The pergola legs were set in concrete on adjustable legs .kind of had to backward engineer . The filled gabion provide rock solid support to structure allowing simple uncomplicated structure.
With an eye for design Adrian has cleverly transformed his back garden from a difficult to use sloped area into a modern entertaining space. Utilising clean straight lines and cleverly mixing materials, (including 2 types of stone infill) we think he has achieved a spectacular result. The gabions function both as a retaining wall, to flatten out the lawned area and as a framework for the seating area.
An example of Gabion Seating around a firepit in a country setting.
The Gabions are in 4mm, cut down to 381mm high. They had to be shorter due to the thickness of the sleepers. The Sleepers were clamped down by fixing a piece of timber under the lid, at either edge of the basket, upwards to the sleeper.
The gabion basket under the table was 457mm high again with 100mm sleepers on top. The sleepers are separated by 8mm to stop water pooling in the surface.
To prepare the sleepers, they were sanded with 36 grit then 60 grit before finishing with 3 coats of Osmo Decking Oil.
Dave has levelled his sloped back garden and created a set of steps using gabion baskets. The baskets are .5 deep and he has further saved on stone by using brick backfill where its not visible.
We bought the banking at the side of our house in February 2013 and as you can see it was overgrown and we wanted to create an additional parking space (the bricked area). We thought about building a dry stone wall but decided against it due to cost and the fact that others would have the benefit of seeing the wall and we wouldn't. We looked in to gabion baskets having seen them used around our area for various projects including a retention wall by the local water authority. We thought they were a very good alternative and would also provide a habitat for wildlife, something we were keen to do.
We did a search on Google and found your website and found it very helpful and informative. We measured the area we had to cover and were able to use your website to gauge the best way (and cost effective way) of creating the wall that we wanted. We live near a local Cemex Quarry and arranged to order sugar stone from them to fill the baskets. We arranged for Dean to come along, dig out a base for the baskets (and that was also an advantage that we did not have to put a concrete base in), the baskets stood on solid ground. We used the digger and many helping hands to fill the baskets and wire them up and we used the coils to join them together. They created a very solid base for us to work with. When I say we, I mean John my husband and his father David. The next thing was to level the earth on top of the baskets and then decide how we were going to create the parking area. We decided on block paving, so hardcore was laid with a sand base and then the bricks were laid. John also installed some steps down on to the parking area. He then grassed the rest of the area (around the elderberry tree and we sat back and waited for the grass to grow, it took some time due to the late Spring/Summer but has now flourished. John then decided to top off some of the baskets with Indian flags and then erect fence panels to create a private area. We now have tubs of trees and plants on top of the flags and it has made a fantastic area for us to use. I have to confess that we don't use it to park our car on but use it as a patio area. It has been fantastic in the recent sunny weather and has been much admired by neighbours, family, friend and passersby. I am now the proud owner of a sun bed, my first in 30 years as I now have somewhere to sit out and soak up the sun.
We are using the Gabions to construct the Kingfisher Swim or King Swim. We wanted to create a retaining wall to give the fishing peg some shelter and to help adjust the levels from the Gazebo area down to the peg. We wanted 2 anglers to fish comfortably and that is why we have the size of a 15 metre frontage.
Gabions used around a car park filled with limestone. Its normally recommended that a pvc coating is used in the environment as salt spray can dramatically reduce the lifespan.
A Gabion mattress is used to keep an embankment tidy.
A freestanding gabion wall using as the perimeter fence of an apartment block. Normally a 4mm wire gabion basket is used for architectural uses to give a very straight finish. Posts are used within the basket to give support as the baskets are less deep than recommended.
Gabions are used by garden designers to make Benches, as they are heavy they give very good support.
Curved gabion wall for supermarket forecourt
Gabion revetment with wooden fence on top, the wooden posts sit within the baskets.
Roadside gabions. If you look by the side of the road you will see gabions everywhere. They have a lifespan of 60 years and don't fail like concrete walls when water builds up behind. They are also considerably cheaper than standard block retaining walls.
This is an example of a gabion made by just using the panels and making to shape on site. This is best done by cutting the mesh around a template and spot welding a wire on to the edge. The weld points can be treated with a galfroid spray to stop rust and tidy up discolouring.
