Banner - Wait Too Long to Repair Seawall

What Happens If You Wait Too Long to Repair Your Seawall?

Body - Wait Too Long to Repair SeawallLocated along the Texas Gulf Coast, Corpus Christie is well known for its boating, fishing, beautiful coastlines, local seafood, and all the best Texas hospitality. Unfortunately, from time to time, this coastal oasis is hit with major hurricanes and tropical storms. These occasional severe acts of nature often cause major structural damage to the area’s waterfront land retention systems (i.e., seawalls, bulkheads, and revetments).

For these very reasons, an organization owning a seawall in Corpus Christie recently sought the assistance of Seawall Repair Network. A member contractor performed a complete and thorough assessment. It was determined that previous remediation efforts (i.e., pumping concrete, slurry, and hydraulic cement behind the seawall) were insufficient to properly stabilize and preserve this waterfront structure.

Unfortunately, this structure sustained serious damage from Hurricane Hanna in 2020 (during which Corpus Christie in general suffered the loss of lives and over 1.3 billion dollars in property damage). This particular seawall (pictured in this blog post) was also a casualty and unfortunately had to be replaced instead of repaired. Replacement is generally a lot more costly than repair. The time to repair and strengthen your seawall is NOW, before the next major storm.

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Homeowner Association Seawall Repair in Palm City, Florida

Body - Homeowner Association Seawall RepairVery recently, a large homeowner association in Palm City, Florida contacted Seawall Repair Network regarding their 30-year battle with water damage to their 1.5 miles of seawall and canal shoreline. The association representative (a geologist and architect) has invested many years into saving the association’s seawall from failure.  The association has attempted repairs with cementitious flow, concrete bags, hydraulic cement, new cement footing, new filter fabric, etc.  None of those repair methods provided a durable solution, and the destabilization of their waterfront protection system only became worse.

After a few meetings with Seawall Repair Network’s tech services director Colt Hullander, the homeowner association decided to proceed with our proprietary seawall and bulkhead repair process. The Seawall Repair network member contractor in Palm City, Florida is Ram Jack Southeast. Tony Brown (the Ram Jack Southeast Project Manager) provided personal oversight for this very large project. The initial phase of the project was completed on time and within the project budget.

Upon completion, the homeowner association representative provided the following testimonial:  “Your responsiveness and knowledge of the physics behind the treatment have been very helpful for us. It was reassuring to have someone with your experience and knowledge of the injection repair process working on this project.”

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Challenges of Waterfront Property Ownership

Body - Challenges of Waterfront Property OwnershipSeawall & Bulkhead Failure

America’s coasts, lakes, and rivers are very challenging environments for shoreline property owners. This is also true when beaches, sand dunes, and water banks change the landscape as a result of constant wind, waves, tides, and other factors.

Waterfront properties are under constant assault from storms, flooding, and soil migration. Outdated repair materials and processes can make these situations worse by failing to stabilize and preserve the structures that are most critical for protecting waterfront property.

Seawall & Bulkhead Repair

Seawall Repair Network provides waterfront property owners with the most advanced repair solutions for seawall repair and shoreline stabilization. These repair materials and procedures protect the waterfront property by ensuring durable structural stabilization and preservation.

Banner - Bulkhead Seawall Repair in Buffalo, New York

Bulkhead / Seawall Repair in Buffalo, New York

Seawall Repair in Buffalo, New York: A bulkhead repair in New York case study. Bulkhead seawall repair profile.Waterfront property owners in Buffalo, New York face yearly challenges due to the sometimes turbulent nature of Lake Erie. This immense body of water is capable of producing wave activity similar to hurricane conditions.

One of the great challenges associated with Lake Erie is the build-up of hydrostatic pressure on the landward side of the seawall.

As mentioned in the previous blog post, What Hydro-Static Pressure Is and Why Seawall Owners Should Be Concerned

Hydrostatic Pressure is most commonly defined as the pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium at a given point within the fluid, due to the force of gravity. Hydrostatic pressure increases in proportion to depth measured from the surface because of the increasing weight of fluid exerting downward force from above.

Hydrostatic pressure builds exponentially when groundwater “stacks up” behind a seawall. Water (and all liquids in general) gravitates to level with the existing water table. Water will always follow the path of least resistance. This force causes movement within unstable soil.

The great news for waterfront property owners (who rely on their seawalls, bulkheads, and revetments to protect their property from nature’s forces of devastation) is that the Seawall Repair Network’s proprietary repair process protects these same structures from failure.

In the picture included with this article, the seawall on the left side has been protected with the Seawall Repair Network materials, equipment, and installation procedures. Unfortunately, the seawall in the background on the right side has not, and the structure is now destabilized and moving forward. If left unprotected, the seawall on the right side will fail.

Seawall Repair Network Member Mike Garnett of Garnett Seawall Solutions utilized the proprietary repair process to ensure that hydrostatic pressure would not cause the above bulkhead/seawall to move and fail.

The customer was highly satisfied with the work accomplished by Garnett Seawall Solutions and referred them to many other neighbors in the area.

