Environmentally Safe Seawall Repair

Admin June 8, 2022

Do not get caught off guard. It’s crucial to determine if the seawall contractor you are considering uses repair materials that meet NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 standards for contact with drinking water. But what exactly are NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 standards? Our goal here is to provide a concise and comprehensive overview of why NSF approval is important for any materials that may be used to repair your seawall.

What is the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation)?

The National Sanitation Foundation develops public health standards and certification programs that help protect the world’s food, water, consumer products, and environment. Their organization ensures that adequate testing is conducted for all products that will be used in or around drinking water from source to tap.

As mentioned in our blog post, SW-RP1 – Environmentally Friendly Seawall Repair Material…

An NSF compliance brief reads: “NSF, an independent, private, not-for-profit, third-party certification organization founded in 1944, has developed numerous health-based certification programs and consensus standards including those that relate to drinking water…The purpose of its certification program is to promote public health and enrich the quality of life. Through its Council of Public Health and Health Advisory Board, which includes EPA health professionals, it obtains guidance in developing and maintaining programs and standards. NSF also partners with code councils to ensure ongoing compliance.”

Each product must undergo rigorous testing to receive NSF approval. The manufacturer’s plant and quality assurance practices must pass a thorough inspection. Voluntarily undergoing such a rigorous certification process is invaluable to all parties involved.

The SDWA (Safe Water Drinking Act)

As mentioned in our blog post, SW-RP1 – Environmentally Friendly Seawall Repair Material…

The Safe Water Drinking Act (SDWA) gives the EPA latitude to impose criminal and civil penalties on industries that are not in compliance. In 2014 enforcement efforts policing clean water netted $163 million in penalties and fines, 155 combined years of incarceration for sentenced defendants, and $16 million in court-ordered project clean-ups.

Because so many of those defined contaminants are pertinent to even the most basic construction projects – turbidity from soil runoff, leaching from PVC pipes, potentially harmful and corrosive chemicals, and more – understanding and adhering to the law is particularly important for industry stakeholders. Contractors and engineers must be able to confidently choose vendors whose products and services won’t become the source or cause of drinking water contamination either in the short or long term.

Using products certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 (approved for contact with drinking water), ensures compliance with the SDWA.

Seawall Repair Network NSF Approved Solutions

Seawall Repair Network contractors use the following NSF-certified materials:

SW-RP6: Soil Stabilization for Seawall Repair

Admin June 7, 2022

SW-RP6 is ideal for stabilizing soil around ancillary structures during the seawall repair process. This comes into play with buildings, parking garages, roadways, and other infrastructure in close proximity to seawalls with soil loss and settlement. In cases like this, the Seawall Repair Network contractor essentially creates chemical grout columns to provide stability.

Eco-Friendly Seawall Repair Material

SW-RP6 is phthalate-free and NSF certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 (approved for contact with drinking water).

Low Viscosity, Durable Seawall Repair Material

SW-RP6 is a single-component, moisture-activated, hydrophobic, extra-low viscosity soil grout. Once it permeates the soil and cures, the resulting mass is incredibly strong.

Watch the demo video below, in which SW-RP6 is mixed, permeates sand, and cures to a strength greater than crystalline bedrock.

Seawall Repair Network Partners with Ram Jack

Admin May 26, 2022

Seawall Repair Network is proud to partner with Ram Jack’s chain of infrastructure and seawall repair contractors. With more than 50 locations across the United States, Ram Jack adds a significant geographic footprint to the network. Ram Jack has been in business for over 50 years and offers time-tested expertise to property owners/managers and engineers alike.

Ram Jack on Customer Service

Our mission is to be recognized for lasting solutions and exceeding customer expectations – nothing more, nothing less. Providing quality first, safety always, complete integrity and delivery that is on time is a part of our core values. Read more from Ram Jack seawall and foundation repair…

Ram Jack on Engineer Resources

Engineers around the world have found Ram Jack’s methods and engineering offer versatility and reliability. Ram Jack has a staff of engineers who are dedicated to answering questions and providing assistance. Read more from Ram Jack seawall and foundation repair…

Ram Jack Joins a Nationwide Network

Seawall Repair Network is the only national, all-inclusive seawall repair and preservation network of highly trained and qualified Preferred Marine Contractors. 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.

