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Seawall Failure Series – 3. Modern Solutions to Combat Seawall Failure

Admin October 3, 2023

Innovative solutions are needed more than ever to preserve the integrity of our seawalls as storms continue to intensify and batter our shorelines. These protective barriers demand advanced construction technologies and materials to combat the multifaceted threats they face. Modern solutions such as polymers, hydrostatic pressure control systems, seawall anchoring, and advanced shoreline preservation methods are revolutionizing the field of seawall maintenance and repair.

Polymers: The Future of Seawall Reinforcement

Among the most innovative materials finding their way into seawall reinforcement are polymers. These have several distinct advantages:

Sealing Cracks and Voids: Polymers can be injected into cracks and voids, where they expand to form a robust seal. This action not only closes gaps but also strengthens the structure by acting as an adhesive between fractured components.
Flexibility: Unlike more rigid materials, polymers offer a degree of flexibility, absorbing and dispersing wave energy efficiently, reducing the erosive impact.
Corrosion Resistance: These materials are inherently resistant to the corrosive properties of saltwater, thereby enhancing the seawall’s longevity.
Quick Curing: The quick-setting nature of polymers facilitates rapid repairs, a crucial attribute.

Hydrostatic Pressure Control Systems: Balancing the Pressures

One of the silent threats to seawalls is the hydrostatic pressure that builds up behind the wall. Modern solutions target this pressure imbalance:

Relief Weep Holes: Strategically placed holes along the seawall allow trapped water to escape, ensuring a balanced pressure differential across the wall.

Pressure Sensors: Advanced systems now integrate sensors that monitor hydrostatic pressures in real time, alerting to anomalies and potential threats.

Seawall Anchoring: Holding Firm Against Nature
Anchoring solutions offer an added layer of security to seawalls, ensuring they remain firmly rooted against wave and tidal forces:

Tieback Systems: These are rod-like structures that extend from the seawall into the stable ground layers behind it. Acting as tension-resisting elements, they prevent the seawall from tilting or collapsing outward.

Helical Anchors: Spiral-shaped rods that are screwed into the ground, helical anchors provide both tension and compression support to seawalls, accommodating the dynamic loads they face.

Gravity Anchors: These massive, weighty structures are buried behind seawalls, leveraging their sheer weight to counteract any forces trying to displace the wall.

Advanced Concrete Preservation Materials: Enhancing Durability

Concrete, a fundamental material in many seawalls, benefits immensely from modern preservation technologies:

Corrosion Inhibitors: These chemicals, when applied to seawalls, form a protective layer that shields the embedded steel reinforcements from saltwater-induced corrosion.

Crystalline Waterproofing: A revolutionary product that, when mixed with concrete, promotes the growth of insoluble crystals within the concrete’s pores. This seals the concrete, making it virtually impermeable to water.

Elastomeric Coatings: These flexible coatings, applied to the seawall’s surface, offer a dual benefit – they prevent water infiltration and accommodate the wall’s minor expansions and contractions without cracking.

As the challenges intensify, so does the need to innovate. This fusion of advanced materials, technological systems, and refined construction techniques offers a promising future for our seawalls – one where they stand resilient, durable, and adaptive to the ever-changing dynamics of coastal environments.

Seawall Concrete Preservation Materials

Admin May 16, 2023

Seawall Repair Network® contractors offer seawall stabilization and seawall preservation services. This article is a deep dive into the application and characteristics of the Seawall Repair Network® concrete preservation products that could be used to protect your seawall.

All concrete surfaces need to be pressure washed before the application of any of the following products.

SW-Power (Apply This Product First)

SW-Power is a multi-phase, inorganic, surface-applied corrosion inhibitor for use on hardened concrete. It is designed to protect reinforcing steel in concrete from corrosion on multiple fronts by penetrating the concrete surface and migrating to the steel. SW-Power forms a passivating film on the steel surface which provides protection from the corrosion process thereby extending the service life of the structure. SW-Power functions on multiple fronts to deliver superior performance. In addition to creating a passivating film on the surface of the embedded reinforcement SW-Power inhibits and prevents corrosion by increasing electrical resistance, complexing and removing water-soluble chlorides, re-alkalizing areas of carbonation, and stopping water penetration and diffusion. In addition, SW-Power has been shown to improve substrates strength. In some cases, SW-Power will purge impurities from the concrete surface. If this happens, the surface will need to be pressure washed again to remove the purged impurities before moving to the next step.

