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kerryowang

Gambion

kerryowang
8 years ago
Hi, can you tell me if the gambions are a retaining wall or just a decorative feature? If they are retaining how deep have they been buried, or are they sufficient in weight alone? Thanks.
Magnolia Residence · More Info
Featured Answer
  • PRO
    JML Garden Rooms
    8 years ago
    Hi there,
    You can use gabion baskets for decoration, but if they have been engineered to do so and are installed correctly, they are very strong and able to be used as retaining walls. Our sister company JML Contracts install gabion baskets for road projects, flood defences and all sorts of retaining solutions. If you email them with pictures of the area that you are looking at, they can have a look for you and let you know how they would suggest going about it and what the costs would be for the baskets etc.
    I have seen some awesome designs that the team have done in the past. Here is a picture from a private clients house, where we pushed back the soil and built the baskets in order to give them a private road up to the house and patio area...

    • Comments (7)

    • PRO
      Banyon Tree Design Studio
      8 years ago

      Hello--thanks for your question, but that is difficult to answer. This is a custom designed and engineered wall, based on the specifics of the site. Any wall that you may wish to install would need thorough design and investigation before installation. Generally any retaining wall over 4' in ht. requires structural engineering and may require geotechnical engineering as well, depending on the site. Gabions can be either engineered or aesthetic. The size, depth and fill all come into play with the design. I would encourage you to contact a professional in your area for review of your specific site conditions. Good luck!

    • kerryowang
      Original Author
      8 years ago
      Thanks for answering. I wasn't planing to build it myself...I wish lol! I am currently redesigning the garden as part of a house refurb...the technical side will be dealt with by the builders, I was just figuring out if there was scope for gabbions as a retainer that needs to go in, or if they are best used decoratively in a domestic setting, or if they are much more hassle than a block/render retainer.
    • PRO
      Banyon Tree Design Studio
      8 years ago

      In the case above the wall is used to retain some soil behind the wall, but the soil gently slopes up because we have a deck directly behind the wall, so the retaining part is not as tall as the wall. In this case, I guess it is both: decorative and structural!

      kerryowang thanked Banyon Tree Design Studio
    • kerryowang
      Original Author
      8 years ago
      wow...thinking cap is on now...thank you both for replying! Am I right in thinking that you can fill them with perhaps hardcore from the build and 'face' them with great looking stones? I guess tis would depend on their intended purpose/structural integrity...might save a skip or two of waste though as my walls are not going to be very high....
    • PRO
      JML Garden Rooms
      8 years ago
      Hi Kerryowang, If they are to be used for a retaining wall and have been engineered, there is normally a certain standard for the stone. The ones which are shown in the pics above, have been filled with local stone from a local quarry, so that they are in keeping with the building and will fit in with the look of the traditional period home forever. I have seen them filled with all sorts of other things over the years, but if they are not filled correctly, they would lose their integrity. If you fill them with the incorrect stone, the stone may break down over time and fall out the bottom and sides, leaving you with a mess in the garden and a retaining wall, that no longer retains. If you have someone else install a wall for you, you should always ask about BBA certificates and if they offer a guarantee of any description. Here are some pics of stunning decorative walls that I have been collecting over the years. They seem to be getting more and more popular these days...
      kerryowang thanked JML Garden Rooms
    • kerryowang
      Original Author
      8 years ago
      They do look great, much food for thought here thank you so much.
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