Four Critical Warning Signs of Seawall Failure
Corrosion, tides, boat wakes, tropical storms, and hurricanes can all contribute to seawall damage and, ultimately, failure. Additional causes undermine the structure on the landward side. Rainfall creates more hydrostatic pressure than rising and falling tides. Every time it rains or the irrigation system runs (and every time the tide goes out) all of the groundwater above the waterline needs a place to go. Massive pressure can build up if that water is trapped on the landward side, putting immense stress on the structure. (Read more in the article, How Soil Instability Causes Seawall Damage.) That is a recipe for seawall failure that can be avoided if you know the signs.
Soil Depressions Near the Seawall
Soil depressions appear due to the loss of soil near the structure. Water is seeping through or underneath the seawall, weakening the structure and contributing to soil erosion. Strong surrounding soil is critical to a healthy seawall.
Rust Stains on the Surface
Rust stains are a sign of corroded rebar inside the concrete. Corroded rebar expands, cracking and destabilizing the structure.
Movement or Shifting of the Seawall
Hydrostatic pressure and/or lack of supporting soil around the structure can cause sections of the wall to move or shift over time.
Cracks in the Concrete
Cracks in the concrete can be caused by spalling due to rebar corrosion, or movement due to hydrostatic pressure and unstable soil.
Additional Signs of Seawall Failure
- Blocked or clogged weep holes (vents that are used for draining landward side water build-up to relieve hydrostatic pressure).
- Sand or soil deposits at the bottom of the wall panel joints on the water side. This indicates sediment seeping through the joints from the landward side.
- Damage to structures up to 100 feet away. Water infiltration on the landward side can expand a great distance when proper venting/drainage is not occurring. Look for sinkholes, depressions, and/or sunken concrete in the general area surrounding the seawall.
Seawall Repair Network’s Proprietary Repair Process
Let’s review the proprietary repair process used by Seawall Repair Network’s preferred marine contractors. First, crews perform deep injections of SW-RP1 repair material directly behind each panel joint in the seawall. This process fills all the voids while permeating and strengthening the soil. The permeated soil becomes as hard as crystalline bedrock. Next, a new pressure relief system is created by coring through weep hole channels and the layer of resin that has been installed behind them. These new channels extend through the permeated soil and into the soil on the landward side. Proprietary pressure release technology is then installed to regulate the release of hydrostatic pressure from any new water that may form behind the wall in the future. Because pressure release technology also stops landward-side soil from passing through the dewatering channels, it prevents new erosion and void formations. If needed, seawall preservation treatments can also be applied to the concrete. The support of high-strength SW-RP1 repair material, combined with the regulation of hydrostatic pressure and concrete preservation treatment protects the seawall from subsequent movement, damage, or failure.
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 to seawalls and bulkheads. These complicated structures are made up of a variety of essential components. If one component fails, the entire structure 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 buildup.
Every year, storms cause damage to countless waterfront barriers. When properly maintained, seawalls, bulkheads, and revetments provide critical protection to valuable lakeside and oceanfront property. There are many types of storms that can damage waterfront barriers.
Seawall Repair Network is proud to donate a portion of all proceeds to the Volunteer Florida Foundation’s Hurricane Ian relief efforts through the end of 2023. Join us in supporting our neighbors in Florida, who were affected by Hurricane Ian.
Waterfront property can be expensive to own and maintain. If you own a property on an open waterfront, you are likely dealing with the forces of nature eroding away at your land and the unreasonable complexity that comes with finding a trustworthy party to inspect and preserve your investment.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a revetment is defined as: “A facing of erosion resistant material such as stone or concrete that is designed to protect a scarp, embankment, or shoreline feature against erosion.” The key feature of a revetment structure is that it prevents erosion of landmass. This feature is critical for waterfront property owners and managers. One major problem associated with revetments, seawalls, and bulkheads is that these structures are often reliant on a filter layer that engineers specify in the design plans prior to construction. Often this filter layer (a.k.a. filter fabric or membrane) fails prematurely, and a massive loss of soil results in structural instability of the structure.
A homeowner on the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri reached out to Seawall Repair Network member contractor 
A homeowner on a private lake in Carrollton, Georgia contacted Seawall Repair Network looking for a way to save their failing seawall. A representative from member contractor 
A homeowner on Lake Oconee (located in Greensboro, Georgia) contacted the Seawall Repair Network looking for a solution to the soil loss issue occurring behind their seawall. A crew from member contractor 
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