Tag Archives: seawall repair

Seawall Installation & Maintenance

Seawall Construction for Different Shorelines

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We love getting on the water to fish, enjoy our boats, and maybe take a dive. But we often forget some of the most important parts of our waterfront experience. That is, how do we actually reach the water itself? Before we even start to think about our docks, we’ve got to take a look at the shoreline.

About Seawall Construction

Managing your shoreline isn’t all that glamorous, but it’s a necessary part of your overall waterfront experience. If you don’t have a solid shoreline in place, the rest of your property will start to suffer. To have your waterfront looking great for years to come, you often need a seawall to protect your land from erosion.

Seawalls are essentially retaining walls. When built properly, they work to keep your land steady, so your property doesn’t start to slide into the water. But they serve more than one purpose. Just as they keep your land out of the water, they also keep the water off of your land by limiting flooding. They also work to give you a reliable water depth, which we all need for boating. Lastly, seawalls give waterfront property a more finished look. They can be both practical and attractive.

The Different Seawall Types

Seawall construction can utilize a variety of different materials, including concrete or vinyl, but we tend to focus on two other seawall building options. For a true long-term solution, we’re advocates of steel sheet piling seawalls. If you need a permeable barrier, then we go with a rip rap seawall. Both have their benefits.

Steel sheet piling seawalls are great for shorelines that need extra stability. Because they’re so durable, they also work to create additional space for your waterfront. We often see steel sheet piling seawalls at marinas, commercial sites, and larger public areas and parks. It’s easy to turn the land behind the seawall into a picnic area or grassy spot to enjoy looking out on the water. These structures are more expensive, but they can also give you a better all-around value—even for private property. Plus, they tend to last longer than rip rap barriers.

That isn’t to say that a rip rap seawall is a bad choice. They just serve a different purpose. Rip rap is basically a rocky barrier that’s added in to reinforce a waterfront. Unlike a permanent seawall, these structures allow some water to reach the shoreline. It offers more gradual variations with the shoreline depth, so it’s the better option for local wildlife. They also have the benefit of creating a more natural look along the water.

Protecting Your Shoreline

Choosing the right seawall for your shoreline depends on the slope to the water, the activity on your waterfront, and the area’s natural elements. For example, a rip rap seawall might work just fine for a gentle slope, especially if the soil has a lot of clay and there aren’t strong currents. A steep slope, on the other hand, would probably require a steel sheet piling seawall. Shorelines with a lot of sand can also benefit from these stronger structures. The same goes for areas that have a lot of waterfront activity. Busy shorelines might need a permanent barrier for safety reasons.

Of course, the best way to determine what seawall type you should go with comes down to a consultation. Talking with your local waterfront experts will give you a better idea of what your site needs. And if your shoreline is starting to slide, or your current seawall construction is failing, the sooner you can talk with a crew, the better. You might be able to get by with a seawall repair instead of a total replacement.

If you’d like our team at Deaton’s Waterfront Services to weigh in on your options, feel free to send us a message. We have experience with both commercial seawalls and residential structures. Let us know if we can schedule a video call or in-person visit to discuss your needs. For any and all seawall questions, we’re here to help!

Dock Inspections, Uncategorized

5 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Lake House

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When thinking about buying a lake house, there are a few questions to keep in mind. You don’t want to make such a big decision without considering the most important features. Whether the lake house will become your second home, a rental, your permanent address, or just a place to escape on the weekends, thinking through these details can help you confirm that you’re making the right choice.

1. Is the driving distance reasonable?

You don’t want to commit to a property that’s inconveniently located. Be brutally honest with your calculations on the drive-time. That way, you can avoid the problem of loving a property, but hating the distance it takes to get there.

If you have a few different properties in mind, comparing and contrasting the driving time to each location might help you narrow down your options. Do you want a lake house that’s just an hour away, or can you make do with a trip of 2 or 3 hours? Also consider the traffic. Will you be leaving after work on a Friday? In that case, you might need to add another 30 minutes to your travel plans.

2. What lake house maintenance is required?

Being handy doesn’t necessarily mean you want to have to put in a lot of hard work for your new lake house. A close critique of what’s working and what needs repairing can help you decide whether you want to make an offer on the property.

For example, does the lake house have a boat house or floating dock that needs major dock repairs? If you aren’t sure, you might want to have a waterfront expert come out to do a review of the existing structures. Just like how a home inspector analyzes every corner of a house, a waterfront review can give you valuable information on the structural soundness of a dock or water feature. You don’t want to make the mistake of buying a property without these checks. Otherwise, you might have to foot the bill for an expense seawall repair or other renovation down the road.

3. Do you have access to other amenities?

In addition to counting the miles from the lake house to your permanent address, you’ll also need to study the distance from the lake house to other amenities. How much time are you willing to spend driving to the nearest gas station or grocery store?

