Gabion Wall Build

Hey there! Hope everyone’s doing well.

We just wanted to share a quick photo montage of the Gabion Wall we built behind our three-car garage. It turned out pretty great, thanks in large part to the farmhand who helped out—it really made the whole process smoother.  See the video below.  🐑

So, first off, I should mention that I didn’t get any engineering advice before diving into this project. I’d already put up a wall behind the garage using some three- and four-grade stones, and it was about 4 to 5 feet high. When it came to this new construction, I just leaned on some of the combat construction experience I picked up in the military. I figured using 3-foot hog panels would be strong enough to hold back the rest of the foundation that was sliding down the hill.

A couple of things to note: the hog panels I used were pretty sturdy, but when I recently visited Tractor Supply, I noticed they’re starting to sell a cheaper version. So, if you’re planning on using cattle or hog panels, make sure the rods are thick enough to handle the weight. That said, I’ve seen some pretty thin stuff being used along highways, especially in New Jersey, so maybe the panels from Tractor Supply could work too.

For binding, I used 12-gauge wire throughout the build but started with 17-gauge wire just to shape the basket.

When it came to filling the baskets, I used riprap. The first batch I got had a lot of smaller material mixed in, so I had to sort through it to find stones that were the right size. Eventually, I went to a different stone company and got a better grade of riprap.

For the back side of the Gabion Wall, I lined it with agricultural cloth. I had plenty on hand, but in hindsight, I probably could’ve used something less expensive, like a 25-year weed barrier—it would’ve done the job just fine. I filled in the backing with crusher run, let it settle, then added more to cover the footer of the garage, which had been exposed due to erosion.

Overall, it was a solid project, and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. I’m even considering putting up a few more Gabion Walls in other spots since we’re on the edge of a ridge, and I need some secure areas to store equipment. If you have any questions, feel free to drop them in the comments—I’d be happy to help out.