Sea front gabion wall. Its normal to use a pvc gabion basket. In the scenario a 4mm wire has been used as a galvanised finish was prefered for aesthestics.
You can plant the baskets with plants and vegetation that can survive in dry situations with limited soil.
Fence post can be put within the gabion basket coming out the top. Put the bottom of the post within the basket then fill around it with stone. The stone in the basket works as the support for the posts.
Gabion baskets at Chelsea flower show. The custom made curve was made on site using a spot welder.
photo of our rescued and restored footbridge (12' span) over our little stream supported by your gabion baskets. (due to be re-assembled week commencing 8th July - our holiday project - pray for good weather) This bridge has been swept away by floodwater four times now and each time we have been able to retrieve the bridge downstream so with the help of your gabions it will not be going anywhere in the future.
I am so grateful to Helen for all her patience and knowledgeable advice -please pass this on to her.
This is an example of a 300mm deep gabion basket used as a gabion cladding for a Birmingham car park. A 4mm gabion wire is used for architectural purposes, especially important for cladding. The basket verticals have been joined with helicoil springs, this is an example of a very profesional install.
The baskets are supported by metal posts within the structure
The gabions were perfect for the job I needed and very competitively priced. As a DIYer, the design and installation instructions on the website came in very handy too
Beautiful pond and driveway made using gabion baskets. Immaculately planted and filled using local stone. Installed by Rhino Construction 07932753328 install in the Surrey area.
Please find attached a photo of my gabion installation using your 500mm cube gabions. We previously had access difficulties up the grass bank and your product, along with some railway sleepers, solved the problem. I am 70 years old and did all the work myself. Your service and delivery were excellent and I’ve already recommended you to friends.
Pvc coated gabion wall in Cyprus. Pvc coated baskets are used for costal defences. The Pvc coating gives a considerably increased lifespan in saltwater environments.
Fine Mesh Metals ships gabions all over Europe including Cyprus.
Just thought you'd be interested in our garden project using your baskets.
We utilised all the old patio slabs that were in the garden, smashed them up and placed them inside the gabions. Once the slabs were in we placed LED lights along the top and then hid them with large black and white cobble stones.
I used the gabions to create an outlet into the river from my waste water and surface water system in the house. The previous one had collapsed years ago and I was given the design, which you are welcome to use, by the Wyre (Lancashire) river authority as their best design for this sort of work. It is basically gabions complete with a “mattress” below surface and stacked and wired together with a concrete section in the middle to take the outlet pipe.
I used 3 tiers of gabions to replace a 1.2m sleeper wall that had rotted through, and created a planting area within the tiers to reduce the apparent height of the wall. We created planters from left-over mesh to hang on the face of the wall. The wall is 0.5x0.5mm 4mm mesh and the stone fill is Kent Ragstone that goes well with the existing limestone patio.
'We used Fine Mesh to supply us with Gabion baskets to create a more decorative level change at the back of our development at Barn Lane, Golborne. I truly believe that it has enhanced the aesthetics and as the planting grows will look like the rock garden we intended. The product from Fine Mesh was easy to use and delivered efficiently.'
We ship across Europe. Below is an example of one of customers installs in Normandy France.
Delivery costs are reasonable to Europe using DSV, if you send through an email with your address on and what you need we will provide a shipping cost within 24hrs.
P C Construction's contract work included.The supply of plant and labour to place concretefoundation, construct the gabion walling andthe placement of backfill.
Total m3: 320
Maximum Height: 2m
Construction Time: 1 weeks
Mansell, Hackney, London
P C Construction's contract work included.The supply of plant, labour and materialsto construct the gabion walling.Gabion walling was used to retain an embankment on a new School.
Total m3: 650
Maximum Height: 3.5m
Construction Time: 2 weeks
Oliver Connell & Son, Manchester Airport
Gabion walling was used to retain the cuttings on the new radar station at Manchester Airport. P C Construction's contract work included. The supply of plant and labour to construct the gabion wall.
A couple of years ago I purchased the small bungalow. Part of the garden a 3:1 slope I considered unusable/unsafe. Unfortunately one had to cross the 12m slope to reach decking with views of the sea.
At 68, & just retired I decided to terrace the the slope for ease of access to the decking.