Odds are, your full-time home is within close driving distance to everything you need. But your new lake house might have a more remote location. Depending on what your expectations are, you might not be ready to go with an address that’s too far “off the grid.” Think through all the requirements before you move forward with your decision. Do you need a hardware store around the corner? How about a movie theater? What you plan to do at the lake house might help you determine what amenities are necessary, and what are just unnecessary luxuries.

4. Are the lake’s regulations agreeable?

Some lakes that you’re looking at might have strict regulations as part of their homeowners’ association agreements. If you aren’t sure about these rules upfront, it’s important to double-check with the sellers so nothing gets missed.

Are you going to have the freedom you want at your lake house, or will you have to make some adjustments to your plans based on the HOA regulations? For example, are you going to be able to build your own floating dock close to your shoreline, or are there certain restrictions? Knowing about these potential roadblocks upfront can give you the clarity you need to feel confident in your new place.

5. Can you enjoy the lake house year-round?

While a lake house tends to be most enjoyable during the summer months, you’ll want to make sure your investment has year-round appeal. Assuming you can’t get on the water in the winter, will you have other reasons to utilize your property during the “off season?”

A lake house has to hold up to other measures that just being near the water. The inside of your home is equally important. That’s why you’ll want to do a careful walk-through all around the property. Can you see the potential to enjoy the space during the holiday season? Are the views nice enough that you’d still want to visit even if you can’t go out on your boat? Making sure you’ve got the total package will be a great benefit to you and your family. After all, you don’t want your new space to go to waste!

Dock Inspections, Seawall Installation & Maintenance

The Purpose of Seawalls and Waterfront Maintenance

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Seawalls work on a variety of waterfront issues. They help facilitate proper drainage, work to prevent flooding, and are a great line of defense against erosion.

The most common seawalls are made from either steel sheet piling or rip rap (or some combination of the two). Steel sheet seawalls provide a great durability and help establish a mixed-use area above the shoreline. Rip rap, on the other hand, offers a more natural look. These types of stone barriers create a gradual transition from the land to the waterline. Both types of seawalls can work great on residential or commercial property, but only if they’re properly maintained.

Waterfront Protection and Seawalls

Lots of property owners opt for a seawall because they like the finished look it gives their waterfront. In addition to helping maintain your own property, seawalls can also benefit the shoreline in a some other important ways:

  • Helps maintain proper water depth
  • Works to stabilize the shoreline
  • Adds an attractive transition area for property
  • Provides mixed habitat for local wildlife

Of the two seawall types, rip rap create more variations in shoreline depth. This helps animals like fish and turtles get the environment they need to thrive. But for marinas that experience a lot of boat traffic, steel sheet piling seawalls tend to be best. While these designs aren’t as helpful to the local wildlife, their durability provides an ideal solution for stabilizing waterfront areas that can’t utilize rip rap alone.

Common Problems with Seawalls

Whether you have a seawall on your residential property or the structure was built on a commercial lot or community park, the questions about maintenance are often the same. In general, seawall maintenance is relatively slim. Checking the structure a couple times per year (as well as after major storms) will help you keep an eye on how it’s holding up. Yet, because seawalls don’t usually require much upkeep, a lot of people will forget to inspect them.

Hands down, the number one thing working against your seawall is time. While the seawalls are put in place to prevent waterfront erosion, they can’t stop it entirely. It’s only natural for years of erosion  to disrupt your seawall’s stability. For rip rap seawalls, the most noticeable issues will be dislodged stones, or a general slumping of the barrier. The concerns with steel sheet seawalls can be more complex.

Some of the most common problems people will notice for steel seawalls include: leaks and cracks, corrosion, joint separation between panels, and outward bowing. Any sections that appear misshapen can be a cause for concern. It’s also a red flag if the land near your seawall is showing pits or sinkhole formations. This could be a sign that the wall may be breached or cracked in an area you can’t see. If that happens, heavy rainfall or other water may be drain through the wall itself and cause further damage.

It helps to realize that seawalls don’t last forever. A number of factors can affect your structure’s stability. Good seawall installation is of the utmost importance, but if you’re starting to see some wear and tear, it’s best to act sooner rather than later. Working with a quality waterfront contractor will help you assess the damage and complete repairs, as needed. The right crew should be able to repair seawall cracks or even re-install the seawall footer if the damage is serious enough.

Deaton’s Seawall Construction and Seawall Repair

A good seawall should be built to last, but every waterfront will experience its own set of changes over the years. If you think your seawall has seen better days, contact the experts at Deaton’s Waterfront Services to come take a closer look. We’re proud to handle seawall repairs, as well as new seawall construction services for Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee.

Please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (317) 747-4933 if you have any questions about our seawall services. We’d be happy to go over any concerns you have before scheduling an on-site visit. Seawalls should be an asset to your property. At Deaton’s Waterfront Services, we’ll help you keep them that way!