How To Build A Gabion Retaining Wall?

The limits of height you can build a gabion rock retaining is really only limited to your needs. Gabion baskets can be used to divide or step gardens by as little as 300mm or can be used to build a side of a house. It all comes down to stability and above a certain height, engineering approval. Find out more detail on considerations of how high you can build a retaining wall here.

Here are 4 common approaches to think about when determining the height of your rock retaining wall:

1. Add additional baskets to increase the depth of the wall.  

This increases the surface area of the base of the wall on the ground which reduces the opportunity for the wall to sway or collapse. The recommended ratio is 2 baskets high to every 1 basket deep.

Gabion Basket

2. Install support posts. 

Support posts help add stability to your wall to also reduce the risk of collapse. They need to be strong enough to properly support the gabions and should be secured in a concrete slab underneath the basket wall. The stabilizers can be threaded through the openings in the baskets to create rigidity by interlocking the baskets together. The recommended spacing between the support posts is 1m.

3. Step your wall.  

Stepping your retaining wall will add stability and have provided a stepped look rather than a flush look for your wall. Gabion walls with a stepped front face shall have a minimum 150 mm horizontal setback for each 500 mm vertical lift.

4. Slope your wall.  

Sloping your wall back into the incline of the hill will help add stability to the wall. The recommended incline is between 6 and 10 degrees. Compacting of soil under the base will be required. This is not recommended for retaining walls greater than 5m in height.

 Gabion Wall