Source for gabion stone - essex - Looking for gabion stone

[zak99]

Hi, My first post although I have used this great site so many times over the years.

Anyone have any tips please on getting some stone suitable for Gabion facing, mesh is 75mm square, so stone size approx 100-200mm. I'm in Essex, are there any quarries etc. I should try. Seems like all the interesting stone is at the far ends of the country!! Best I found so far is Grey Granite for around £65 bag delivered. I estimate I need approx 2.5 m3.

rgds

Les

[GB_Groundworks]

are you just facing the front and rubble filling the back? we hand stack the front nice and neat then fill with soap stones/rip rap in the back for retaining walls etc, not sure down your way but most quarries will have an oversize pile etc, google and ring rd your area keep the delivery down

[Bob_A]

When you say £65 a bag delivered do you mean those bulk bags that hold around 800Kg?
If so then then £65 doesn't sound too bad when you consider a bag of sand will cost you around £35.

[zak99]

are you just facing the front and rubble filling the back? we hand stack the front nice and neat then fill with soap stones/rip rap in the back for retaining walls etc, not sure down your way but most quarries will have an oversize pile etc, google and ring rd your area keep the delivery down

Hi Giles, thank you, yes thats my plan, never done it before, the cages are quite small 1m long x 1m high x 0.5m wide. Its a small ditch retainer, the top 200mm or so will be visible from both sides. Have tried ringing around a bit but not much luck with local quarries yet. What do you mean by an oversize pile - stuff that failed grading?

When you say £65 a bag delivered do you mean those bulk bags that hold around 800Kg?

Hi Bob, yes, thats the ones, only thing is that price is for 4/5 bags (which I need), bit worried in case I need more, so it would be good if I could find something more local.

[GB_Groundworks]

most quarries will crush most of the quarried or blasted rock for the standard gradings 40mm and under etc but the way they do it is they screen material into different piles before crushing and mixing and oversize can be from anything like 60mm to football sized lumps etc. by those sizing youll need 1 bag per gabion wont you so its only 5 gabions?

[Pablo]

I'd recommend using a local quarry stone walls and gabions etc look out of place with stone from another part of the country. Another solution is to use broken sandstone or limestone flagstones laid on there flat like a contempory wall and to fill the rear with 3 inch clean quarry stone. I'd also advise paying a lot of attention to the internal ties so that the good face doesn't sag or pucker.

[zak99]

by those sizing youll need 1 bag per gabion wont you so its only 5 gabions?

Hi Giles, No more than that in varying sizes, ouch maybe I've underestimated, my thoughts were to face an area say 1m2 at 150mm thick = 0.15m3. A bag is about 0.5m3+, or have I got it all completely wrong!!??

rgds

Les

[zak99]

I'd recommend using a local quarry stone walls and gabions etc look out of place with stone from another part of the country. Another solution is to use broken sandstone or limestone flagstones laid on there flat like a contempory wall and to fill the rear with 3 inch clean quarry stone. I'd also advise paying a lot of attention to the internal ties so that the good face doesn't sag or pucker.

Thanks Pablo, just not sure what would be classed as local stone in Essex though. The idea of broken flagstones is interesting. Re the internal ties, is one tie in the centre of a 1m square x 0.5m thick cage enough?

rgds

Les