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The Seawall Chronicles: How the Roman Empire Influenced Modern Marine Construction

November 27, 2013 by gibson Leave a Comment

The rich history of seawall construction can be traced back thousands of years to the Eastern Roman Empire. The first seawalls are commonly attributed to the Roman Emperor Constantine I, also known as Constantine the Great, who ordered their construction in 448 A.D. The original marine barricades were built as part of a larger defense system designed to safeguard the city of Constantinople (present day Istanbul, Turkey) from attackers by land or sea. They were erected along the main land wall and bordered the city’s Propontis side (on the Sea of Marmara) as well as Khrysoun Keras (on the gulf of the Golden Horn).

Although few other details are known about those very first seaward walls, they undoubtedly provided the foundation for later maritime barricade endeavors. Following Constantinople’s expansion in 439 A.D., Theodosius II led reconstruction efforts to extend the original seawalls around the entire city. Though similar to the Theodosian Walls built in the 5th century, the renovated seawalls were more simplistic, consisting of a single, relatively low wall. This design was in keeping with the defense priorities during this period when the Roman navy reigned supreme.

During the Byzantine-Arab Wars, however, the naval threat escalated significantly due to the Arab conquests of Syria, Egypt, and Crete. These attacks compelled successive rulers to launch renovations of the seawalls, starting with Anastasios II in the early 8th century. Michael II followed his efforts with an extensive reconstruction initiative that focused on increasing the height, which was later completed by his successor, Theophilos.

Despite these fortification efforts, the Fourth Crusade’s successful siege of the city proved that the seawalls were still defensively inadequate; this costly defeat prompted Michael VIII Palaiologos to prioritize restorations that heightened and reinforced the seawalls when Constantinople was reclaimed in 1261.

Though the purpose of seawall construction has shifted from storming Venetian crusaders to just plain storms, protection remains an enduring theme. Today’s seawalls are invaluable structures that can help safeguard against catastrophic and costly damage caused by hurricanes and other storms. Like the ancient Romans, we continually strive to improve our seawall construction at Gibson Marine. We are committed to utilizing the most advanced technology and top-of-the-line materials to deliver consistently superior seawalls to our customers.

To learn more about our seawall construction services, please call (727) 942-3111 today!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: marine construction, seawall history, seawalls

Tierra Verde Marina Resort Pier Reconstruction

October 9, 2013 by gibson Leave a Comment

Gibson Marine Construction has recently completed demolition and reconstruction of the longest mooring pier at the Tierra Verde Marina Resort. The pier is approximately 10′ wide x 260′ long, constructed using the latest in environmentally friendly plastic grated decking combined with Trex Transcend composite decking. Utilizing these materials allows for sunlight to reach marine life and sea grasses below.

Last year, Gibson Marine completed one of the largest seawall projects in Pinellas County at the resort, and was awarded this recent pier contract based on the workmanship and quality of work from the 2012 seawall construction. Both projects were completed on time and within budget.

Gibson Marine Construction is a full-service marine contractor with over 30 years of experience building seawalls, docks and installing boat lifts. For more information, visit www.gibson-marine.com or call (727) 942-3111.

Tierra Verde Dock

Tierra Verde Marina Resort Dock Reconstruction

Tierra Verde Marina Seawall Reconstruction

Filed Under: Blog

Keeping Children Safe Near the Water

June 5, 2013 by gibson Leave a Comment

It’s a dream of many to have an ocean front home or to have a home with a pool. But that dream can quickly turn into a nightmare for parents of small children if they aren’t careful.

While summer pool parties or a day at the beach can be fun and relaxing, there is a grim reality that must be faced: water is a danger to small children. Drowning is the leading cause of children aged one to three and the second leading cause of death for children fifteen and under. Another alarming statistic? Only 34% of parents are aware of these figures.

