Please note: Since this article was originally published, Alchemy-Spetec has added a new division: Seawall Repair Network, the only national, all-inclusive seawall repair, and preservation network. Preferred marine contractors are carefully selected for their experience, integrity, reputation, and customer service record. Each contractor has been thoroughly trained in Seawall Repair Network product and solution application methods.
The Problem
As we noted in an earlier post, Leaking Seawalls: Soil Loss Prevention & Remediation, the underlying cause of seawall deterioration is as follows:
As tidal flows rise and fall, water pushes its way in through cracks, joints, and defects in seawalls. The water pushes in on incoming tides and flows out on outgoing tides. As the water flows out, it carries sand and soil with it which causes undermining of the structure, voids to form, and deteriorates the structural integrity of the seawall. This cycle is exacerbated during periods of heavy rain which continue the outflow of soil.
The Evidence
In landscaped areas, evidence of soil erosion is often quite obvious. You’ll often see small sinkholes developing near the seawall. Some types of grass creep and will actually keep even larger sinkholes from being seen. So it’s important to inspect closely underneath tall grass, shrubbery, etc. Other clues can include cracks in concrete slabs near the seawall and piles of sand building up at the base of the seawall on the water side (if you get a view of that area).
If you’re still not sure, you can use a soil probe to get a feel for the condition of the soil near the seawall.
Seawall Repair Options
When it comes to repairing a seawall, you have three main options:
Excavation
You can tear out the wall (or part of the wall) and replace it. This approach has a few daunting downsides. Namely, it can be…
- Costly
- Time consuming
- Environmentally damaging
- Requires time consuming permits
Paying for a new seawall is no doubt going to cost more than any kind of repair. A complete rebuild will also take some time. Not to mention the inevitable mess, a good portion of which is likely to end up in the water. Excavation also requires getting a permit, which can eat up a LOT of time.
Cement Grout
We still see contractors and property owners filling sinkholes and trying to plug seawall leaks concrete. This outdated approach has many disadvantages when compared to polyurethane repair. For example, it’s…
- Product, labor and machinery intensive
- Time consuming
- Prone to degradation
- Heavy (adds weight to seawall or bulkhead already under stress)
The amount of cement grout, labor and machinery required can be quite disruptive as well. Compared to the stealth, surgical approach of polyurethane repair, the property owner can end up with quite a mess on their property during a cement grout repair job. Needless to say, with all this extra material, machinery and labor – the whole process takes longer than your typical polyurethane repair. Cement grout is known to shrink and degrade over time as well. Imagine the frustration of paying for an expensive seawall repair, only to see it wash out over the next few weeks. Cement that doesn’t wash out can add weight to the structure and sink over time.
Polyurethane Resin
Polyurethane seawall repair, what we like to call the “Next Generation” approach, has a lot of advantages over both excavation and cement grout. These advantages directly address some of the weaknesses inherent in the other options. Polyurethane seawall repair material is…
- Efficiently installed, with minimal disruption from equipment, labor and messy materials
- Rapidly installed, with a quick return-to-use time
- Environmentally friendly
Compared to the typical disruption caused by excavation or cement grout repair, a polyurethane repair team will seem like a stealthy ninja strike force. Polyurethane installation equipment and procedures allow for a non-invasive, clean approach to repair that often allows the property owner to continue use during the process. In all cases, the property owner can resume activity on and around the structure within hours after a repair. As explained in our blog post Alchemy-Spetec's NSF Certification Spells Environmental Protection, most of our products have been rigorously tested not only for contact with typical recreational and commercial bodies of water, but even for contact with drinking water. So there is NO doubt about the environmentally friendly advantages of Alchemy-Spetec seawall repair materials.
In the next installment of this two part blog post series, we’ll take an in-depth look at the most common Alchemy-Spetec product used for seawall repair: AP Fill 700. We’ll also share an impressive case study on a seawall crisis at an upscale marina that was resolved by contractors using AP Fill 700. Read part two here...
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