Gabion retaining walls are becoming a more popular choice for landowners and contractors. This is because there are many amazing benefits to using these walls over other types of retaining walls.
One of the biggest benefits is that they are arguably cheaper than other options. They are also strong, durable, versatile and environmentally friendly and becoming very trendy.
If you are considering installing a retaining wall on your property, it is important to weigh all your options. However, we believe that the benefits of gabion retaining walls make them a clear winner in most cases.
We understand the challenges that people face when choosing a retaining wall. There are many different types of walls that can be built, and it can be difficult to know which one is right for your property.
So we will point out the amazing benefits of Gabion retaining walls further in this article. We hope that this information will help you make an informed decision about your retaining wall.
You can also find more information on our Gabion Walls page by using this link.
What really are Gabion Retaining Walls
Gabion retaining walls are a type of wall that is made from stone, river pebbles and rocks that are placed in a cage-like structure made from galvanised wire, powder-coated steel or stainless steel. These walls are often used to support slopes, banks or landscapes.
The Benefits of using Gabion Retaining Walls
There are many benefits to using gabion walls, which is why they are becoming a more popular choice for landowners and contractors. Some of the key benefits are included here.
Cost Effective
One of the main benefits of gabion retaining walls is that they are cheaper than other options. This is because the materials needed to build them, such as stone or river pebbles, are readily available and do not need to be specially ordered and can be built by handymen or women.
Built quickly and easily.
Another advantage of gabion retaining walls is that they can be built quickly and effectively. This is because no specialised tools or equipment are required for their construction. Walls may also be constructed by semi-skilled people and are ideal for do-it-yourselfers.
Strong and Durable.
Gabion walls will last for many years without needing to be replaced. This is because the stone used in these walls is held together tightly with wire mesh or steel. The wire mesh also gives the wall some flexibility, which allows it to withstand heavy loads without collapsing.
Versatile.
Their versatility can be used in a variety of applications, such as supporting slopes, channels, banks and road works. Additionally, they can be used to create aesthetically pleasing landscapes.
Environmentally friendly.
The stone used in the walls can often be recycled and reused. In addition, there is little waste produced during the construction of gabion retaining walls.
Minimal construction waste.
There are minimal off-cuts and no leftover material as any excess stone can often be used in the drainage behind the wall.
Trendy
Although gabion walls have been around for many years, they are a relatively newer option in Australia. This means that many people are not familiar with them. The opportunity to design something different is therefore endless, using different colours and sizes of stones.
Landscape features
Gabion walls can be built to incorporate features such as waterfalls, ponds, seating areas, garden areas, letterboxes, sand pits and fire pits. These can be incorporated into your retaining wall or built as a feature.
What are the Alternatives to Gabion Retaining Walls
There are alternatives to gabion retaining walls using rock or stone that you may want to consider. These include:
Sandstone Walls – Sandstone comes in logs, blocks or random shapes and sizes. Machinery is needed for the logs and blocks and a degree of construction knowledge is required for the random sizes
Rock Walls – Larger rocks require machinery to build the wall which adds cost to your end product.
Stone Walls – Two types of stone walls can be built. The first is by dry stacking the stone which takes longer than gabions walls. The second method is to bed the stone in mortar which takes experience, skill and cost
The other alternative retaining walls are
- reinforced concrete walls
- reinforced concrete block walls
- dry stacked concrete blocks
- brick retaining walls
- concrete sleepers
- timber retaining walls
Conclusion
Gabion retaining walls are a cheaper, easier to build, and more environmentally friendly option than many of their alternatives.
Although not as well known, gabion walls offer a versatile solution for those looking to support structures or landscapes.
With their growing popularity, gabion retaining walls are a great option to consider for your next project.
For more information on Gabion Retaining Walls visit our Gabion Walls page using the link.
For suppliers and contractors in your area, visit the page from your area.
