Gabion Box & Mesh Buying Guide: Galvanized and PVC-Coated Gabions for Riverbank, Slope, and Retaining Walls
A gabion is a cage of hexagonal steel wire mesh filled with rock — one of the oldest and most forgiving erosion-control systems still in use. Because the stone fills flex with settlement and water flows through, gabions protect riverbanks, stabilize slopes, and build retaining walls without cracking like rigid concrete. Specify the wrong wire gauge, coating, or mesh size and the cage tears, the zinc wears off in a few seasons, or the stones spill out.
This guide covers woven vs welded gabions, coatings, mesh sizes, standards, and the specs to put in your RFQ.
What Is a Gabion?
A gabion box is a rectangular cage assembled from double-twisted hexagonal wire mesh (the twist stops a broken wire from unraveling). Panels are wired together on site, filled with stone, and lidded. A gabion mattress is a flat version for channel lining; welded mesh gabions use square welded grid for landscape and architectural use.
Types Compared
| Type | Mesh | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Woven box gabion | Hex double-twist | Retaining walls, banks, scour |
| Gabion mattress | Hex double-twist, flat | Channel / bed protection |
| Welded gabion | Square welded | Landscape, planters, architecture |
Wire Coating: Galvanized, Galfan, PVC
| Coating | Protection | Life | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galvanized (Zn) | Good | Medium | Inland, mild |
| Galfan (Zn-5%Al) | Better | Long | General / wet |
| PVC-coated over Zn/Galfan | Best | Longest | Coastal, polluted water |
For water contact, specify Galfan or PVC-coated; plain galvanized is only for dry, mild sites.
Mesh Size, Wire Diameter, Box Size
- Mesh aperture: 60×80, 80×100, 100×120 mm (hex). Smaller mesh for smaller stone.
- Wire diameter: 2.0–4.0 mm; selvedge (edge) wire thicker (2.7–4.0 mm) for rigidity.
- Box size: 2×1×1 m, 3×1×1 m, 4×1×1 m typical; mattresses 4×2×0.17/0.3 m.
- Diaphragms: internal panels every ~1 m to keep stone distributed.
Standards Buyers Quote
- EN 10223-3 (Europe): hexagonal steel wire mesh for gabions.
- ASTM A975 (USA): double-twisted wire mesh gabions.
- EN 10346: base coated wire reference.
State the standard and coating class so the wire is tested for tensile and coating weight.
Common Applications
- Riverbank and shoreline erosion control.
- Road and railway cut-slope protection.
- Gravity retaining walls and abutments.
- Channel and culvert lining (mattresses).
- Landscape, parks, and architectural features (welded).
Installation Essentials
- Assemble cages on a level, compacted base.
- Fill with hard, durable stone (clean, 2–4× mesh size).
- Close lids and wire all seams; stagger boxes.
- For walls, step and batter the face; add geotextile if needed.
RFQ Checklist: What to Send Your Supplier
- Type: woven box / mattress / welded
- Standard: EN 10223-3 / ASTM A975
- Mesh aperture and wire diameter (mm)
- Coating: galvanized / Galfan / PVC (state g/m²)
- Box dimensions and diaphragm spacing
- Quantity (m² of mesh or number of boxes)
- Packing and destination port / Incoterm
FAQ
PVC or Galfan for a river? Galfan is economical and long-lived; PVC adds the longest life in polluted or salty water.
What stone size? Use stone roughly 2–4 times the mesh aperture so it cannot escape.
Woven or welded? Woven for structural/water work (flexes); welded for landscape where rigidity and looks matter.
Why Source Gabions from Yihang Metal
Yihang Metal supplies double-twisted hexagonal gabion boxes and mattresses, and welded landscape gabions, in galvanized, Galfan, and PVC-coated wire to EN 10223-3 / ASTM A975. We confirm mesh size, wire diameter, coating weight, and box dimensions against your drawing, provide test certificates, and pack flat for efficient container loading. Standard lines typically ship in 20–30 days.
Ready to specify your gabions? Send us the type, standard, mesh size, wire diameter, coating, and box dimensions, and we will confirm coating weight and lead time with a fixed-price quote and test certificate. Email [email protected] or use the quote form on this page — our team replies within one business day.