A seawall is a structure that extends along the shoreline to prevent coastal erosion. It protects nearby settlements from storm surge and waves.
These structures can degrade over time. Therefore, owners must make sure they are repaired before they become irreparable. This will save them money in the long run, and extend the useful service life of their property.
Repairing Cracks
A sea wall is a vital feature of any waterfront property. They prevent flooding and protect against erosion that can cause serious damage to homes and other buildings. They are made of a variety of materials, including concrete, steel and wooden structures.
A solid sea wall is typically built to last 30-50 years. Cracks can develop over time and can cause serious damage if they are not addressed.
Getting these repairs done in time can save homeowners a great deal of money and headache. But before you do any work to your sea wall, make sure it is inspected by a qualified professional.
Contact a local marine contractor immediately if there are cracks in the seawall. These cracks can quickly spread if they are not addressed.
Horizontal cracks in the seawall caps may indicate a more serious problem with your seawall structure. They are often caused due to hydrostatic pressure or the corrosive effect of water. The concrete and exposed reinforcing bar erodes, which eventually weakens and ultimately leads to a collapse.
Leaning slabs is another type of cracking found in a sea wall. Leaning slabs can be a sign of deadmen tie backs failing or the slabs themselves being weakened due to deterioration from saltwater and other factors.
In either case, repair of the seawall may be expensive. This is why it is important that you get the problem examined by an experienced licensed professional.
Tampa Dock and Seawall can help you with any questions you may have about your seawall or to get you started on the process of making repairs. Our team will be glad to assist.
We are a long-standing leader in the industry and can assist you with all of your seawall needs. We offer a wide selection of products to ensure that your seawall functions properly and protects your home.
Seawalls can be affected by the settling soil and rocks around the base. This type of damage can be especially damaging to ocean seawalls as it exposes the concrete beneath to the elements and can also impact the strength of concrete anchor rods and rebar.
Repairing Leaning Slabs
No matter how old your concrete seawall may be, or if it has suffered some damage recently, it will need to be repaired periodically to keep it strong and protect your home against storm surges and soil erosion. Keeping it in good shape can increase your property’s value and keep it from becoming a liability to your homeowner’s insurance policy.
If you notice a seawall that is leaning, this could be a sign of serious damage that must be repaired immediately. Leaning slabs can indicate structural problems with the wall.
There are several reasons that a sea wall may lean, and it’s important to know what causes this problem so you can be prepared for the repair process. If the front berm has fallen below the water line, your wall could lean. Another reason is if there are holes in the wall’s surface that allow water to penetrate through it.
Sometimes, the foundation may need to be leveled in order to restore the wall to its original position. This is done using a technique called “slabjacking,” which involves drilling access holes through the seawall and filling it with cement and other materials.
Some foundation companies offer a more permanent solution to this problem, using chemical grout, which is able to take on heavy loads and resist cracking. This is especially useful when seawalls have suffered severe erosion.
Alternating old concrete can be another option for seawall repair. A skilled concrete contractor will be able to help you determine if your walls can be replaced.
Tiebacks that evenly distribute weight throughout the seawall’s surface are important if your walls are susceptible to leaning. This will ensure that your walls are not overloaded and will keep them from buckling and causing damage to the rest of your structure.
A drainage system for the foundation is also essential. This will prevent a lot of the hydrostatic pressure from building up in the concrete.
If you’ve noticed any of these problems with your seawall, it’s time to call the concrete sea wall repair experts at Slab Fix. Our team of experts will inspect the wall and give you a free estimate.
Repairing Tiebacks
A sea wall is a crucial part of any property whose land touches the ocean. It keeps water and land separated and protects people, boats and vehicles from erosion-causing storms and tides.
Tie backs are long rods that anchor into the soil on the land side of a sea wall. If they are not properly anchored, or if the soil they’re anchored into is weak or unstable, the sea wall will suffer damage and collapse.
If your seawall is starting to show signs damage, it is important to call a professional to inspect the problem and determine the best way to fix it. Typically, there are two main ways to repair a sea wall: One involves excavating behind it and adding reinforcements; the other involves replacing the entire structure.
In many cases, the best solution is to have helical tie backs installed from the water side of the wall. This allows less disruption to your lawn, docks, and other outdoor features while ensuring that the repair is as fast and effective as possible.
Often, when tie backs are not repaired, they will begin to disintegrate over time, allowing water to enter the void they create. The metal can be disintegrated by saltwater over time. This deterioration can even make the tie backs break, leaving a hole in the seawall that is more likely to collapse than to heal over.
These erosion voids may also lead to rust stains on concrete seawall caps or steel rods that support it. These corrosion stains can not only be unsightly, but also pose a danger to anyone who walks along the wall.
If the corrosive saltwater from the seawall cap or tieback rods causes these stains, it’s important to have the repair work done as soon as possible so that the problem doesn’t worsen. This can often be done by injecting a closed cell foam into the voids.
This process required heavy equipment, excavation, weeks of permits and delays, and often involved heavy equipment. Saber Foundation Repair has a new way to repair sea walls. It is quick, efficient, and minimally disruptive to your property. It is very similar to the method used by professionals to fix landlocked retaining wall.
Repairing Deadmen
It’s a good idea for seawall owners to have a professional inspect it for potential problems. This will enable a qualified contractor design a customized solution that meets your budget and needs.
The best way to keep a coastal beachwall in tip-top condition is to install a concrete/steel piling “deadman” system. This will anchor the wall to its surroundings below. This is the most expensive way to keep your seawall from breaking away from the shoreline.
A deadman system can include anything from a few concrete anchors drilled into concrete to a fully automated concrete pole installation. Advanced systems use an intelligent computer system that calculates the best way to install deadmen. This ensures that there is minimal damage to surrounding properties and creates a safe working environment. A well-engineered and executed deadman system will ensure a durable and long-lasting coastal seawall.