Seawalls & Flood Barriers
Over time seawalls require maintenance to address issues like cracking, erosion, and reinforcement corrosion. Properly designed seawalls not only safeguard waterfront properties but also play a vital role in preserving the natural landscape from the effects of rising water levels and climate change. As a long-term investment, seawalls help protect against costly damages, making them an essential component of coastal and waterfront infrastructure.
Have You Noticed These Signs of Damage
Around your seawall?
Water Levels Reaching Top of Seawall
When water levels reach the top of a seawall, the structure faces increased pressure from wave impact and potential overflow. This can lead to accelerated erosion behind the wall, weakening its foundation and stability. Regular monitoring and timely reinforcements are essential to protect the seawall from breaching and ensure shoreline defense.
Concrete Chipping or Breaking
Cracks in Seawalls and Seawall Caps
Leaning, Bowing or Settling Seawall
Leaning, bowing, or settling seawalls indicate foundational instability, often caused by soil erosion, water pressure, or insufficient support. These issues can lead to further structural failure if unaddressed. Reinforcing the wall with additional support or underpinning techniques and stabilizing the soil behind it are crucial to restore strength and prevent collapse.
Sink-Holes/Divots Near Seawall
Cracking or Shifting in Adjacent Patios, Pavers & Retaining Walls
Cracking or shifting in adjacent patios, pavers, and retaining walls often signals movement in the underlying soil, typically due to water intrusion or erosion near a seawall. These shifts can lead to structural instability in outdoor spaces. Prompt repairs, soil stabilization, and effective drainage solutions help maintain surface stability and longevity.
What causes the damage
to your seawall?
Seawall Elevation is Outdated
Outdated seawall elevation may fall short of current water levels, leaving structures vulnerable to overtopping during high tides or storms. This can lead to increased erosion, structural strain, and compromised shoreline protection. Raising seawall height to meet modern standards helps safeguard against flooding and adapts to rising sea levels.
Deterioration & Decay
Deterioration and decay of seawall materials occur over time due to constant exposure to water, salt, and weather conditions. As materials weaken, cracks, chipping, and structural weaknesses develop. Regular inspections and timely repairs with marine-grade materials can slow decay, extending the seawall’s lifespan and functionality.
Foundation Failure
Foundation failure in seawalls arises from unstable soils, erosion, or poor initial support, causing the structure to lean, crack, or shift. This instability undermines the seawall’s effectiveness and can lead to collapse. Strengthening the foundation through additional supports or underpinning is essential to restore stability and prevent further issues.
Erosion
Erosion around seawalls gradually removes the soil needed for support, often due to water seepage or wave impact. This weakens the seawall’s base and surrounding areas, increasing the risk of structural damage. Installing proper drainage systems and reinforcing affected areas can help combat erosion and preserve the seawall’s stability.
Hydrostatic Pressure
Hydrostatic pressure builds up behind a seawall when trapped water has no outlet, adding strain that can cause cracks, bulging, or failure. Installing weep holes or drainage systems relieves this pressure, allowing water to flow safely and reducing stress on the seawall, ultimately enhancing durability.
Poor Design & Construction
How Dock Experts repair the damage
to your seawall
Raising Seawall
Raising a seawall enhances its ability to protect against rising sea levels and extreme tides, safeguarding adjacent property from flooding. By increasing its height, the seawall becomes better equipped to handle wave action, preventing overtopping and erosion. This proactive measure is crucial for adapting to changing coastal conditions.
Seawall Repair or Replacement
Seawall repair or replacement addresses structural damage like cracks, corrosion, and erosion that compromise its effectiveness. Repairs with marine-grade materials restore stability, while full replacement may be necessary for severely weakened walls. These actions ensure continued protection against water intrusion and extend the seawall’s lifespan.
Install Seawall Drain System
Installing a seawall drain system helps relieve hydrostatic pressure buildup behind the wall by allowing trapped water to escape safely. Drainage systems, such as weep holes, prevent excessive pressure that can lead to cracking or wall failure, ultimately preserving the seawall’s integrity and maintaining soil stability.
Stabilize Seawalls & Supporting Soils
These are just a few of the ways that we help you repair and maintain your seawall. We are THE Dock Experts and can help with all seawall related issues.
