Seawalls
“PMC Offers its customers full turnkey marine services”
From Concept to Completion!
Seawalls
Residential and commercial property owners who own waterfront properties face different challenges when protecting their property from erosion, flooding, and wave action. Waterfront property owners must have some protection in place to safeguard the shoreline or, over time, risk losing valuable land and exposing structures to undermining. Seawalls have proven to provide the best level of protection to guard and protect waterfront properties. There are several types and options when considering a seawall. Often the selection is driven by the project location, soil density, city or county codes, or association restrictions. PMC offers the following types of seawalls.
Vinyl Sheet Piling
Vinyl sheet piling has gained wide acceptance after being approved and utilized by the Army Corp of Engineers. Vinyl sheet piling has been in use since the 1980s, and it has one of the most extended lifespans for the material. It is attractive and easy to maintain and provides the owner with an attractive solution for their seawall. Vinyl will not rust, deteriorate, or crack when exposed to saltwater, so it is great for coastal saltwater applications. In addition, vinyl seawall material is lighter, making it easier to transport and handle during installation. PMC can provide complete design, permitting, and construction for any size vinyl seawall project. Other benefits of vinyl seawalls offer include:
- Cost effective
- Does not rust
- UV protected against sun
- Rot resistant against water and saltwater
- Long warranties offered from manufactures
- Faster and easier to install
Wood
Pressure-treated lumber is the wood used for seawalls, which is cc grade and designed to be long lasting and offers a less expensive solution than vinyl and other composite types of material. Associations or ordinances can sometimes require wood seawalls for aesthetic reasons. It also provides environmental support to marine life as the wood slowly deteriorates over time. PMC can provide a complete engineered design and construction of any wood seawall project.
Concrete
Concrete seawalls offer waterfront property with a solid structural solution that will last for years. Concrete seawalls with reinforced steel rebar that encapsulate with 3000-4000 psi concrete. Concrete seawalls have an average 30-year lifespan when designed, engineered, and installed correctly and can withstand high impacts from wind and wave action to guard against erosion. When soil conditions are unstable, concrete seawalls offer the most reliable solution to protect waterfront property. PMC can provide the complete turnkey engineering, permitting, and installation of any concrete seawall project.
PMC will perform inspections on:
- Seawall Caps
- Seawalls (concrete, steel, vinyl, wood)
- Tiebacks
- Riprap Revetments
- Piling
Repair
Owning waterfront property requires constant maintenance to protect its value. Having a seawall provides protection from currents, wave action, and waves driven by winds. A seawall protects valuable property from damage that would otherwise be caused by erosion. Over time seawalls can become damaged, but if the damage is discovered early enough and repaired, it can save the property owner thousands of dollars by avoiding costly replacement. Often the tops of seawalls called the seawall cap can crack, and steel reinforcement can become exposed to saltwater and the elements. This causes the steel to corrode and expand, and this action leads to additional seawall cap damage. Most seawalls also require anchors called “Tiebacks,” which secure a seawall and prevent them from collapsing inward towards the water when water gets behind them and loosens the soil. Tiebacks should be periodically inspected and replaced when needed. Concrete should be repaired when cracks expand large enough, exposing the structural steel.
PMC offers complete repair and construction services for all types of seawalls, retaining walls, and riprap revetments.
If you have concerns about the condition of your seawall or retaining walls, contact PMC for a free inspection and review.