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Repairing a Marina Seawall in Venice, Florida

Repairing a Marina Seawall. Venice Florida Seawall Repair. Venice Florida Bulkhead Repair. Depressions behind 655 linear feet of marina seawall, settling walkways, boardwalks, captain’s walks, voids in asphalt roadways, cracking concrete, sinking boat cranes, and premature failure of infrastructure are just a few things that the Crows Nest Marina in Venice, Florida reached out to us for help with.

Helicon (of Tampa Bay/Saint Petersburg, Florida) is a Seawall Repair Network preferred marine contractor. They were called to the marina and immediately performed a comprehensive seawall assessment and overall geotechnical evaluation. Helicon’s crew examined all of the damage caused by soil erosion, soil migration, soil sheering, and void formations related to the seawall.

The technicians identified the aging seawall as the root cause of most of the damage. Specifically, the seawall was allowing soil on the landward side to migrate into the water through defects in the structure. Subsequent soil instability on the landward side then caused damage to ancillary structures (i.e., roadways, concrete, boat cranes, and some of the buildings).

Repair Materials

The crew repaired the structure with Seawall Repair Network’s proprietary repair material SW-RP1. This high-strength resin is environmentally friendly and ideal for filling voids, stopping leaks, and stabilizing the supporting soil around seawalls.

Procedures

Helicon technicians executed Seawall Repair Network’s proprietary seawall stabilization process to restore strength and integrity to the structure.

Once the seawall was permanently stabilized and sealed to prevent further soil erosion, the Helicon team then addressed the remainder of the marina’s infrastructure repair needs (i.e., slab lifting, void filling under slabs, etc).

Results

In the end, the team at Helicon was able to provide permanent solutions that were critical for the preservation of the property. And they were able to provide this service at about 70% to 80% less than the cost of replacing the damaged structures.

Banner - Seawall Repair Network Featured on Alaska Business Spotlight

Seawall Repair Network Featured on Alaska Business Spotlight

Body - Seawall Repair Network Featured on Alaska Business SpotlightSeawall Repair Network’s National Program Manager Ken Braunlich and member contractor Winston Gilles of Ace Dragon were recently interviewed on Alaska Business spotlight. Read the transcript below and/or watch the video clip!

Read the Transcript

Ken Braunlich: Alchemy-Spetec is the parent company of the Seawall Repair Network. Alchemy-Spetec, for about a decade now, has really committed to being a leader in the realm of manufacturing polymers and resins that are safe for the environment.

Winston Gillies: We are the only Seawall Repair Network member contractor in the state of Alaska. We have sole rights to their products in this state. We’ve been looking at going to villages where we have to put our equipment in a small plane, a door is four by four. The beauty of this equipment I can use with these repair methods is that we can get in that door.

Ken: The process of treating the soil involves using, for the most part, half-inch in diameter rods, usually steel rods. We’re able to either manually or with the use of a hammer drill and drive rod adapter rapidly advance downward vertically these injection rods. And then we utilize a process called upward staging of the chemical, in which we release and introduce this material into the soil.

Winston: Our area of coverage is the entire state of Alaska. Anyone who needs help and we can make it financially feasible, we’ll be there. Visit our website Ace-Dragon.com. Our phone number is 907-398-6247. We’ll be happy to talk to you and see if we can resolve your issue.

Watch the Video

Repairing a Sheet Pile Seawall in Great Neck Long Island

Repairing a Sheet Pile Seawall in Great Neck Long Island

Repairing a Sheet Pile Seawall in Great Neck Long IslandAn engineer contacted Seawall Repair Network contractor LJS Waterproofing regarding a 260 linear foot sheet pile seawall with severely corroded steel. Obvious loss of soil and voids were noted.

Repair Materials

LJS used SW-RP1 seawall repair material on this job. 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.

Procedures

Voids were filled with dirt, rock, and sand before LJS Waterproofing, using the Seawall Repair Network proprietary installation process, drove pipes down every 5’ along the steel seawall. Using upward staging, LJS injected 10 gallons of SW-RP1 seawall repair material per pipe.

LJS Waterproofing, using grinders, removed barnacles, marine life, and metal corrosion. Pressure release valve holes were drilled using magnetic drill presses after which the first coat of primer was applied to prevent future rusting. A final coat of primer was then applied and the pressure release valves were installed.

Results

The voids around the seawall were filled, the leaks were sealed, the metal seawall surface was restored, and the pressure release system was successfully installed. After an efficient and thorough restoration job, the sheet pile seawall was once again functioning at full capacity.

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Environmentally Safe Seawall Repair

Body - Environmentally Safe Seawall RepairDo 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:

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SW-RP6: Soil Stabilization for Seawall Repair

SW-RP6 Seawall Repair Material: Soil Stabilization for Seawall, Eco-Friendly Seawall Repair, Durable Seawall Repair.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.

Banner - Seawall Repair Network Partners with Ram Jack

Seawall Repair Network Partners with Ram Jack

Body - Seawall Repair Network Partners with Ram JackSeawall 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.

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