Water doesn’t have to be deadly. In fact, it can be the opposite if parents have enough safety devices and precautionary measures in place. These precautions include:

  • Staying in arm’s reach of your child when near a pool or body of water and keeping your eye on your child at all times. If you have to leave the area, never leave your child in the pool. Even a shallow body of water can turn deadly.
  • Swim near a lifeguard when at a public body of water. Make sure public beaches and lakes have designated swimming areas and don’t wander away from them.
  • Use the correct safety device. This means life jackets approved by the Coast Guard. Unfortunately, arm floatation devices will not protect your child from drowning.
  • Lifeguards are important but don’t rely on them. Lifeguards have a lot of swimmers to watch and won’t necessarily notice if your child slips under the water. The responsibility of keeping your child safe ultimately lies with you.
  • Finally, if you own a home with a pool, be sure to install a child safety fence. Keep in mind that all child safety fences are not created equal. Look for ones that can’t easily be pushed down or in allowing a small child to squeeze through. Also look for fencing that won’t get hot in the sun and cause burns if touched.

Taking precautions after your child has gained unsupervised access to your pool or a swimming area is too late. These tips can keep your summer fun from turning into summer tragedy.

 

Filed Under: Blog

Dock Repair and Maintenance a Must Year Round

April 23, 2013 by gibson Leave a Comment

Waterfront property owners are afforded a luxury view and activities that not all homeowners get to enjoy. Many have a dock that houses a boat or watersports equipment which might leave some friends and family a little jealous! But, with those fun and playful components of your waterfront property, also comes proper and routine maintenance of your seawall or dock. We have covered seawall maintenance before, so let’s talk about appropriate upkeep for your dock.

Mostly due to weather and time, all docks need routine maintenance before repairs become too costly.  If your dock is not maintained regularly or properly, the posts of your dock (which are secured to the floor of the body of water) may erode and deteriorate. Other repairs might include: replacing un-treated lumber with water-treated lumber, sealing your wood, and repairing wooden platforms. If the damage is too extensive, it may just cost you a pretty penny.  Maintenance is key!

Minor dock conservation can be handled by the property owner like ensuring the cables are adjusted correctly, cleaning docks and ladders, and checking for storm damage. Also, to keep your docks looking like new simply use a power washer to remove dirt and grime.

We recommend that in order to reduce your chances of needing extensive repairs on your dock, call in a professional to routinely inspect the dock for common problems that can be easily repaired. The season is upon us to enjoy your waterfront paradise, don’t let an unsafe dock ruin your outdoor plans!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: clearwater, dock, dock repair and maintenance, marine construction, palm harbor, pinellas, st. petersburg

In the Aftermath Of a Storm, Check Your Shoreline Structures for Damage

July 5, 2012 by gibson Leave a Comment

Hurricanes and tropical storms – they’re inevitable, and unwelcome, visitors to those living along the Florida coast. Today, coastal residents almost always receive ample warning of a storm’s approach, which allows time to secure properties and structures as much as possible.

Despite the most careful preparation, however, damage still happens. Here are a few ideas on how to assess the condition of boat docks and seawalls at the shore of your property, once the storm has passed, and before you begin to clean up:

SAFETY FIRST – Don’t venture to the water’s edge until the weather has calmed down – completely. This means no stiff winds or driving rain, and you must absolutely avoid the water (or being outdoors at all) if lightning is flashing.

LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE – Take a general look around at the dock, the seawall, the ground behind the wall. What looks different? Has water crested over the seawall and compromised the landscaping? Is the dock leaning, or tipped, or damaged in some other way? Again, think ahead and act safely. Watch out for soft, mushy footing if you walk on the ground behind the seawall, and don’t test the strength of the dock by stepping onto it if it looks damaged.

READ YOUR POLICY, CALL YOUR AGENT – You may already know what’s covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy, or at least believe you know. Now is a good time to get it out and familiarize yourself with your coverage just the same. If there’s obvious damage and you’re going to file a claim, chances are you’ll be referring to the policy soon anyway. And call your agent before you try and fix or clean up anything. Often the insurance agent will tell you to…

TAKE PICTURES, AND LOTS OF THEM – If one picture is worth a thousand words, then a few dozen digital images are worth one thick written report. Grab your camera and take pictures of anything that looks compromised or broken or damaged, from every angle. If you can be certain your dock is safe to walk on, take pictures of the water side of your seawall if you think some harm may have come to it.

