Bulkheads and Seawalls are the foundation of most marine improvement projects.
A bulkhead or seawall are essentially two terms that are used interchangeably to describe the same structure. By definition this is a soil retaining structure of timber, steel, vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum, or reinforced concrete, used for shore protection and in harbor works.
A bulkhead or seawall holds back earth at water’s edge on beaches, rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, retention ponds, and so forth, ultimately preventing erosion. The structure is engineered with various systems to support the wall including a specific amount of penetration of the material into the ground for support, often times a tie-back system that secures the top of the wall to a deadman system to keep the wall from tipping over, and a capping or top surface to the wall that serves both structurally and aesthetically such as wood, concrete, or aluminum.
Choosing the correct type of material to construct your wall out of and then properly installing it is vital for the wall to function properly over the normal expected lifespan of the materials. Failure to match the proper materials with the proper design & installation methods is the most common cause of premature bulkhead failure and this happens quite often in Northeast Florida. Allow the FBMC team, who has installed numerous bulkheads of all types, to educate you on the proper building methods for your bulkhead. Crane Materials International, more commonly known as “CMI” gives further information regarding bulkheads and seawalls.