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Gabion Stone Orange
At Stone Warehouse we offer a great selection of Rockery & Boulders to be used as decorative aggregate, including Gabion Basket stone filling in a variety of colours and sizes.
Combine large landscaping rocks with garden boulders in contrasting colours to create an eye-catching feature Gabion wall.
Order before 1pm for Next Day delivery or choose a convenient day at the checkout.
More about Gabion Stone
Gabion stone is our large, angular rock pieces which are made from natural materials. This type of stone is used to fill steel cages called gabions. When filled and stacked, the gabions create strong structures for the likes of gabion walls, gabion seating or other decorative features.
Large stones offer structural stability, making gabion cages ideal for building retaining walls to prevent soil erosion. However, the cages can also be stacked to provide weather protection against wind and rain, especially in areas of your garden which feel exposed.
Once gabion stone is added to cages, it can create decades of weather protection, making it a long lasting investment for your outdoor space.
Shop stone for gabion baskets here at Stone Warehouse and get UK-wide delivery on your order.
Gabion Stone: At A Glance
- To use in gabion baskets
- Can be used to create gabion walls, seating, planters or water features
- Made from natural materials such as metamorphic gneiss, natural slate and quartzite
- Various size ranges to choose from
- Colours to suit decorative use
- Gabion stone bulk bag options - crate or half crates
- Gabion Stone Usage Ideas
Retaining walls: At Stone Warehouse, our customers absolutely love using our gabion stone and cobbles to make retaining walls! While this can include retaining walls for traditional stormproofing, you can also get creative to make sunken seating with gabion walls.
Garden borders and edging: While we also stock traditional edging products, gabion stone placed in baskets offers an alternative way of sectioning or containing areas of your garden. Cubes filled with decorative stone look particularly attractive, whether you opt for a cream colouring or something a little more rustic.
Gabion seating: As we’ve hinted at above, gabion baskets can be stacked so that they create the perfect base for seating. Simply place a cushion on top of the filled gabion basket to create a stable yet comfortable place to sit outdoors.
Water features: Gabion stone works perfectly when constructed to support a water feature, including ponds, fountains or waterfalls. The stone texture also adds a natural aesthetic with sound-dampening qualities. When the stones get wet, they will also deepen in colour.
Ornamental feature: Alongside the many functional uses of gabion stone, it works just as well for decorative use. This includes using the stone within other rockery displays or placing the stone in gabion baskets to make a style statement.
Good to know: The specific gabion stone specification listed on each product page. This includes the stone material and usage suitability.
Gabion Basket Stone FAQs
What stones are used in Gabions?
Gabions are wire mesh containers filled with stones used for various purposes, such as retaining walls or decorative features. When choosing stones to fill Gabions, it's important to consider their durability, stability, aesthetics, and availability.
Popular Gabion stones include granite, limestone, basalt, river rock, dolomite and quartzite. Please take a look at our Gabion basket stone collection on our product page.
What size stone is used for Gabion?
The size of stone used for Gabions can vary depending on the application and design requirements. Generally, a range of stone sizes is best to fill Gabions, allowing for a more stable structure.
The most commonly used stone size for Gabions is between 4 inches and 6 inches (10 cm to 15 cm) in diameter. This size provides a good balance between stability and ease of filling. It allows for proper compaction and interlocking of stones within the Gabion structure.
Using a graded range of stone sizes can be beneficial too. Using a graded range of stone sizes involves combining larger stones, such as 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter and smaller stones in the 2 to 4 inches (5 cm to 10 cm) range. The mix of sizes helps to ensure good stability.
What are the main benefits of using Gabion stone in landscaping projects?
Using Gabion stone offers several benefits, making it a popular choice for landscaping projects.
Gabion stone provides excellent structural strength and stability. The wire mesh cages filled with stone create a robust, secure structure that can withstand soil and water pressure. Gabion stone also allows for effective water drainage, reducing the risk of water accumulation and erosion.
The modular nature of Gabion cages allows for easy shape, size, and configuration customisation. You can design Gabions in different heights and lengths to suit the project's specific needs.
These benefits make Gabion stone a versatile and practical choice for retaining walls, garden walls, terracing, erosion control, and decorative features.
How is Gabion stone different from other types of decorative stones?
Gabion stone refers to stones used to fill wire mesh cages in Gabion structures. These stones are typically angular or irregular to ensure stability and interlocking when compacted within the Gabion baskets.
The stones are compacted and securely contained within the baskets, ensuring a stable and robust structure. In contrast, other decorative stones come in various shapes, such as rounded or smooth, and may not have the same interlocking characteristics.
Other decorative stones may be laid directly on the ground or used as beds or borders without containment within wire mesh cages.
Can Gabion stone be used for erosion control and slope stabilisation?
For effective erosion control, Gabion walls are a barrier against erosive forces, such as water currents, to prevent soil erosion. The stone-filled Gabions allow water to pass through while holding the soil in place, reducing the impact of flowing water.
