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Crucial Installations for the Longevity of Your Seawall

2 October 2018 by Frank Lynch

Owning a commercial waterfront property is a luxury that not many Australians have. So it is unsurprising that business owners with this type of property will want a well-constructed seawall to protect their investment from soil erosion, storm surges and so on. However, while your seawall is keeping your waterfront property in excellent condition, the structure itself becomes vulnerable to damage.

As a result, the seawall will deteriorate steadily and eventually lose its functional capacity, unless you engage in measures to restore its integrity. The following are a few crucial installations to employ for the longevity of your seawall and subsequently enhanced protection of your commercial waterfront property.

Installation of a wellpoint dewatering system

Wellpoint dewatering systems, as the name suggests, comprise of wellpoints that are installed adjacent to a trench. These wellpoints are all linked to a header that is subsequently affixed to a pump. A wellpoint dewatering system is crucial to the drainage of your seawall. It functions to alleviate the water pressure exerted on the seawall, which in turn mitigates unnecessary damage to the structure. If you notice that your seawall is becoming progressively weaker, it is judicious to have this dewatering system installed by your commercial marine contractors.

Installation of secondary anchors

While seawalls are not typically constructed with a second anchor in place, these devices can substantially increase the lifespan of the seawall. The secondary anchor usually functions to bolster the pre-existing anchor. However, if you do find that your primary anchor is failing or has lost its ability to secure the seawall, you should opt to have the secondary anchor installed. Secondary anchors comprise steel rods that have been encased in polyvinyl chloride. They are then embedded into a concrete block to boost the density of the anchor so that it can secure your seawall sufficiently.

Installation of replacement caps and tie back rods

When the caps and tie back rods begin to deteriorate, your seawall can lose its strength. As a result, it becomes more prone to damage from the waves, and you may end up having to construct a new seawall altogether. Fortunately, the replacement of the caps can be done with minimal agitation to your seawall. 

Furthermore, the installation of new caps not only bolsters the strength of the structure but they also improve the visual appeal of the seawall. Tie back rods, on the other hand, do require substantially more effort for their replacement. Nonetheless, it is worth investing in these services because the new rods will considerably enhance the stability of your seawall.

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