If you own a waterfront home, seawalls are a vital part of your property. Seawalls protect your coastal property from erosion and flooding. Over time, exposure to water can cause your seawalls to deteriorate. When that happens, seawalls lose structural integrity. Unfortunately, loss of structural integrity puts your home at risk of water damage. That's why seawall maintenance is so important to your waterfront property.
Maintenance helps protect the strength and stability of your seawalls. If you're not sure how to tell when your seawalls need repairs, read the list below. If you see any of the issues listed here, schedule seawall maintenance and repairs right away. These are signs that your seawalls are failing.
There is Active Soil Erosion
Seawalls are designed to stop soil erosion and protect surrounding property. When soil erodes around seawalls, the structure may not be strong enough to hold back the water. Once water seeps under the seawalls, you could see signs of erosion. If you notice soil erosion around your seawalls, it could be a sign of structure failure. Timely repairs will stop erosion and improve the stability of your seawalls.
There is Fresh Vegetation
When functioning right, there shouldn't be any moisture around the base of your seawalls. Seawalls are built to keep moisture away from your property. When seawalls deteriorate, water can seep under the base of the wall. When that happens, there's enough moisture for vegetation growth. If you see new vegetation growth on or near your seawall, give a local seawall repair comapny a call right away. Vegetation is a sign that the seawalls are no longer holding back the water.
There are Signs of Tilting
Your seawalls should stand upright and straight. Any type of leaning or tilting can be signs of deterioration. Unfortunately, once your seawalls begin to tilt or lean, they could be close to total collapse. That's especially true if you don't call for repairs right away. If your seawalls show any signs of shifting, call for repairs as soon as you can. With speedy repairs, you can preserve the structural integrity of your seawalls.
There are New Sinkholes
If you're worried about your seawalls, take a look at the soil. If the seawalls haven't been compromised, the soil should be level. If you see sinkholes or depressions, water is seeping under the seawalls. Those sinkholes and depressions are signs that the soil is saturated with water. If you wait too long for repairs, your seawalls could collapse.
There are Visible Cracks
Cracks pose a serious threat to your seawalls, and are among the most obvious signs of seawall damage. That's why you should always be on the lookout for new cracks in the seawalls. Cracks don't need to be big to pose a threat. In fact, even small cracks can cause extensive damage to your seawalls. If you find cracks in your seawalls, call for immediate repairs.
There are Water Leaks
If you can see moisture seeping through your seawalls, don't wait for repairs. Any type of moisture coming through the seawalls should be addressed as soon as possible. This is especially true if you can see active leaks in the surface of your seawalls.
Water can obviously stem from cracks and gaps. But, water can also get slowly absorbed through the seawall if the concrete is compromised. Once concrete deteriorates, it can no longer stop water from seeping through. Unfortunately, too much moisture will cause your seawalls to collapse.
Protect your waterfront property. If you experience any of the issues described here, call Edgewater Marine Construction Inc today. We can repair your seawalls.
