How long does a gabion wall last?
The gabion mesh is available with different coatings. The coating selection is made depending upon the environmental conditions (physical and chemical) the gabion is expected to encounter more severe environment. For example, a dry wall situation is likely to require a galvanized only coating, whereas a maritime environment or a structure requiring a longer design life would use a PVC coated galvanized wire unit. It is recommended that any structure in permanent contact with water (through immersion, proximity or spray) use PVC coated gabions. Channels often transport a bed-load of debris which will impact the gabion units and a PVC coated product is therefore appropriate. We have exhumed a number of old structures and tested the residual performance of the mesh. The results of these tests indicate a design life of the PVC coating can achieve 70 years when not exposed to severe environment.
