of the lacing wire or helical that connects the gabion baskets together help ensure the soundness of the wall. You can usually install helical, twisted rigid wire fasteners, more quickly than lacing wire. After connecting the basket panels, you connect the baskets to each other with the helical or lacing wire as well.
Filling
Fill the cells of the gabion baskets with rocks or other materials by hand or machine. Keeping the filler material compact avoids unsightly bulges. Each adjoining gabion should contain a similar amount of rocks. A container should not have a rock level 12 inches higher or lower than an adjoining basket. Rocks in the front portion or exposed part of the gabion should have a uniform appearance if possible.
Landscaping
Although often used for large construction projects, such as preventing erosion along banks, gabion wall also find use in landscaping where the need to restrain large amounts of earth does not exist. Some homeowners value the aesthetic appeal of gabion walls and incorporate them into their gardens. You can get creative when using a gabion wall for landscaping by filling it with visually interesting materials, such as wine bottles or wooden timbers.