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The Fence Post

Gabions...More Design Ideas

August 20, 2019 | by Joe Morrell

Are you ready to change the landscape? 

 

Custom and Standard Orders

Welded from heavy 11 gauge wire, typical gabion mesh has 3" x 3" openings, with Galvanized After Weld mesh as the standard--protecting against rust while offering long life. In coastal or saline environments, a tough coating of PVC is recommended to offset corrosion and this, together with the galvanization, offers double protection. Also available: panels for assembling gabion baskets, with a standard set of dimensions being 3' x 3' x 6' or a larger set can be ordered in lengths of 9' and 12'.

It's very possible that your project may require a different set of specifications--gabion mesh can be customized and special ordered. Here is another video with some very striking designs:

 

Design Possibilities

At Louis Page, we love the ingenuity applied to the design of gabions and the endless variety of uses for them, whether it's for walls, casual seating, embankments, or planters, the list goes on. The sturdiness and style make these small or great feats of engineering an enhancement to whatever surroundings they inhabit. 

Look at this planter one of our clients created:

gabion planter

Gabions are also useful for:

  • erosion control
  • bank stabilization
  • channel linings
  • weirs 

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gabion drawing filled with rocks

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Topics: vinyl coated wire, gabion, galvanized after, GAW, wire gauges

Gabion Baskets: Earth Friendly Erosion Solutions & Stunning Landscape Design

September 1, 2016 | by Cheryl Vergilis

i
photo credit http://www.minimalisti.com/

Gabions Baskets: Function, Flexibility, and Good Looks

Gabion baskets are an earth-friendly solution to erosion and create a visually appealing landscape design. Many people live in areas where gabion baskets are needed but are unfamiliar with them. Contemporary gabion baskets are welded wire mesh panels held together with wire spirals or metal fasteners to make a wire mesh basket. The baskets are placed in the desired location and filled with rocks, stones, shells, wood, or earth--just about anything that weighs them down. This fill anchors the gabions down while allowing rain to seep through. They are completely permeable.

gabion planter-1


The numerous and varied uses include commercial applications, parks, zoos, and residential landscaping:

Gabions: Commercial Uses 

  • Bridge abutments
  • Retaining walls
  • Land management
  • Seashore protection
  • Gully control
  • Culverts
  • Erosion control
  • They don't require concrete foundations

I've even seen a restaurant using gabion baskets filled with seashells as a decorative wall.      

For Parks and Zoos

  • Benches
  • Pathway definition
  • Climbing structures for children
  • Partition walls
  • Landscaping walls for plantings

Gabion_Angular.jpg

And Why Choose Gabions?

  • Durable for many decades
  • Quick and easy installation
  • Strength
  • Environmentally aesthetic
  • Use of on-site materials
  • Varied ways of using gabions

Residential Applications

  • Retaining walls
  • Benches
  • Erosion control
  • Plantings of shrubs, vines, etc.
  • Walls or benches around trees
  • Firepits
  • Partition walls

And They're Attractive

Since residential properties are usually on a smaller scale, you can choose different mesh openings and sizes. Many landscape designers plant greenery inside the baskets for a more earthy appeal. You can use baskets of many different sizes, thus creating interesting serpentine or angular pathways.

 

Some Important Details

The wire used for gabions is a zinc-coated welded wire. It is hot-dipped galvanized after the welding process which seals and protects the welds against corrosion. They also come in a black vinyl-coated finish. These are ideal for erosion control or to enhance the beauty of your property.

The standard size mesh for commercial use is 11 gauge, 3” x 3” opening size, 36” wide in galvanized or black vinyl coated finish. The baskets are shipped flat but partially assembled for easy installation. They are available in 3’ wide x 3’ high. They come in 3’, 6’, and 12’ lengths.  For residential use, you can use a 12.5 gauge wire with a smaller mesh opening size of 1.5” x 1.5” in either finish. They are also offered in a variety of heights, depending on your specifications.

residental_gabions_flickr_www.constructioncontent.co.uk  

Fight Erosion with Gabion Baskets

As you are considering your next outdoor project, whether it's a commercial establishment or a residence, gabion baskets are a great solution for stabilizing vast areas of possible erosion due to potential flooding conditions, providing definition to the landscape or just to have a sleek look on residential property.

A Very Brief History of Gabions

Gabions, originating from the Italian name gabbione, which means “big cage”, were used during the reign of the Egyptian Pharaohs and later in Europe during the Middle Ages. The Egyptians made them out of sedges--think bulrushes like Moses’ basket-- and filled them with sludge to stabilize the banks of the Nile River. The Europeans made gabions out of woven sticks and filled them with stones to fortify castles as well as for erosion control of river banks.

Reed and Gabion Wall

Photo credits:

Angled project: http://www.gabionbaskets.co.uk/

Serpentine project: http://www.minimalisti.com/

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Topics: gabion, galvanized, galv after

How Will You Use Extra Fencing Materials?

March 28, 2013 | by Terry Struck

vinyl coated welded wire trellis

So What's Collecting Dust?

Whether you’re making a kennel floor, putting a fence up in your yard, or building a cage, you may have extra fence materials lying around and you think, what can I do with all this extra wire? Well here are some ideas.

