Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Nov 18, 2009 9:07 pm Hi there - We've started to look at possible retaining wall systems for use with landscaping our garden (we have approx ~1 / 1.5 mtr fall at each of the front and back that we're trying to deal with). One suggestion we've had was to use Gabion walls (ala http://www.groundtechgeo.com.au/gabions ... tting.html); which looks interesting - but am not sure about how it might go in the residential context. Has anybody had experience with this type of wall that they could offer feedback on? We're also wondering how the costs for this type of wall stack up against alternatives... Thanks in advance, Andrew Re: Gabion walls? 2Nov 18, 2009 10:07 pm Generally used for roadside cuttings, sound barriers, they use up a lot of space and are expensive... There is a forumite who had to build one though... General chatter here...viewtopic.php?f=20&t=6417&p=57443&hilit=gabion#p57443 More specifics here...viewtopic.php?f=31&t=9385&p=149366&hilit=gabion#p149366 mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Gabion walls? 3Nov 18, 2009 11:00 pm Hi Andrew, That's my wall Mike's referring to. It's grown on me and I quite like the look of it now. But as Mike said, they're not that cheap. I can't compare to other types of walls as we didn't get any others costed. We paid $265/metre including tensar grid and 150 FCR base Here's the completed wall. http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll212/chelleW1970/P1120081.jpg And during construction. http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll212/chelleW1970/PC110044.jpg Personally, I think it would be a bit of over kill for a back yard retaining wall as they do take up a lot of space. Anyway, hope that helps. 'chelle We have a hand-over date...15/10...but I won't hold my breath! http://people-in-glass-houses.blogspot.com/ Re: Gabion walls? 4Nov 19, 2009 8:22 am I'm jealous....I wish I needed gabions and tensar grid in my backyard...engineer's wet dream! mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Gabion walls? 5Nov 19, 2009 8:27 am I never knew what these were called, but they have them all around Flemington racecourse. Is it true that they can hold the water back as well? Because they started work at the racecourse soon after the last time the Marybyrnong flooded (5 years ???) and the horses had to be evacuated to the showgrounds. So I thought that may be why they used them there. Never thought of them as engineering porn though Mike. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Gabion walls? 6Nov 19, 2009 9:08 am No they hold back water...as you only put rocks in. They'd be the main structural element holding up a berm (slope) with a filter between the berm and slope so you don't lose clay into the gabion. And there's lot's of engineering porn...the atrium at Collins Place...Federation Square...the soccer stadium...moving roof structures on sports grounds...the cheese stick...the sound tunnel...Mullum Mullum Creek Tunnel...the Westgate...I'm possible the only person who took a photo of the riveted connection of Sydney Harbour bridge to it's sandstone abutments...and thinks that the ANZAC bridge in Sydney sh!ts only over the coat hanger.... mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Gabion walls? 8Nov 19, 2009 11:04 am Macy What's the cheese stick? Apparently art... ...which would have had some engineer scratching his head wondering how the frack am I supposed to build this??? ...part of Jeff Kennett's "legacy". mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Gabion walls? 9Nov 19, 2009 11:30 am to_do_list No they hold back water...as you only put rocks in. They'd be the main structural element holding up a berm (slope) with a filter between the berm and slope so you don't lose clay into the gabion. So is that a yes or a no on the water? The ones at Flemingtom don't hold a slope, they are free standing. I know that water would seep through, but I thought they may be enough to hold back most of it in the event of a rapid rise in the river.... just until it receeded. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Gabion walls? 10Nov 19, 2009 11:40 am joles to_do_list No they hold back water...as you only put rocks in. They'd be the main structural element holding up a berm (slope) with a filter between the berm and slope so you don't lose clay into the gabion. So is that a yes or a no on the water? The ones at Flemingtom don't hold a slope, they are free standing. I know that water would seep through, but I thought they may be enough to hold back most of it in the event of a rapid rise in the river.... just until it receeded. Found it.... http://www.maccaferri.com.au/webfiles/M ... ndWall.pdf ...the gabions support a central core of clay (Koode Island Silt - highly impermeable) and the geosynthetic stuff stops the silt being lost into the geofabric. So yes it does hold water...built back to front to what I was thinking so that it has a smaller footprint. mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Gabion walls? 12Nov 19, 2009 11:50 am joles Mystery solved..... now who shot JFK? Easy...wasn't the guy on the grass knoll....it was the guy behind him on the gabion...much better shot! mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Gabion walls? 15Nov 21, 2009 11:02 pm Thanks for all the feedback... definitely food for thought... the 'look' is still interesting - but more conventional retaining approaches might be the way to go! Render your bathroom walls, two opinions versus the one, makes you wonder. 3 6023 The spacing of the studs looks pretty large especially for a load bearing wall. 3 11055 Nope, only on the inside, I've literally has my ears to the brick outside and can't hear anything. I can sort of 'reset' the noise by pressing firmly on the studs. This… 10 11689 |