gabion step with lumber top

Which mesh to use for gabion steps

Angular rock is the best gabion fill as it provides a good interlock and therefore less deformation of the face occurs. When using rounded river rock as gabion fill, it is recommended that you use the heavier 5ga (3/16th”) gabion baskets, which are less likely to deform under load.

4ga wire (which is 44% stronger than 5ga) is the preferred choice where an uniform architectural look is required, the gabions are likely to be sat or walked on, and when building steps
 
For more info on mesh size, deflection information and my youtube video on mesh rigidity, check out
Gabion wire mesh size/

Often the treads are covered with a paving stone

Or lumber capping

Hundreds of different sized gabions for steps

Our gabion sizes are in 3″ increments, (the mesh size)

heights and thickness’s are available in

9″, 12″, 15″, 18″, 21″, 24″,……. up to 60″ tall or thick

We can make a gabion for almost any sized step, check out our price and size information

Or email us with your required sizes and quantities, and we will get back to with costings

Gabion stairs with no capping

This gives a more rustic finish to your project.

Lumber Bearers

Placing lumber bearers inside the gabion, allows you to attach decking treads to the gabion stairs

Tread to Riser formula

Riser + riser + tread = 25″

for example 5″ + 5″ + 15″ = 25″

or 6.5″ + 6.5″ + 12″ = 25″

Gabions built on grade

When building gabions on grade the riser to tread ratio, may not be ideal.

Different height foundations

By slightly burying the gabion, the tread height can be optimised.

Making the steps easier to walk up.

Keying the gabions into the hillside

By creating benches or keying into the hillside, you may able to create terraces and gabion steps as required.
Making the steps easier to walk up.

benched gabion steps
gabion steps with paver treads

Cement mortar binds with gabion mesh

The cement mortar binds with the gabion mesh, allowing you to attach paving slabs and other stone to the gabion stairs as required.

gabion cement mortar detail