Why Do Seawalls Fail? Causes and Repair
Seawalls are designed as a barrier between water and land to protect structures from water damages and the soil from erosion. Many seawalls, residential and commercial, are constructed to similar specifications and can be maintained and repaired with hydro active hydrophobic polyurethane foams and dual component polyurethane void fill and lifting foams. When you live on waterfront property, you want to make sure you don’t lose any of your land to erosion. Seawalls are designed to protect your land and prevent soil erosion. Unfortunately, over time seawalls can crack and become permeable to water. The seawall footing may shift due to loss of supportive substrate. Understanding why seawall failure occurs and taking timely steps to prevent further damages is important to protect your land and any structures that may be impacted by ingress of water.
Why Do Seawalls Fail?
Common Causes & Warning Signs of Seawall Failure
- Poor maintenance | Lack of Inspection to Detect Problems Early
- Harsh Nature of Marine and Lake Environments – Natural Disasters
- Cracks and expanding cracks in Seawall
- Rust & Corroded Rebar Expansion
- Obstructed Drains
- Erosion, Washout, Sinkholes Behind Seawall Due to Breaches in Structure
- Footing Shift Due to Erosion
Regular Inspection & Maintenance to Prevent Damages
You can extend your seawall’s useful life by performing regular inspections and timely maintenance.
When a drain or weep hole is clogged, water behind the seawall cannot drain, causing stress and damage as water builds up and loosens the dirt behind. Seawalls can crack due to increased pressure and rising water tables behind the structure. The water will likely find new and unwanted flow passages causing soil erosion.
Soil Erosion as Result of Accumulated Damages
Water migrating through cracks, voids and defects will inevitably weaken the seawall. As the damages and erosion progress, the footing of the seawall may lose support and shift. Soil erosion can form sinkholes which cause more water to collect, speeding up the process of decay and failure.
How to Repair Seawalls with Polyurethane Injection Grouts, Epoxy Resin, Packers & Injection Lances
What are the Repair and Injection Techniques Used For Seawall Repair?
Reinforcing, sealing, and repairing your seawall will significantly extend its useful life.
Crack injections with polyurethane, epoxy injections, permeation grouting, soil stabilization injection grouting and structural support grouting are the main techniques and repair procedures.
When to Use Epoxy Crack Injection for Seawall Repair
Epoxy injection resins are used for structural crack repairs in seawalls and marine piles. Cracks are often present in areas that are above the water table and should be preferably dry at the time of application.
