If you want a distinct retaining wall on your home's property, why not consider a gabion structure? These walls comprise wire cages that are filled with boulders and rocks. The cages are set up to slant towards the soil they're holding back. Their weight forms a solid mass to restrain the earth. Here are some advantages to installing this type of barrier in your yard.
Attractive
Gabion retaining walls will give a unique look to your garden, being relatively unusual. The rock-filled wire cages give an edgy industrial look. However, gabion walls can also help evoke a rustic feel as they gradually integrate with nature. Over time, the soil will nestle within the gaps between the rocks. Eventually, plants sprout and the wall blends in seamlessly. If you build a retaining wall in the back garden around a water feature, this may be exactly the look you're after. Additionally, plant roots help to brace the structure.
Secure
These walls are also strong and secure. They can be built extremely high or low, and their crushed-rock fill makes them strong. However, gabion walls are flexible in that they can adjust slightly to accommodate earth movements. On the other hand, walls made of continuous solid concrete aren't as flexible. They're more likely to crack if your region experiences earth tremors.
Natural Drainage
Gabion walls also allow for natural drainage. This is crucial for retaining walls, as rain-soaked earth is extremely heavy, and it can push against the wall with great force. This pressure can eventually cause structural weaknesses. However, with gabion designs, the stacked boulders provide natural openings for tiny rivulets of rain to pass from one side of the wall to the other. Other kinds of barriers require measures such as drainage pipes to do what a gabion wall does naturally.
Fill Rock
You can also choose the material you prefer to fill the cages. For instance, opt for attractive limestone. Usually, angular crushed stone is used as it fits together more tightly than rounded rocks. But rounder boulders are also possible. They'll give the wall a distinct look. Other things you can fill the cages with are recycled crushed concrete or bricks.
A structural engineer will typically be required to assess the wall and how much soil it can hold back. They can advise on appropriate materials that will be structurally sound. The wire cages come in different sizes and shapes with various wire thicknesses, which the engineer can also assess.
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