Gabion & Stucco Walls

Easy styles you can build yourself

- By Brad Holden

You can add beautiful stone and stucco-look walls to your patio without being a skilled mason. Gabion baskets provide the structural support for stacking any type of stone. These steel baskets can be used as retaining walls, landscaping structure or decorative elements.

James Hardie Architectural Panels over simple framing make quick work of adding the look of stucco.

GABION BASKETS

1 PLOT GABION LOCATIONS

This step is important if you are setting several baskets in a line. You'll set stakes and masonry string to keep everything straight. We used single baskets in this installation, so alignment wasn't an issue.

2 ESTABLISH YOUR FOOTING

Level the area where your baskets will sit to keep the baskets from leaning. If you're placing the baskets on soft soil or clay, you'll need to dig down about 1 ft. and add a gravel base, or footing, to prevent the baskets from sinking. Our site in New Mexico was firm, so it needed only leveling and tamping.

3 ASSEMBLE THE BASKETS

Your gabion baskets may come partially assembled, with the sides already connected to the basket bottoms. You fold up the sides and secure them with special wire or easy-to-use spiral binders. Close the top to ensure the basket is level, but don't secure the top in place yet.

4 FILL THE BASKETS