Gabions

Gabions are structural elements in the form of rectangular metal nets filled with stone. Pebbles or crushed stone are usually used as the "filling".

A bit of history

Gabions have been used in construction for over 100 years. Initially, they were used to strengthen the banks of reservoirs. At that time, the gabion mesh was made of simple single wire. This led to frequent breakages. Later, they began to be made using double braiding. Thanks to this, if one of the cells was damaged, the gabion retained its integrity.

Gabions today

Currently gabions are produced in two versions. These are:

• Double mesh made of zinc-aluminum alloy. This alloy is much stronger than zinc, and the gabion is reinforced with a special plastic coating. The cells are hexagonal;
• welded mesh - the wire is connected by welding at a right angle. In such a gabion, the cells are rectangular or square.

Until recently gabions were used mainly in technical construction - to strengthen river banks, earth embankments. Today they are increasingly used in the architecture of residential buildings and related facilities. Fences, walls, decorative elements, facades - all this can be built from gabions.

Gabion facades

For arranging facades, it is best to use gabion baskets with at least double cells. It is also necessary to remember the need to strengthen gabions from tipping over in strong winds. The interior of the gabion is divided by transverse struts located every meter. Such struts give the gabions greater stability and make it easier to fill them with stones. In addition, the struts prevent deformation of the nets.

They are well suited as corner elements of the facade. gabions in the form of trapezoids and pyramids. They allow you to create the most complex, modern forms of facades.

Both traditional bricks and smaller rectangular or irregularly shaped stones are suitable for filling gabions. It is worth noting that the surface of the gabion facade does not attract urban graffiti artists at all.

Gabions are not only visually interesting. They perfectly suppress noise, which is very good if a house with such a facade is located in a busy urban area. It is also an environmentally friendly way of finishing facades, because only natural raw materials are used for the production of gabions.

An undeniable advantage of gabions is the simplicity of their installation. Ready-made baskets are delivered to the construction site. All that remains is to fill them with stones and attach them to the wall.