A Seawall is a structure separating land and water areas. It is created and implemented to prevent coastal erosion and other damage due to wave action and storm surge, such as flooding, which is a constant threat in Florida due to the amount of hurricanes and daily thunder storms that occur in the area.
Given its importance, it is vital to maintain and stem the attack in consistently receives. Salt corrosion, tidal action, currents, boat wakes, storm surges and sometimes hurricanes all collude to provide a consistent beating on the seawall. Believe it or not, many of the forces also come from the side of the wall facing away from the water. Each time it rains or the irrigation system runs, and every time the tide goes out; all of the ground water above the waterline needs a place to vent or equalize. Intense pressure can build up if that water is locked in, making it impossible for it to drain into the sea or storm water system. This can spell impending doom for your Seawall and can easily be avoided with proper surveillance. Let’s take a look at some of the external signs a seawall is in need of repair:
Sign 1: Small Sink Holes appearing near the wall itself
Evidence of Soil Erosion can become readily noticeable in landscaped areas. Typically, the small sinkhole will start to form at the inside corner of the seawall and depending on the style of grass, it may be very obvious or hidden thoroughly by the length and texture of the grass, so it is important to check as in depth as possible.
Sign 2: Voids Near End of the Wall
Many property owners will ignore or overlook the warning signs until something more devastating occurs, but it would behoove them to observe any obvious settling soil issues and attend to them immediately.
Sign 3: Cracking Concrete
