Living along the South Florida coastline is a dream come true for many people, but such close proximity to the ocean doesn’t come without risk. The ocean's relentless waves can wreak havoc on your property, eroding the land and hurting anything you’ve built to hold back the water. One of the most popular and durable materials used in seawall construction is concrete. Besides being long lasting, there are several other benefits of using a concrete seawall versus other materials.
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Concrete has long been used to create structures such as foundations for buildings and homes, bridges, highway overpasses, and seawalls. The reason for this is quite simple, concrete structures have a long life expectancy.
In fact, a well maintained concrete seawall can be relied on for anywhere from 20 to 50 years. For most homeowners, that means only having to install a concrete seawall once during their lifetime.
Between the action of the waves, the corrosive nature of the salt water, wind, and rain, Florida's coast takes a beating. A protective barrier is necessary to protect the land and buildings from nature's fury.
A concrete seawall that's been reinforced with steel is one of the most durable seawalls available. A properly designed and installed concrete seawall will stand up to the endless battering without fail for years to come.
Every coast-side property is unique and the seawall that protects it should be as well. Not only does a seawall need to provide protection, but it also has to be aesthetically pleasing. These two important factors have an impact on the appearance and value of a waterside home.
With concrete, it's easy to custom design a seawall that enhances the overall appeal of any home while also adding substantially to the resale value.
Because concrete is such a durable, long-lasting material, it requires very little by way of maintenance to remain strong. Regular inspections, however, are a necessity since concrete is a porous material and sea water can seep into it, causing rust to form on the inner steel supports.
However, repairs are generally minimal, and are usually confined to repairing cracks that form in the surface, or where sections come together.
At Duncan Seawall, Dock &Boat Lift, LLC, we highly recommend precast concrete seawalls to our customers. Why? In a word: quality.
All of our concrete seawalls are manufactured by a leading concrete fabricator to meet the exacting standards of our engineers. After the concrete panels are in place, the seawall is supported with a steel reinforced concrete cap and tieback system. This ensures that the seawall is stable and able to withstand whatever the ocean can throw at it.
The short answer is, no, not really. First of all, it takes a great deal of planning to design a seawall that will provide adequate protection and that can stand up to the environment. Typically, that means consulting with an engineer who will inspect the property and make recommendations based on their findings.
Plus, the concrete slabs of a seawall are very large, heavy, and difficult to maneuver. In order to properly install the concrete panels, it's necessary to use heavy-duty equipment operated by a skilled technician.
Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift, LLC is Southwest Florida's precast concrete seawall installation leader. We've helped many homeowners and business owners protect their investments and we look forward to helping you as well.
If you have any questions about concrete seawalls, give us a call at (941) 876-5265 or contact us online and we will be happy to assist you.