Gabion retaining walls are also used to stabilise slopes. The wire mesh cages filled with Gabion stone create a structure that resists lateral earth pressure. The interlocking stones provide stability and prevent the slope from collapsing.
Sometimes, you can use Gabion stone with geotextiles for slope stabilisation. Place the geotextiles between layers of Gabion stone to enhance soil reinforcement and improve stability.
What are the recommended installation methods for Gabion stone walls?
Proper installation methods are crucial for the successful construction of Gabion stone walls. It's best to consult with someone experienced in Gabion wall construction to ensure you are using proper construction techniques. If you do decide to handle the construction yourself, here are a few steps to follow.
- Site Preparation: Clear the area of obstructions. Make sure you level and compact the ground.
- Layout and Marking: Mark the location of the wall using stakes and string lines.
- Excavation: Dig a trench along the marked line to accommodate the base of the wall. The trench should be wide enough to place the Gabion baskets and backfill material.
- Foundation Preparation: Level the bottom of the trench and compact the soil to create a stable foundation. Install a geotextile fabric at the base to prevent soil erosion if needed.
- Gabion Basket Assembly: Assemble the Gabion baskets according to the manufacturer's instructions. Ensure the wire mesh panels are connected, and the baskets are aligned.
- Placement and Alignment: Position the Gabion baskets in the trench, aligning them with the string lines. Place the baskets end to end, ensuring a tight fit between adjacent baskets. Fasten the adjacent baskets together using wire fasteners or hog rings.
- Filling the Baskets: Fill the Gabion baskets with the selected Gabion stone, layer by layer. Compact each layer of stone to ensure stability and cut settlement.
- Gabion Lid Installation: Once the Gabion baskets are filled to the desired height, install the Gabion lid or top panel. Secure the lid with wire fasteners to prevent stone displacement.
- Connections and Reinforcement: Install bracing or tie wires between adjacent Gabion baskets to prevent bulging. This is especially important for taller or curved Gabion walls.
- Backfilling and Compaction: Backfill the space behind the Gabion wall with suitable soil or drainage aggregate. Compact the backfill material in layers to provide more support to the wall.
- Drainage Considerations: Use appropriate drainage measures, such as perforated pipes or drainage aggregates to ensure proper water management.
- Finishing Touches: Clean off any excess debris from the Gabion wall surface. Consider adding a decorative stone or vegetation layer along the face of the wall to enhance its visual appeal.
Is Gabion stone environmentally friendly and sustainable?
Gabion stone is considered environmentally friendly and sustainable for several reasons.
Gabion structures have a long lifespan and need minimal maintenance. They can withstand the test of time, reducing the need for frequent replacements or repairs. This longevity reduces material waste and resource consumption over the structure's life.
These structures can also be removed and reused in different locations. This adaptability allows for relocating and repurposing the Gabion components, minimising waste.
While Gabion stone is considered environmentally friendly and sustainable, it's important to consider the entire project's impact. Proper design and responsible sourcing of materials are critical factors in ensuring the sustainability of Gabion installations.
What factors should be considered when selecting Gabion stone for a project?
When selecting Gabion stone for a project, a few factors must be considered to ensure the desired functionality, aesthetic appeal, and long-term performance.
Size and Gradation: The size and gradation of the Gabion stone are crucial for stability. The stone should be appropriate to fit within the wire mesh cages while allowing for adequate interlocking. A well-graded mix of stone sizes can enhance strength and structural integrity.
Durability and Strength: Choose Gabion stone that is durable and capable of withstanding the intended use and environmental conditions.
Compatibility with Design: Consider the stone's colour, texture, and appearance to ensure it blends well with the surrounding environment. Gabion stone is available in various colours, such as grey, brown, beige, or black.
Availability and Sourcing: Choose a locally-sourced stone to reduce transportation distances and associated carbon emissions. Local stones are often more cost-effective and can blend with the regional landscape.
Environmental Impact: Consider the potential for recycling or reusing the stone at the end of its useful life to minimise waste.
Compatibility with Project Requirements: Consult with professionals to ensure the selected Gabion stone meets your structural and functional needs.
What Do You Fill Gabion Baskets With?
Large natural stones are the best stones for gabions. They are the top way to fill gabion baskets, since large stones provide both the size needed for stability, but also longevity based on how durable the stone is.
At Stone Warehouse, you’ll find gabion stone made from a variety of natural materials, which also gives you lots of colour options to choose from.
If your gabion baskets are for decorative use, then consider using cream, grey or other aesthetically pleasing stone colours. Lighter yellows and creams will give you the look of Cotswold gabion stone, but at a more affordable cost!
However, so long as you choose large angular stones, they can be used for all gabion basket usages, including the likes of seating, retaining walls, water features or weather shielding.
How To Fill Gabion Baskets?