Gabions appeared to be a good idea.
20 ton of stone later, plus many 25 kl gravel bags, sand, cement, & paving slabs lifted up a steep drive, thence 22 steps to the slope the job was completed. A friend assisted me with the first 6 ton of 100/250m stone other than that I completed the task alone.
You may be able to imagine lifting 20 ton of stone from the drive in two plastic buckets - soul destroying LOL.
The gabions were laid on 100 to 150mm depth of 10/20mm gravel.
Tools used. Various spades, various picks. sawyer, wire cutters, string, bubble levels, plastic buckets, marking material.
Conclusions. Gabions are fine, but the site should be close to material delivery point. Good wire cutters, work gloves, & boots are essential. Like any other building work time setting out/levelling is the mot important part of the exercise. On cannot just dump stone in the baskets, each facing tone has to be set. Basket bracing is essential. Only good comments from neighbours. A way to lose weight, in the open air..
The slope is approx 12 x12m.
1. Thanks to Steve at Glendinning Ltd., Marldon who arranged for 1.5 tons of stone to be delivered at irreguar intevals in a wagon small enough to squeeze into my drive. 2. This month because of the quality of the gabion baskets I have ordered more from Fine Mesh Metals to complet my garden project.
The River Gipping Trust are restoring part of the old Stowmarket Navigation to make it suitable for a small electric trip boat to ply for trade between Needham Market and Baylham on the River Gipping. Our current work revolves around a location called Pipps Ford which has an abandoned lock.
Part of the restoration work requires us to excavate the bed of the original river course which was filled in by the Environment Agency back in the 80's. That will allow us to divert the water flow from the lock whilst we see what needs to be done to that structure. We have constructed a new bridge over the river and the gabions have been placed next to the brick side walls of the bridge to protect the walls from scour once the river course has been opened.
When the EA blocked up the river course they laid several tonnes of concrete as a causeway and removed the original bridge. We have been breaking up that concrete and using it is a filler for the gabions.
We have never done this sort of work before but the instructions on the web site were very clear and we found it easy to put the gabions together using the wire supplied, which incidentally was ample for the job. Several bags of gravel were used to give us the correct batter and the finished article looks really good.
This project involved levelling a sloped garden in a clay area with poor drainage. Within this area a new water treatment plant and soakaway was put in. The owner also wanted to replace a poorly installed cracked concrete drive with gravel. The stone from the concrete drive was smashed up and used as the infill for the basket. As the baskets were not on show the entire basket could be filled with this stone. The brand of water treatment plant allowed discharge directly to a waterway so plastic soakaway crates were allowed to be used to create a new soakaway. Terram was used on top of the baskets with a wooden sleeper on the edge retain 100mm height of soil. The terram behind the basket is semi porous and ontop of the basket impervious to stop the grass drying out.
This is an example of a river bank repair using gabion baskets. The installer has also protected from undercutting and softened the front edge with extra stones. In this scenario the baskets were on the bed rock so a gabion matress was not required.
A burn had eroded the ground away and the banking was slipping away in slices and endangering the property. We detailed to client what we would do to stop the slippage with gabion baskets. Our client is a great gardener and wanted something that would work with the old property. Since photos were taken the burn has been in full spate with the winter rain we get here in the west of Scotland and no further slippage! We have now installed handrails down the steps and owner has started planting in the gabions. Happy client.
Image of wall – client wanted a very contemporary look to a small back garden space – gabion baskets and white cobbles gave just the right look. Image of seat – client wanted an unusual seat for a front garden space to sit and read books. Gabion baskets were the answer.
Contractor Wild roof: We cover most of Cumbria and build mid to high end gardens. We are Association of Professional Landscapers members and Trustmark approved. Our website is www.wildroof.co.uk
Haileybury College in Hertfordshire wished to create a "trench trail" for their students and to share with schools in the area to come and learn about the First World War. Through the Trenches for Teachers project, historian Andy Robertshaw helped bring history alive to include a reproduction trench system complete with two fire steps, a dug out and first aid post along with the supply of reproduction items and teaching pack to enable students to interpret and experience elements of the conflict and life as a British soldier.
The frame work for the structure is made using custom made gabion baskets in 3mm wire.