Gabions are designed to be used in permanent structures but their longevity is directly related to the environment they are installed in. This means life expectancy of gabion walls can be anywhere from 10 to 75 years depending on the install environment. Exposure to salt water, fresh water, highly acidic soils, industrial run-off etc. can all affect the longterm durability of the structure. Some styles of gabions interact with specific environmental conditions better than others. PVC coated gabions are generally used in acidic and freshwater environments. Polypropylene geogrid DuraGuard gabions and Custom Stainless Steel DuraWeld gabions are commonly used in salt water environments. In some applications such as shoreline protection the gabions will fill in with soil and allow vegetation to be established giving you a permanent structure that blends in to the surrounding environment.