Repairing a Wooden Seawall in Florida

Admin May 20, 2022

Residents next to Lake Padgett in Land o’ Lakes, Florida contacted Seawall Repair Network contractor Helicon regarding 650 feet of leaking wooden seawall. Depressions were appearing in the land behind the wall, holes were appearing in the wall, and soil was leaking through the wall into the lake. Initially, the residents just had the soil voids and depressions filled with more dirt. This solution didn’t last long, however, as the new soil eventually leaked through the wall and the depressions reappeared. If left untreated, this problem would have continued to erode the lakeside property and would have eventually become a threat to houses and structures near the water.

Repair Materials

The crew applied the Seawall Repair Network’s proprietary SW-RP1 repair material to stabilize the surrounding soil, fill the holes and voids, and stop the leaks.

Procedures

Helicon used Seawall Repair Network’s custom repair process and installation techniques to completely stabilize the wooden seawall and preserve its components. A barrier was installed to prevent the environmentally-friendly foam from floating out into the lake and all excess material was removed.

Results

The entire 650-foot stretch of failing seawall was stabilized and sealed for the long term with high-strength SW-RP1 seawall repair material.

Video from the Job Site

SW-RP1 – Rock Solid Seawall Repair Material

Admin April 22, 2022

Rock Solid Seawall Repair

In the blog post What is SW-RP1? Why Do You Need It for Seawall & Bulkhead Repair?, we posted the following info about SW-RP1…

The hallmark of the Seawall Repair Network is our proprietary SW-RP1 repair permeation solution. Simply put – it is the best product on the market for seawall soil stabilization.

SW-RP1 is essential for sealing your seawall’s panel cracks, filling voids and defects behind your seawall, and perhaps most importantly, proving soil stabilization for your seawall.
SW-RP1 transforms the surrounding soil of your seawall into a water-tight impermeable mass, which blocks the transference of energy and lateral stress caused by the typical build-up of hydrostatic pressure behind the seawall.
SW-RP1 is environmentally safe and is certified to NSF (61-5) standards for contact with drinking water.

Repairing a Seawall with High-Strength Material

One detail that cannot be emphasized enough, however, is the strength of the material. Once SW-RP1 cures, it is stronger than crystalline bedrock. Watch the brief video below for demonstrations of the injection process and the strength of SW-RP1 in cured form.

See SW-RP1 Bulkhead Sealer in Action

Banner-The-Disadvantages-of-Filling-Seawall-Voids-with-Cement

The Disadvantages of Filling Seawall Voids with Cement (or How to Repair a Seawall)

Admin April 19, 2022

Many Contractors Still Do Not Know How to Repair a Seawall

Before the advent of advanced seawall repair materials such as SW-RP1, contractors often attempted to fill voids behind seawalls with cement (which cures into concrete). Unfortunately, there are still inexperienced contractors out there who are using this outdated method.

The Disadvantages of Filling Seawall Voids with Cement

Concrete Puts Unnecessary Pressure on the Seawall and Surrounding Soil: Concrete weighs a lot. Filling a void behind a seawall with cement creates additional lateral load pressure on the seawall. The heavy concrete also further destabilizes the soil over time.

Concrete Displaces Supporting Soil and Breaks Apart Over Time: Unlike our SW-RP1 seawall repair material, cement does not permeate and stabilize loose soil surrounding a void. Instead, cement just displaces the surrounding soil. This leaves open the possibility of further erosion and void formations below and around the cured concrete. Once the surrounding soil begins to give way, the concrete will often break into pieces over time (see the featured photo in this blog post for an example).

Concrete in the Soil Impedes Advanced Seawall Repair Methods: Since void-fill with cement is not a lasting solution for seawall-supporting soil, proper repair with advanced materials such as SW-RP1 will eventually be required. Unfortunately, concrete in the soil surrounding the wall just makes this process slower and more expensive. Concrete in the soil obstructs advanced seawall stabilization methods such as installing repair material via injection rods and installing an anchoring system. In a case like this, additional time and resources would be required to excavate and dump the old void-fill concrete, then replace it with fresh fill soil before beginning the repair process.

So consider yourself warned if a contractor proposes filling the voids behind your seawall with cement. What once (long ago) may have seemed like a common-sense solution has been repeatedly proven to make the situation worse over time.