Gabions--a Variety of Uses

Gabions originally were cylindrical wicker baskets filled with earth and stones used in building fortifications. You can cut to size your square or rectangle pieces of fence or wire mesh to form a box. Then use hog rings or j-clips to hold the box together. Fill in the boxes with stones and then stack them. Gabions can be used in many ways around the home, including:

  • planters
  • retaining walls
  • outdoor fireplaces
  • decorative walls around a garden or pool
  • benches and seating areas around the yard

gabion planter-1

Lots more ideas for using Gabions

Screen Guard

Trying to keep your screens looking great is not always easy with dogs and cats around. Put your extra wire mesh up as a screen guard. This will make it harder for the animals to pull at the screen. It will ease up the constant changing of your screens - unless you have teenagers who forget their keys and decide to rip open the screen instead of pulling the cord!

Training Climbers

Build a large trellis or a smaller portable one. Simply by using some wood posts and welded wire mesh, teepee two panels on each side with two horizontal posts at the top for support. Some of your leftover fencing with 1" x 2" mesh or bigger openings are best. Fasten it to your frames. Train the cucumbers as they grow by winding the plants up the fence. Growing your cucumbers vertically can save space for other vegetables and stop them from rotting by sitting on the ground.

And more ideas...wire enclosed wooden shelf

With some imagination, there are many things you can do with that leftover wire mesh you have hanging around.

  • Cat enclosures
  • Trash containers
  • Small garden covers
  • Cubed storage shelves
  • Wire mesh cabinet doors
  • Stairway and deck railing fillers

Let's put our heads together and come up with some new ideas!

Terry     Terry                                     

hex mesh wire light shade

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Topics: wire mesh, gabion, how to

Gabion Use At Railroad Park in Birmingham, Alabama

July 12, 2012 | by Duncan Page

Railroad Park entrance

An Oasis Right in the City

Railroad Park is a 19-acre green space with nine acres of open lawn located right downtown in the city of Birmingham, Alabama. The rest of the park is landscaped with over 600 trees and a varied mix of flowers and plants. Recycled and re-used objects from the site are used in many of the walls and seating areas made from welded wire gabion baskets. Water is a main feature in the park. A lake, pond, wetland area, and streams are scattered throughout covering 30% of the area. Many paths wind throughout Railroad Park and the Rail Trail extends the length of the park. At its highest point, there are views of the city. Railroad Park is among five finalists selected to compete for the Urban Land Institute's Urban Open Space Award.

Dramatic and Functional

Gabions are versatile and Railroad Park in Birmingham makes creative use of them. Scattered throughout this recently constructed urban park are many different gabion structures. They are not only design elements adding definition to areas of the park but they are also dramatic features that perform a specific function. Here are some helpful visuals:

gabion lined walkway

Welded wire baskets filled with stone form a gabion wall that holds back the earth. The path through the canyon leads off towards the tracks and the park's perimeter.

gabion retaining wall

A retaining wall alongside one of the waterways flowing through the park forms a straight line in contrast to the curved shore in the foreground. Loose stones fill the space between the water and the wall.

playground surrounded by gabions

This playground perimeter is defined and protected by a curved wall of stones enclosed in gabion baskets. Contours and varying heights are easily achieved using gabions.

gabion created tree planter

Bordering areas extending into the water are built up with gabions, creating a tranquil space for seats on either side of a shade tree planted in the middle. There are several of these areas spaced along the shoreline. The structure harmonizes with the benches and wall in the distance.

gabion seating

Fiberglass grating secured to the top of the welded wire baskets provides comfortable seating areas throughout the park. The long gabion wall in the background runs along the edge of another pond.

brick stacked in gabion basket

Recycled hand-cast bricks from the area are also used to fill the galvanized gabion baskets. Stacked in an orderly pattern, notice the contrast in color and shape with the rough stones used elsewhere.

Large or Small Projects - Residential and Commercial

Gabion baskets allow for flexibility in landscape design. They can be used in any project, large or small, residential or commercial. They can be used purely as a design element or as a functioning structural piece. In addition to this flexibility, gabions also save time and labor during the construction phase. So easy to handle and assemble, many do-it-yourself projects can be built by the homeowner. It is far easier to position and fill an empty basket with rocks than it is to move boulders and large rocks into place. Consider using welded wire gabions in your next project.

Watch this video about Railroad Park--

See you at the park!

Duncan PageDuncan Page signature

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Topics: welded wire mesh, welded wire, gabion

Landscaping with Gabion Baskets - Video

May 12, 2012 | by Duncan Page

Structure and Style

Watch this video to see some of the creative ways gabion baskets have been used to construct some unique landscape features.

Using Your Imagination...

What kind of interesting structure could you incorporate in your project? Unleash your creativity! Welded wire gabion baskets offer so many possibilities: seating, planters, tables, retaining walls, free-standing walls, garden borders, stair surrounds...the potential of gabions expands with your imagination.

Is the creative use of gabion baskets something that interests you?

Shop Gabions

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Topics: welded wire mesh, gabion, galvanized after

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