Only after following these tips should you think about beginning your post-storm cleanup. The storm has come and gone, and there’s no preventing them, but you can prevent injury and misunderstandings by moving forward diligently and wisely after calmer weather settles in.

Please call us at 727-942-3111 if you have any concerns about damage to your waterfront structures and property.

Filed Under: Blog

Landscape Lighting Offers Advantages For Your Home

June 14, 2012 by gibson Leave a Comment

With the installation of brick paver walks and patios, attractive plantings like trees, shrubs, or ornamental grasses, and a lush, well-kept lawn, you are giving your home some real curb appeal – whether you plan to attract a prospective buyer, or just entertain your friends and family.

So why let that pretty home exterior fade to black when the sun goes down? Consider adding some professionally designed landscape lighting. Not only will you augment the best features of your property’s look, you’ll also step up the safety and security of those who live and visit there.

The right exterior light fixtures, properly chosen and skilfully laid out and installed, will accent and highlight striking features around your house – trees, sculptures, architectural elements of the house itself – without splashing them with garish light. Lighting designers talk about the “moonlight effect” of exterior ambient lighting: natural-looking light no more intense than light from a full moon, and yet still enough to create attractive highlights and shadows where they are desirable.

Shadows, however, can conceal intruders, or mask tripping/falling hazards, and that’s where security and safety aspects of landscape lighting are important to mention. Motion sensor light fixtures (switched on when movement is sensed, whether it’s a human or animal) are normally installed on the house itself, and will flood an entry point with enough light to startle and drive away a potential burglar. Even ambient, moonlight-effect lighting from fixtures placed around the property provides illumination adequate to give an occupied look to your home, and discourages intruders looking for full darkness in which to operate.

Ground lighting along paths and stairs is essential for enjoying your home’s exterior on a seasonable evening. Falls are annually a leading cause of injuries sustained at home, according to the Home Safety Council. Light fixtures for stairs and walkways need to be carefully selected, laid out and installed; shadows must not hide uneven spots or trip hazards on a walkway, and because the fixtures are mounted low to the ground, the light from them must not point up, and shine too much light and glare at eye level.

Along with all of these benefits, landscape lighting can add resale value to your home. Ask your realtor for an estimate on the return you might expect to gain on investing in an exterior lighting project. Whatever the potential payback, landscape lighting can add a new dimension to your enjoyment of your home.

Filed Under: Blog

Springtime Landscaping Tips

April 19, 2012 by gibson Leave a Comment

The temperatures are climbing, trees and bushes are donning their new green spring coats, lawnmowers are firing up for the first time after a long winter. That can only mean one thing: Spring has sprung!

With the renewal that spring brings, following suit with your landscaping chores is, or at least should be, at the front of your mind. Here are a few landscaping tips to get the outside of your home ready to enjoy.

First stop is your perennial beds – good examples of these are your ornamental grasses, butterfly bushes and spireas. Depending on the plant, a good rule of thumb is to cut these back to between 2” and 8” from the soil.

Conversely, you’ll want to hold off pruning some of your flowering bushes like your lilacs, forsythia, magnolias or azaleas. Plan to prune these in late spring or early summer instead,

Moving on to your mulch…be sure to thicken up the mulch in your beds and around your trees to at least three inches but no more than four. This helps to maintain moisture, control weeds, prevents soil erosion, adds insulation over the roots and above all, beautifies your landscape. Be sure your mulch lies flat and isn’t lying against the trees or shrubs.  Also – mulch rings around your trees and shrubs will prevent damage from your mower and weed eater.

Don’t neglect your trees! Remove dead and dying branches, crossing branches and sprouts growing at the base of your trees.  Trees are very valuable assets to your landscape – not only because of the beauty they provide, but also because they act as wind breakers, provide shade and help to hold soil in place. Keep in mind that Arbor Day is April 28th – celebrate by planting a tree!

 

Filed Under: Blog

How to know when your seawall needs repair or replacement

January 25, 2012 by gibson Leave a Comment

If you live in a waterfront property, you know that the seawalls are the most important part of the property.

