The Top Causes Of Seawall Failure and What To Do

Cracks along the seawall cap, leaning seawall, and tiny holes near the seawall are all signs of potential seawall failure. Seawalls create barriers between water bodies and land to prevent flooding and erosion. If the seawall fails, the shoreline, property, and even lives are at risk.

The first step to prevent seawall failure is to understand the potential culprits. This way, you can proactively protect and maintain your seawall. This blog discusses the top causes of seawall failure and what to do about them.

Construction Defects

Considering the constant exposure to water and weather elements, seawall requires strong materials and construction techniques. If the builder used faulty materials or didn't follow construction standards, the seawall can barely withstand pressure from the ocean.

The foundation's depth and quality are essential for a seawall's durability. A wall that goes too deep is more susceptible to tidal movement and erosion, while a shallow foundation won't provide stability.

The trick to avoiding this problem is choosing a builder with enough experience building seawalls. A qualified builder will use quality materials and techniques to ensure that the construction of your seawall is up-to-date and durable.

Poor Maintenance

Poor maintenance can cause corrosion and decomposition of the seawall, which can reduce its strength over time.

Investing in regular seawall inspection and maintenance makes you better positioned to spot issues early, leading to cost-effective repairs.

Erosion and Wave Force

Certainly, seawalls are designed to withstand the harsh marine environment, but they can only take so much force. Disasters like storms and hurricanes generate powerful waves that, over time, will erode the seawall's concrete or other materials leading to its failure.

To tackle this issue, ensure proper drainage to prevent water from being trapped behind or near the seawall. The reason is that hydrostatic pressure is the major culprit behind seawall failure.

Besides wave force, soil erosion after a powerful tide can cause your seawall to fail. This issue happens when there is erosion on the inside of the seawall. Consequently, there will be decreased support from the land.

Soil erosion starts as small sinkholes and can get bigger with time. As such, monitoring the area near your seawall for any signs of erosion or sinkholes is important.

Salt Water Damage

If you live in a saltwater environment, pay attention to the health of your seawall. Exposure to salt water can weaken and corrode many materials used in construction, like concrete and steel.

However, saltwater deterioration is not an overnight thing; it is a slow process. Regular seawall inspections are essential to uncover any signs of corrosion and damage before they become irreversible.

Seismic Activities

If you live in a region prone to seismic activities such as earthquakes, your seawall may be prone to untimely failure. Although seawalls are designed to withstand high magnitude seismic activities, the force from these disasters can sometimes shake the wall and cause cracks, compromising the entire structural integrity of the wall.

Age

Seawall failure is sometimes inevitable due to age; even the best-constructed walls are no exception. Older walls are more prone to breakage as materials lose their strength with age. In such cases, seeking an experienced builder or engineer for advice on whether to either repair the wall or replace it is necessary.

Now that you understand the potential causes of seawall damage, you can take preventative steps to repair and maintain your seawall. Most importantly, hire a trustworthy marine construction builder for a quality service guarantee.

You can trust us at Edgewater Marine Construction, Inc., for all your marine construction needs. We have extensive experience, which has helped us acquire the necessary skills for building durable seawalls. We will also advise you on how to care for and maintain your wall. Contact us today for a consultation.