CE/PDH Accredited Presentation on Seawall Repair

Admin April 14, 2022

Advanced Repair Methods for Seawalls and Marine Bulkheads

The Seawall Stabilization and Preservation Through Permeation presentation explains and demonstrates how SW-RP1 injection resin and surface applied preservation solutions can work together to stabilize and preserve seawalls (and other waterfront barrier systems). The presentation covers the following topics:

The Causes of Seawall Failure
Stabilizing a Seawall
Preserving a Seawall
Stabilization & Preservation Through Permeation

One-Hour Presentation on Seawall Repair

This one-hour CE/PDH accredited presentation is ideal for engineers who are interested in learning about next-generation seawall repair methods. SW-RP1 seawall repair material is used to repair leaks, stabilize the surrounding soil, and prevent future erosion. Seawall preservation materials are then used to stop rebar corrosion, strengthen the concrete and protect the surface.

Schedule an Accredited Presentation on Repairing Seawalls and Bulkhead Walls

Click here and submit your info for a follow-up call on scheduling an accredited presentation.

Seawall & Bulkhead Concrete Preservation

Admin January 24, 2022

The Advantages of Seawall & Bulkhead Preservation

Concrete is chemically formed through a process known as hydration/curing. Concrete deteriorates chemically under the influence of soil, water, and air-born contaminants, weathering action, and corrosion of the embedded steel reinforcement. Seawall Repair Network offers a complete solution to prevent, restore, and protect steel reinforced concrete by modifying its chemical and physical properties. By restoring the properties of your seawall’s existing concrete (as opposed to replacing it) Seawall Repair Network’s preservation system provides cost and time savings, while limiting disturbance to surrounding structures and property. These materials are environmentally safe and are intended for use in marine environments.

SW-Prevent: Bulkhead Corrosion Inhibitor

SW-Prevent penetrates concrete and inhibits corrosion of steel inside the wall. This material penetrates as vapor to deposit on steel components such as rebar or mesh inside. Corrosion is prevented by creating an insulating layer on the surface of the steel.

SW-Power: Bulkhead Strength Builder

SW-Power is a penetrating material primarily designed to reduce concrete porosity, increase strength and render concrete surfaces resistant to air or water-born chemical damage. SW-Power provides additional protection by supporting ideal pH levels in the concrete to prevent rebar corrosion.

SW-Protect: Bulkhead Surface Protector

SW-Protect inhibits water penetration in concrete. Surfaces treated with SW-Protect will repel water, dirt, and grime – helping keep your concrete clean and free of mold, stains and discoloration. SW-Protect is not susceptible to UV degradation, providing a durable long-term protection to all porous surfaces.

All three of these Seawall Repair Network products feature technology from Surtreat.

Seawall Repair Network’s Patent-Pending Process

Admin November 23, 2021

Mother Nature’s oceans, lakes, and rivers can be so beautiful and calm. But over time, her natural forces will cause damage and eventual failure of your seawall. Seawalls are complicated structures made up of a variety of essential components. If one component fails, the entire seawall is at risk. In traditionally constructed seawalls, weep holes with a geotextile fabric filter allow water to flow from the landward side back into the ocean to prevent pressure build-up.

What Causes Seawall Failure?

What causes your seawall to fail? Over time, as the filter fabric fails, soil migration creates voids behind the wall, which causes structural instability. As the voids behind the wall fill up with water, hydrostatic pressure behind the seawall causes the wall panels to shift over time. The shifting panels damage the seawall cap, which holds the entire structure together. When this happens, failure of the seawall is imminent. If ignored, these problems only get worse.

Seawall Stabilization Repair Process

Water is RELENTLESS. But YOU can be too! Professionally trained contractors, armed with Seawall Repair Network’s patent-pending repair process, are ready to guide you to victory in this battle!

Watch the video below for a complete explanation of Seawall Repair Networks seawall stabilization process.

Seawall Repair in Long Beach, New York

Admin November 22, 2021

Hurricane Sandy was devastating for much of the Northeast United States. Many waterfront property owners are still recovering, and their seawalls, bulkheads, and revetments are still in need of repair and remediation. The need for innovation and effective solutions has never been greater.

Seawall Repair Network contractor LJS Waterproofing answered the call recently and deployed to Long Beach, New York to save a waterfront property from further damage. The Long Beach property was in danger due to an aging seawall that had begun to move, shift, and become damaged.

The crew applied the Seawall Repair Network’s patent-pending process, materials, and installation techniques to completely stabilize the seawall, and to preserve its concrete and steel components. Upon completion of the Long Beach, New York project the customer stated, “This turned out so much better than expected. I will certainly refer you to my neighbors and friends.”