Why you should care about proper
tidal protection
As tides rise and fall, your seawall faces constant pressure from changing water levels, wave action, and erosion. Without proper tidal protection, these natural forces can weaken the structure over time, leading to soil loss, cracks, and eventual failure. Rising sea levels and severe weather conditions only increase the risk, making proactive tidal protection essential for maintaining a strong and long-lasting seawall.
We provide specialized solutions to help property owners safeguard their seawalls against tidal damage. By addressing key vulnerabilities, we ensure your seawall remains stable and effective in preventing erosion and flooding.
Prevents Soil Erosion
Tidal currents and wave action constantly push water against the seawall, creating pressure that can pull soil away from the base. Over time, this erosion leads to voids forming behind the seawall, increasing the risk of sinkholes, settling, and instability. By implementing proper tidal protection measures, such as erosion control barriers and drainage systems, we help prevent soil loss and maintain the integrity of the land behind your seawall.
Reduces Hydrostatic Pressure
When water becomes trapped behind a seawall due to inadequate drainage, it increases hydrostatic pressure—one of the leading causes of seawall cracks and structural failure. As tides rise, water seeps into the ground behind the seawall, and without a way to drain properly, it pushes against the structure, causing stress fractures or bowing. Our advanced seawall drainage systems efficiently redirect trapped water, relieving pressure and prolonging the lifespan of your seawall.
Extends Seawall Lifespan
A seawall without tidal protection is far more susceptible to premature deterioration. Repeated exposure to rising tides and storm surges accelerates the breakdown of materials, making the structure more vulnerable to cracking, shifting, or collapsing. By reinforcing your seawall with protective solutions such as seawall cap strengthening, anchoring systems, and marine-grade coatings, we ensure it remains strong, stable, and effective for years to come.
How we protect Your seawall from
tidal damage
Seawall Drainage Systems
Proper drainage is essential for protecting seawalls from the damaging effects of trapped water. Our seawall drainage systems are designed to channel excess water away from the structure, reducing hydrostatic pressure and preventing stress fractures. By integrating weep holes, relief drains, and geo-filters, we ensure water flows freely without weakening the seawall’s foundation.
Reinforcement & Structural Upgrades
To withstand the constant force of tidal waves and rising sea levels, your seawall may require additional structural support. We offer reinforcement solutions such as tieback anchors, concrete overlays, and fiber-reinforced polymer coatings to strengthen the wall and extend its lifespan. Whether your seawall needs minor stabilization or a full-scale upgrade, we provide tailored solutions that enhance its durability.
Custom Tidal Protection Solutions
Every waterfront property faces unique challenges based on its location, water conditions, and seawall construction. That’s why we provide customized tidal protection solutions, ensuring that each seawall gets the specific reinforcements it needs. From seawall height adjustments to storm surge barriers, we design and implement strategies that protect against the long-term effects of tidal forces.
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Customer Testimonials
Fantastic work, got all the paperwork processed in a timely fashion at the city, Lighthouse Point. I’ve had bad experiences with other dock, Seawall and lift companies, Everyone at the Dock Experts was great. Andrew sold me on the lift, and everyone at the office, and work crew, moved the project along from start to finish in quick time. I highly recommend them. I’m having them do sock at a rental property I own, and will recommend them to friends.
These guys are the best! If you want a company that gets it done right, answers the phone, and follows through- look no further. Tom has been great to work with and the crew including Bob, Gary, Tony, and Chad are true professionals. After completing a new dock and lift a year ago- we are still extremely happy we chose to work with them. And yes -they do still answer the phone when I have called!
We highly recommend Dock Experts! Our seawall completely collapsed. The owners Andrew and Tom and their staff were always available to answer our questions or concerns. Our project was challenging in many ways and they figured out how to attack the issues. They are perfectionists. Our extensive project was finished in a timely manner. No mess left behind. We wish we could personally name all the hard workers that gave us our home back. Too many to remember , but Bob, Tom, Mike and his son Brett all amazing and Jennifer in the office. Many thanks. The pictures below say it all!
Had problem with cables on a 4 poster lift. Called Andrew for service a d got immediate response. Had service team on site the next day. Chad Gorman and his helper did a outstanding job of keeping me informed of needs and progress. Did a outstanding job of diagnosis and repair of the problem. Also took care of some minor repairs and adjustments to get the lift to 100%. Could not have been more satisfied.