What is a gabion?
A gabion (Dutch: schanskorf) is a cage or basket of metal mesh filled with stone, such as cobbles, rubble or chunks of glass. Placing several cages side by side and on top of each other creates a wall. The mesh holds the stones together; the weight of the fill provides stability.
Gabions originated in military earthworks, where woven baskets were filled with soil. Modern gabions are made of steel wire, usually galvanised or given a zinc-aluminium coating against corrosion.
The rough surface allows planting: mosses, ferns and climbers can settle between the stones, giving the wall a natural look.
Application
Gabions are used as boundary walls, garden walls, retaining walls for level changes, noise barriers, riverbank protection and seating.
Tips for building one:
- Base: set the cages on a level, compacted base, such as compacted hardcore or a concrete strip. Any settlement will make the whole wall lean.
- Fill: choose stones clearly larger than the mesh openings. Hand-place the visible face for a neat finish; the core can be filled more loosely.
- Prevent bulging: fit bracing wires or stiffeners between the front and back faces, otherwise the mesh bulges under the weight of the stone.
- Tall walls: a narrow gabion is unstable. For taller walls or retaining soil, increase the depth or add posts, and have a structural engineer check the design.
- Regulations: whether a gabion wall needs permission depends on its height and position and on local rules. Check with your local planning authority before you build.
Related Terms
- Retaining wall
- Boundary wall
- Rubble stone
- Galvanising
- Dry stone wall
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