Filling the baskets is a bit nerdy and can take a while. I find that you want to use the bigger rocks on the outer edges. I start filling all the way around the edge and then back fill the middle with smaller rocks. This makes the walls really solid and less prone to getting misshaped by the weight.
Click here to get more.
You can see the inner chamber wire supports i thread through in the first two photo's here.
I fill the front (Joined to another basket) edge first and then try to have the next basket ready as i'm filling up the back building it's front connection together for best results.
I have 400 sq feet of rocks currently in these baskets around my front and back yard and living in a low humidity non coastal environment i imagine these will be here long after i'm gone.
So far it's only cost me $200 and my time... Oh and a few cuts and scratches.
I'll post the photos of the cage i built today being filled so you can see how i match the ends together.
Gabion Basket v Concrete Blocks to Build Retaining Walls
We are frequently asked what is the cost difference and benefits between the construction of a retaining wall using gabion baskets or concrete blocks. In a nutshell the differences are:
Cost difference &#; Gabion baskets are more competitive to build
Life span &#; Concrete blocks have far greater life span
Speed of construction &#; Concrete blocks can be built 5 x faster on site
Cost Difference
The unit rate for a m3 of gabion basket is built up as:
Basket £23
Stone delivered to site at 1.6 tonne m3 £36
Site plant and labour with an output of 20m3 per day £24
Contractor overhead and profit £15
Total = £98m3
Link to Shitai
The unit rate for m3 of concrete block is built up as:
Manufacture and delivery of block m3 £156
Site plant and labour with an output of 100m3 per day £6
Contractor overhead and profit £25
Total £187m3
The above costs are approximate as material specifications and location will make a difference to the overall cost.
Life Span
The life span of a C50 concrete block is between 125 to 150 year if not more. The blocks have no reinforcement so they will not crack and degrade from steel corrosion.
The like span of a gabion basket depends on the specification of the wire basket. The normal life span is between 40 and 60 years.
If the retaining wall design life span is more than 60 years it will be more cost effective to use concrete blocks.
Speed of Construction
The site output to build a gabion wall is 20m3 per gang day using a 360 machine and three men.
The site output to build a concrete block gravity retaining wall is 100m3 per day using a tele-handler and two men.
The difference in out put is 5 x faster to build a concrete block retaining wall than a gabion retaining wall. On some projects this can take weeks off a program. If speed is the driver concrete blocks is the answer.
What to do next
Go to our retaining wall design page to see how we may be able to support your project
Download our Full Retaining Wall Guide
Filling the baskets is a bit nerdy and can take a while. I find that you want to use the bigger rocks on the outer edges. I start filling all the way around the edge and then back fill the middle with smaller rocks. This makes the walls really solid and less prone to getting misshaped by the weight.
You can see the inner chamber wire supports i thread through in the first two photo's here.
I fill the front (Joined to another basket) edge first and then try to have the next basket ready as i'm filling up the back building it's front connection together for best results.
I have 400 sq feet of rocks currently in these baskets around my front and back yard and living in a low humidity non coastal environment i imagine these will be here long after i'm gone.
So far it's only cost me $200 and my time... Oh and a few cuts and scratches.
I'll post the photos of the cage i built today being filled so you can see how i match the ends together.
Gabion Basket v Concrete Blocks to Build Retaining Walls
We are frequently asked what is the cost difference and benefits between the construction of a retaining wall using gabion baskets or concrete blocks. In a nutshell the differences are:
Cost difference &#; Gabion baskets are more competitive to build
Life span &#; Concrete blocks have far greater life span
Speed of construction &#; Concrete blocks can be built 5 x faster on site
Cost Difference
The unit rate for a m3 of gabion basket is built up as:
Basket £23
Stone delivered to site at 1.6 tonne m3 £36
Site plant and labour with an output of 20m3 per day £24
Contractor overhead and profit £15
Total = £98m3
The unit rate for m3 of concrete block is built up as:
Manufacture and delivery of block m3 £156
Site plant and labour with an output of 100m3 per day £6
Contractor overhead and profit £25
Total £187m3
The above costs are approximate as material specifications and location will make a difference to the overall cost.
Life Span
The life span of a C50 concrete block is between 125 to 150 year if not more. The blocks have no reinforcement so they will not crack and degrade from steel corrosion.
The like span of a gabion basket depends on the specification of the wire basket. The normal life span is between 40 and 60 years.
If the retaining wall design life span is more than 60 years it will be more cost effective to use concrete blocks.
Speed of Construction
The site output to build a gabion wall is 20m3 per gang day using a 360 machine and three men.
The site output to build a concrete block gravity retaining wall is 100m3 per day using a tele-handler and two men.
The difference in out put is 5 x faster to build a concrete block retaining wall than a gabion retaining wall. On some projects this can take weeks off a program. If speed is the driver concrete blocks is the answer.
What to do next
Go to our retaining wall design page to see how we may be able to support your project
Download our Full Retaining Wall Guide