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Installation Instructions of Gabion Wall

What is gabion wall?

Gabion wall consists of several gabion baskets filled with stones. There are 2 types of gabion wall being welded gabions and woven gabions. Welded gabion baskets can be used in courtyard decoration to create unique and visually appealing landscaping features. Strong welds and rigid structure can make the fences or wall more attractive. Woven gabion baskets are often more cost-effective for engineering construction than other types of retaining walls, such as concrete or masonry walls. They require less labor and materials to construct, and can be built in a shorter time. And they are strong and can withstand a significant amount of weight and pressure.

How to build a gabion wall?

The installation of gabion wall is very easy. We have prepared the detailed installation steps and precautions during installation of welded gabion walls. You can refer to them and make your project more smooth and efficient.

• Step 1: Ground Leveling

  Flat ground is the foundation of gabion wall, it can make the gabion wall durable. You should clear the fence area of vegetation, including grass, stones and tree roots, remove topsoil to expose firm subsoil.

  If you need a lower gabion wall, you will only need to make the ground level before the baskets are aligned and filled. Leveling is easy and can be done by a rake and If the soil is hard, you may be able to put your gabion wall directly on the existing soil.

  If you need to build a higher gabion wall, then you need to reinforce it by adding concrete strip footings. You can refer to step 2 for details.

• Step 2: Concrete Strip Footings (Optional)
  

  The concrete footings provide the gabion wall with a compacted base to absorb vertical and lateral loads. The use of compact road base is more suitable for building gabion walls, however locations with high water flow may require additional preparation.

  Steel reinforcement needs to be installed horizontally into the footing cuts and at this time steel columns will also need to be inserted well into the footing cut and secured firmly to the gabion basket structure.

• Step 3: Assemble Gabions

  The gabion assembly is easy, here we list the installation steps of welded gabions with spring wire connections, if you are still wonder the woven gabions installation or welded gabions with other connections, just contact us.

  You just need to use spiral wires to connect each panels, fill stones and fasten the lids with spring wires, all assemble is complete. Or you can review the videos.

  Prepare materials

  Secure panels with spiral wires

  Fill the stones into gabion basket

  Covered lid with spiral wires

• Step 4: Gabion Baskets Connection
  

  After the first layer of the gabion wall is filled with stones, the second layer can be installed. The second layer of gabion wall can be assembled according to the assembly method and accessories provided by us, and it needs to be placed on top of the first layer of stone-filled gabion basket, connecting the bottom and top of the two gabion baskets with spiral wires. Then fill the second layer gabion basket with stones. Then connect the four sides of the lid and the top of gabion panels with the spiral wires. The third layer or multiple layers of gabion wall can be installed in the same way as the first and second layer.

• Step 5: Finished Gabion Wall

  Finished gabion wall in garden

  Finished gabion wall in park

Precautions

• Handling & Installing Gabion Walls
  • When handling wire or wire mesh, the cut ends can cause injury. Therefore, when handling wire used in assembly of gabion walls, protective eye wear and gloves must be worn.
  • Where gabion units are modified on site by cutting the mesh fabric, the off cuts should be disposed of so that the installation area is free of these materials. Where off cuts are required for re-use, they should be stored tidily in a suitable area.
  • Where gabion panel has been cut, any free ends should be trimmed or turned inwards so that they do not protrude outside the basket.
  • Where spiral wires are used and installed, the last coil is to be turned through 90 degrees to lock the spiral wires in place whilst also protecting people and animals from injuries that could be caused by the cut ends of the wire.
• Filling of Gabion Walls
  • When machine placing fill within the unit, operatives should be clear of any overspill from the cells being filled. Filling the gabion wall should be carefully placed by machine and not dumped from a height.
  • When hand packing stone within the basket, care is to be taken so as not to have fingers crushed or trapped by adjacent rock pieces.
• Working with Gabion Retaining Structures over 2m High
  • Adequate staging or scaffolding must be installed for operatives to work off.
  • Care should be taken in machine filling the units with rock to prevent overspill. If necessary, boards should be used to prevent the overspill.
• Working Area
  • To be maintained clear of debris.
  • Unsafe and unsupported excavations are to be shored and made safe accordingly prior to commencing work.
  • Guard rails should be installed where safety is an issue on unprotected embankment edges.