You’ll notice our gabion stone consists of large angular stones. That’s because this type of stone locks together well to provide that stable, long lasting structure as part of a gabion basket.
When buying stones for gabion walls, aim for stones that are at least 25% larger than the mesh openings. This will ensure that the stones are too large to slip out of the gabion baskets.
For example, if the mesh size on a gabion cage is 75x75mm, you would select gabion basket stone sizes that are 100mm. Thankfully, most of our gabion stone is significantly larger than this, which will ensure a secure fit when placed into the gabion basket. Just be sure to check the mesh measurements of the cage before ordering.
When filling gabion baskets, start at the corners and visible areas of the basket. Fill the centre with smaller or less decorative stones, ensuring these stones are large enough that they cannot fit through the mesh gaps. Work horizontally to build layers and gently tamp the stones down as you work to minimise any gaps. Check the alignment before moving on to the next layer.
Keep filling the baskets until the layers reach the top, but be careful not to overfill so that the top of the basket can be closed without any bulging.
How Long Do Gabion Baskets Last?
The combination of natural rock and galvanised steel is pretty indestructible! So long as your gabion baskets are correctly assembled, they can last 70 years or even longer.
For this reason, gabion baskets are an excellent choice for retaining walls or for weather shielding exposed areas of your garden. In particular, you can expect a well filled gabion basket to last far longer than a fence, since it’s designed to withstand wind and rain.
How Much Gabion Stone Do I Need?
Unlike our gravel calculator, there isn’t such a thing as a gabion stone calculator. However, we’ve found a simple formula you can use instead.
Calculating tonnage of stone for gabions:
Multiply the length x width x height of your gabion basket in meters to find its volume in cubic meters (m³).
Next, multiply this again by the density of the stone. A general guide per material includes:
Granite (2.6 tonnes/m³), limestone (2.2 tonnes/m³), basalt (2.8 tonnes/m³) and river rock (2.0 tonnes/m³).
Finally, because stones don’t fit perfectly together, voids (air gaps) take up about 30-35% of the cage’s space. So, in total, you need approximately 1.3-1.4 m³ of stone per 1m³ of gabion volume.
If you’re unsure about how much gabion stone to order, please get in touch with the Stone Warehouse team for further guidance.
What’s The Cheapest Gabion Stone?
At Stone Warehouse, you’ll find gabion stone to suit all budgets and projects.
Some cost-effective options for gabion stone include our plum slate, ice blue rock and slate walling stone. Take a look around our website to view all of our current stock, including our latest gabion stone prices.
Psst: In search of ‘Gabion stone suppliers near me’? At Stone Warehouse, we deliver right across the UK!
How Do Gabions Work
A gabion is when stone, rocks or large cobbles are added to a cage made of steel mesh wire. These cube-shaped cages can then be placed individually, or stacked together to form a heavy mass capable of resisting natural forces such as gravity, wind, water or soil pressure.
Since gabions can be used for both functional and decorative purposes, they can be designed to work exactly as you need them to. For some of our customers, this involves building a strong and sturdy gabion wall. But it can also involve building seating and even water features using our gabion stones that have been added to steel cages.
How To Build A Gabion Retaining Wall
Gabion walls come in many forms, but with retaining walls, the aim is to hold back the land, which would otherwise be vulnerable to material slippage or erosion.
First, grab all the materials you’ll need, including gabion stones, gabion baskets, crushed stone, geotextile fabric and wire ties.
Remember, the best stone for gabion walls are large angular stones.
Map out your design based on where the retaining wall will run. Ensure you’ve ordered enough gabion stone to fill the width and height of the gabion baskets which will form your retaining wall.
Excavate a trench slightly wider than the gabion baskets (approx. 150-200mm extra on each side). Dig out a depth of 150-200mm for small walls, or dig deeper if the soil isn’t very compact, or if the gabion wall is going to be very tall. Add a gravel base that’s 100-150mm thick and tamper it down. Ensure the gravel base is level.
Lay a permeable geotextile fabric along the back of the trench and up the slope behind where the wall will sit.
Then, assemble the gabion baskets by unfolding them and connecting each basket to another using wire ties. Once the baskets are strong and stable, you can then fill them with your chosen gabion stone.
To complete, trim any cable ties hanging out at the sides. In some cases, you may also need to backfill the area with soil or gravel to provide additional stability to the retaining wall.
Why Use Stone Gabions?
A stone gabion is a solid structure which can sit on its own or be stacked to increase the width or height of the protection provided. From preventing ground erosion to shielding out the elements, gabions offer superior protection.
Large angular stones are used as a gabion fill stone. When tightly packed together, this ensures the likes of wind or rain cannot pass through the cage. However, the dense structure can also be used for decorative purposes like gabion seating.
So long as the gabions are properly installed, they will last indefinitely which is also another bonus!
Shop stone for gabions here on our website, including gabion baskets stone available in various natural materials and colour ranges!