SW-Prevent (Apply Next, To Entire Surface or Just Hot Spots)

SW-Prevent is an organic, surface-applied anodic and cathodic site corrosion inhibitor for use on hardened concrete. It is designed to protect reinforcing steel in concrete from corrosion by penetrating the concrete surface and migrating, in liquid and vapor form, to the reinforcing steel. SW-Prevent forms a passivating film on the steel surface which provides protection from the corrosion process, thereby extending the service life of the structure. SW-Prevent is a vapor-phase corrosion inhibitor (VCI) for concrete. It penetrates easily as gas and affects steel properties at both the anodic and cathodic sites. Due to its high penetrative ability minimal or no surface removal is required for the SW-Prevent to be highly effective at the rebar depth. SW-Prevent is especially effective in areas of corrosion “hot spots” and instances of chloride-induced corrosion. For maximum corrosion protection SW-Prevent is recommended for use in combination with SW-Power.

SW-Protect (Apply This Product Last)

SW-Protect is a ready-to-use mixture of silane and siloxane water repellents that provide complete protection against water intrusion and further improve the performance of SW-power and SW-Prevent to resist water penetration and inhibit corrosion. SW-Prevent is a UV Resistant, cannot be peeled or scratched off, is VOC compliant, breathable, and easy to apply. Its performance has been laboratory tested and proven in the field to provide superior protection against atmospheric pollutants, waterborne pollutants, mold and mildew formation, etc.

Water is Relentless!

Admin December 12, 2022

Water is relentless. This is a key fact that all waterfront property owners should thoroughly understand. The price of enjoying an oceanfront, riverfront, or lakeside view from the comfort of your own home is the inherent risk that comes with living right next to a large body of water.

Four Critical Warning Signs of Seawall Failure

If your residence is protected by a seawall, you should familiarize yourself with the four critical warning signs of seawall failure:

Soil Depressions Near the Seawall
Rust Stains on the Surface
Movement or Shifting of the Seawall
Cracks in the Concrete

Excessive rainwater or floodwater build-up on the landward side of the wall (usually resulting from an inadequate or clogged weep hole system within the wall itself) will put untenable hydrostatic pressure on the structure. This pressure can cause parts of the wall to move and/or crack. Once the concrete is broken, landward side water will pull soil from your property through the wall and into the water on the other side, causing depressions or small sinkholes near the structure. In addition, steel rebar or mesh inside the wall is exposed to rust, resulting in rust stains appearing on the surface.

Four Options for Dealing with Seawall Damage

Once aware of these problems, you’re faced with four options:

Ignore the Problem and Do Nothing
(If you go this route, the problem gets worse – and more expensive to repair – over time.)
Replace the Seawall
(This option is typically a lot more expensive than a repair, requires heavy equipment, and involves messy disruptive excavation.)
Repair with Inferior Methods
(Inferior repair materials such as hydraulic cement, slurry, and sodium silicate do not provide a permanent, long-term solution.)
Repair with proven Seawall Repair Network^® methods.
(More on this in the next section.)

You can read more about these four options on the Seawall & Bulkhead Replacement vs Repair page. Needless to say, any of the four critical warning signs should warrant a checkup from a qualified seawall repair contractor. Most contractors offer free professional assessments and repair estimates.

Fortunately, there are many effective methods at your disposal in the battle against water’s relentless onslaught. Seawall Repair Network^® preferred marine contractors provide two major types of repair – seawall stabilization and seawall preservation.

Seawall Stabilization

Stabilizing a cracked or shifting seawall is accomplished via these four methods:

Stabilizing Soil and Sealing Leaks with SW-RP1
(SW-RP1 repair material is stronger than crystalline bedrock and safe for the environment.)
Installing a Hydrostatic Pressure Control System
(Creation of pressure release channels with filters that allow water to move back and forth, maintaining an equilibrium of hydrostatic pressure. These filters also prevent soil migration and void formation on the landward side.)
Repairing Cracks in Seawall Caps
(Repairing the seawall caps with high-strength epoxy.)
Installing a Seawall Anchoring System – If Necessary
(When needed, steel tie-backs are installed to prevent future movement of the seawall.)

You can learn more about these methods on the Seawall Stabilization page.

Seawall Preservation

Treating the concrete with preservation solutions provides additional long-term protection. Preservation is accomplished via these three methods:

Inhibiting Corrosion with SW-Prevent
(SW-Prevent creates an insulating layer on the surface of any steel rebar or mesh inside the wall.)
Strengthening Surface Concrete with SW-Power
(SW-Power renders concrete surfaces resistant to air or water-born chemical damage.)
Protecting Surface Concrete with SW-Protect
(SW-Protect inhibits water penetration.)

You can learn more about these methods on the Seawall Preservation page.

Water is Relentless – But YOU Can Be Too!

There is no reason to be intimidated by water’s relentless onslaught. All you have to do is memorize the four critical warning signs, and then enlist a qualified seawall repair contractor when needed. With the proper stabilization and preservation support, your seawall can safely protect that beautiful waterfront view for generations to come.

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.