What are Gabions
Our clients often ask us, what are gabions? Gabions are actually decorative galvanized wire baskets that are filled with ornamental rocks, glass chunks, or other material of your choice. Such baskets have a dual purpose: for one, they have tremendous curb appeal and look incredibly attractive, but they can also offer homes and commercial buildings tremendous protection, for example, when they are used as a retaining wall that fights against soil erosion. The concept of gabions is incredibly old, as they were used as far back as the Roman army, thousands of years ago, to create wartime barricades and defend against enemy attacks!
How effective are gabions
In case you are wondering how effective are gabion baskets in fighting soil erosion, the answer is that they are extremely effective in doing so! This is because the small openings or spaces in the gabion walls slow down and control water flow without allowing it to damage the structure that the gabion wall is protecting. When water flows through a gabion wall, it does not break up the soil, but rather keeps it compacted!
In and around Los Angeles homes, gabions serve as a popular and innovative solution to protect against Mother Nature’s harsh elements. For homes that have high-velocity water flows around them (for example homes built on hillsides or on slopes) gabions can be a cost-effective way to disperse water pressure by allowing the water to filter in through openings in the rocks, which then creates a natural drainage runoff.
How expensive are gabion walls
If you are wondering whether or not gabion basket walls are expensive, the answer is that they are actually more affordable than many other types of retaining walls. This is because gabion baskets are easy to transport and construct! How does this work? Well, at our company, Weinstein Construction, our work crews receive a shipment of decorative rocks, wash them, then hand-place them into easily-prepared wire containers. Our crews select only the best-looking rocks, sorting them into various sizes, and then fitting them perfectly into baskets that we measure and pre-fabricate right on-site. The end result is spectacular!
Are retaining walls worth it
If you are interested in using a retaining wall to protect your home, and are considering beautiful gabion baskets for this work, you should know that yes, these beautiful walls do a really good job in protecting homes, which is especially important in Los Angeles, where so many homes are built on hillsides or on a slope. If your home or commercial building is built on a slope, it is more likely than not that you need a retaining wall to protect the structure from pressure build-up from water and soil. Moreover, let’s not forget that Los Angeles is “Earthquake Country”, so when (and not “if”) the next “Big One” hits, you want your valuable property to have the most protection possible, and a gabion retaining wall can help give you the extra protection you need.
Give Weinstein Construction a call today to discuss the benefits of gabion baskets – let us demonstrate to you why using gabions is such an attractive and cost-effective solution! call Weinstein Construction today at (877) 958-8741 for a free inspection and review of all your gabion needs!
