How to Make a Curved Gabion Wall

Below you will find a step by step guide on how to make a curved gabion wall.

Curved walls follow the same rules as our straight gabion walls, including foundations, heights, drainage and when you need an engineer. Please read our gabion wall rules before you start.

ANGLED GABIONS

• Experience Required: Medium
• Tools Required: Tape measure, Shovel, Bolt cutters, Hand tamper, String, Spray paint or rocks
• Materials Required: Gabion baskets, Panels, Gabion stones, Helicoils and/or lacing wire, Geotextile, Type 1 basecourse or gravel

Step 1) Mark area

• Begin by attaching a string to a bamboo stick at the centre of the location where you would like to install the curved structure.

• Tighten the string to the desired radius and mark it to keep a consistent curve.
• Walk in a circle, placing stones to mark the inner curve.
• Then lay a second string along it, securing it with rocks every metre.

Step 2) Measure & calculate

• Measure and record the lengths of both the strings on the ground using a measuring tape to plan and order materials.

Step 3) Order materials

• While planning to order and buy materials, don’t forget to include the panels for the outer curve.
• You can also add optional panels for the triangles on the top, if needed.

Step 4) Dig a base

• Dig out the soft topsoil until you reach firm ground.
• Low projects of 1m or less on firm, level ground, with no heavy loads behind them, can be placed straight onto the ground, though a compacted base gives the best long-term result. Anything taller needs a compacted base. See our gabion wall rules for depths, heights and when you need an engineer.

Step 5) Geotextile

• Place a layer of geotextile on top of the soil to stop weeds growing up through the wall.

Step 6) Add basecourse

• Add a layer of type 1 basecourse or gravel on top of the geotextile.

Step 7) Compact basecourse

• Compact the basecourse with a hand tamper, or a plate compactor for larger jobs.
• Low walls don’t usually need a concrete foundation. If the soil is weak or there is a lot of groundwater, ask a structural engineer.

Step 8) Position and secure gabions

• Place the first gabion, fold up the sides, and leave the lid open.
• Insert helicoils only on corners not connecting to another unit, then add the second cage and secure it.
• Finally, install the panel between them to fix the shared corners.

Step 9) Continue

• Continue the same process with the remaining gabions and panels, securing each one to the next using helicoils.

Step 10) Fill with stones

• Fill the cages with stones.

Step 11) Continue filling

• Then fill the triangle sections as well.

Step 12) Close the lids

• Close the lids.

Step 13) Secure the lids

• Secure the lids using helicoils.

Step 14) Cover triangles

• If you don’t want to leave the triangular gaps open, cover them with mesh panels.
• Cut the panels to size using bolt cutters.

• Then secure them to the lid with lacing wire.

Step 15) Finished project

• Your curved gabion wall is complete.

PANEL BENDING

• Experience Required: Medium
• Tools Required: Shovel, Bolt Cutters, Spray Paint (optional), Hand tamper, Car tyre (or similar round object)
• Materials Required: Gabion Baskets, Gabion Stone, Geotextile, Helicoils / Lacing wire, Bracing wire, Type 1 basecourse or gravel

Step 1) Walk the curve

• Use a string attached to a bamboo stick and walk it along the area where you would like to create a curved gabion wall.

Step 2) Mark the curve

• Lay string along the planned curve for wall installation.
• Position the string on the ground to delineate inner and outer sides.
• Secure the string every metre using rocks to keep it in place.

Step 3) Measure string

• Place the string on the ground.
• Use a measuring tape to measure the length of each string.

Step 4) Buy materials

• Obtain cages to match the length of your inner curve.
• Optimal lengths for cages are 45cm or 97.5cm for achieving the desired curve effect.
• Longer cages can be used, but they won’t give such a smooth curve.

Step 5) Dig

• Dig out the soft topsoil until you reach firm ground.
• Low projects of 1m or less on firm, level ground, with no heavy loads behind them, can be placed straight onto the ground, though a compacted base gives the best long-term result. Anything taller needs a compacted base. See our gabion wall rules for depths, heights and when you need an engineer.

Step 6) Geotextile

• Cover the soil with geotextile to stop weeds growing up through your wall once it’s installed.

Step 7) Add gravel or basecourse

• Add a layer of type 1 basecourse or gravel over the geotextile.

Step 8) Compact gravel

• Compact the basecourse with a hand tamper, or a plate compactor for larger jobs.

Step 9) (Optional) Concrete foundation

• Low walls don’t usually need a concrete foundation. If the soil is weak or there is a lot of groundwater, ask a structural engineer whether you need one.

Step 10) Placing Base Panels

• Position panels horizontally on the ground.
• Ensure panels extend beyond the base of the curved wall.
• Cover the entire length of the wall with these panels.

Step 11) Rolling panels into shape

• Curve the side panels around a tyre or another round object.
• Roll it repeatedly until it forms the desired circular shape.

Step 12) Adjust curve

• If needed, step on the panel after rolling it to fine-tune the curve.

Step 13) Position Side Panels

• Place the initial inner, outer, back, and front panels onto the base panels.
• Ensure the corners of the panels are securely attached to maintain their position.
• Consider adding rocks or posts for extra support during the installation process.

Step 14) Add braces

• Add bracing wire every metre along the wall.
• Place the bracing wires around the midpoint of the wall’s height.
• This keeps the wall stable and stops it bulging.

Step 15) Cut the base

• Cut the base panels to match the contour of the side panels.
• Leave approximately 5-10cm surplus wire for folding back into the cage.

Step 16) Fold the base wires

• Fold the additional 5-10cm of wires backward into the basket.
• Ensure the fold loops over the top of the side panel mesh.

Step 17) Repeat Steps 10-16

• Repeat Steps 10-16 until you have completed your installation.

Step 18) Fill the cages

• Once all the cages are in place, fill them with gabion stone.

VIDEO

Written By

This blog was created by our Sales Support Specialist, Erno, and reviewed by our Founder, John.

Below you’ll find some of our real-life gabion wall builds, along with customer projects and technical drawings Erno created for them. We’ve opted for technical illustrations for the instructions found in this blog because they provide better clarity on mesh placement and structural details that can get lost in real-life photography.