Your seawall provides you the most barrier but one that is most often ignored. When is the last time you looked at it? Have you had it examined by a professional to determine its current condition or the life expectancy of your wall? Are you financially prepared to repair the wall if and when it fails? Unlike a roof that leaks until you repair it – a seawall ages slowly and gives no warning that it is failing – it goes and when it does it can take the entire building right into the water.

A seawall that is properly maintained can last from 30-50 years, if not properly maintained you can expect to have to repair it in as little as 20 years. If you haven’t had your wall examined recently and you’re unsure if it is in need of repair, here are few ways to tell:

• Does your seawall cap have cracks or have any portions broken off?
• Does your seawall have any deteriorating slabs?
• Are your slabs leaning?
• Are there visible rust stains?
• Is the stress beam failing?
• Are you losing soil behind the wall?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time to call in a professional to repair or replace your seawall. Seawalls are not typically insurable, so having it properly maintained can help you avoid disastrous repair bills when it fails. Call us today for a free consultation…it will save you in the long run! (727) 942-3111 or email info@gibson-marine.com.

Filed Under: Blog

Seawall Choices: Aluminum vs. Vinyl

December 27, 2011 by gibson Leave a Comment

When choosing to protect your property, Gibson Marine confidently recommends the highest quality vinyl bulkhead materials to build or reconstruct your seawall. However, some commercial marinas or waterfront residences may require a seawall made of stone (riprap), concrete, or specialty treated wood. We can accommodate according to your specific needs.

Many contractors still prefer to use aluminum to construct seawalls and it may be confusing as to which is the better choice. We hope this helps:

Aluminum
Metallic components have been used in waterfront construction for centuries. Aluminum sheeting is prone to degradation from both natural and human induced sources. Natural corrosion is the degradation that occurs when a material is left on its own without the interference from a man-made system or scenario. Human induced corrosion can cause incredibly quick material loss and structural damage: galvanic reaction, stray current corrosion and interaction with high pH/organic soils.

Vinyl
Breakthroughs in the polymer industry allow for structural products made from strong, weatherable products to make it to the market. Vinyl sheeting has become a major construction component in the marine industry because of its ability to do what aluminum cannot: provide a strong wall with no degradation. The vinyl sheeting is resistant to changing soil conditions/pH and has no natural oxidation. Vinyl is also a material with low conductivity, so it will not act as a grounding element causing a galvanic reaction.

Our viewpoint: Aluminum is a strong material but has many issues being used in an environment as harsh as a marine setting. The sheeting is under attack from several possible areas, both natural and man-made. The nature of aluminum causes it to be a sacrificial material in many settings, with drastic material loss very visible. Possible protection of an aluminum system requires expensive upfront cost and a regular maintenance routine. Vinyl sheeting has become popular because it is both a structural product and can resist both natural and man-made attacks that would begin a corrosive situation in metallic sheets.

Filed Under: Blog

Going Green in Composite Decking

October 31, 2011 by gibson Leave a Comment

At Gibson Marine Construction, we pride ourselves in using only quality materials and when the product is eco-friendly, it’s a win-win for everyone. That’s why we’ve chosen MoistureShield Composite Decking materials to construct our decks and docks. For 20 years, they have been manufacturing composite wood building product using reclaimed wood fibers and recycled plastics. Through their proprietary Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies (AERT), they have won numerous awards in green initiatives and are considered pioneers in the industry.

All MoistureShield products are “are manufactured with a 50/50 blend of recycled wood fibers and plastics. As a company, A.E.R.T. is able to save 271,808,511 pounds of waste from entering the country’s landfills every year. That equals 36 football fields stacked 10 feet high!”

Owner Eric Swauger is thrilled to offer MoistureShield building materials. He says, “Being environmentally conscious is important to us and we are confident this product not only looks great, but helps conserve resources.”

For more information about MoistureShield’s environmentally friendly composite decking materials, or how we can go green with your dock or deck, give us a call at (727) 942-3111 or email info@gibson-marine.com.

Filed Under: Blog

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2131 Range Rd.
Clearwater, FL 33765
727-942-3111 | gibson-marine.com Florida Certified General Contractor: CGC1514396