If you love the look of gabion walls, here's an easy step-by-step guide to building your own free-standing gabion walls
HISTORY OF GABION WALLS The history of the gabion wall goes back further than many might think. Originally used in the medieval times, they were a mobile fortification in which lightweight wicker baskets were filled earth, rocks, and other debris. The combination of the basket and the debris fill made stout walls able to withstand most types of weaponry and protect soldiers whilethey set up their mobile artillery in preparation for a siege. Similarly, gabions have been used with success in Iraq and Afganistan to protect military camps from small arms fire, rockets, and vehicle assaults.
More commonly, gabions are used in civil engineering projects such as erosion control, flood management, and retaining walls. Road projects and erosion control are the most visible examples seen on a large scale. However, smaller projects include municipal landscaping, small stream check dams, and water weirs.
USES FOR GABION WALLS:
RETAINING AND DECORATIVE WALLS
EROSION & WATER MANAGEMENT
SECURITY & PRIVACY
HOW TO BUILD A GABION WALL
Materials:
5x5-inch concrete remesh (galvanized wire is recommended for wet or salty climates)
bolt cutters
galvanized wire
tie-wire (thin gauge)
rock (4-5 inches in size or larger)
6 Steps (Pictured)
1. Assemble the gabion panels and cut to size.
2. Tie wire the staggered pieces together for extra support.
3. Put together the gabion basket, using the wired panels.
4. Wrap galvanized wire around the seams of the basket.
5. As you fill the basket with stones, use interior support wires
to keep sides from bulging. Place the flat-sided stones face out.
6. Dress the top of the wall, placing flat-sided stones face up.
DIRECTIONS
Wire basket construction:
Start by cutting your remesh bottoms and sides into the lengths and widths for the wall desired. You'll have five sections total. Next, cut four more pieces for the sides and ends but at one square less in length and width. This is to enable you to stagger the pieces so that you'll have smaller squares in which to hold the stone better. Once the pieces are laid together in staggered fashion, tie-wire them together so they are secure and won't slide. After all the staggered pieces are attached to the main sides, tilt them upright and connect them to form a rectangle "basket." Use galvanized wire to weave the corners together. Once finished, you will have the completed basket ready to be filled with stone.
Filling the basket:
As you fill the basket, you can place the stones in any fashion you like so long as the outer stones have the flat sides facing outwards. This gives a nicer look and keeps the basket from deforming. As you fill the basket with stones you'll need to add galvanized wire cross-braces every two feet of the length of the basket and at every foot in height of the basket. This is necessary to keep the sides from bulging outwards.
Finishing the top: For this style of basket, you won't have any wire on the top so it'll be up to you how much time you want to spend arranging the stones. But for a nicer look you can organize them so that they lay evenly with the flat sides facing up. Once this is complete, the wall is done and ready to enjoy.