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Seawall Failure Series: Part III

December 27, 2017 by gibson Leave a Comment

A Pressure Imbalance Can Lead to Seawall Failure

The third part of our blog series will focus on another common cause of seawall failure, a pressure imbalance. When an imbalance occurs it can affect the stability of a seawall and potentially lead to failure.

Building a Stable Seawall

Building a seawall to help protect your property from encroaching waters is very different from building a decorative landscape feature or putting up a fence. Building a seawall requires marine construction specialists with expert level knowledge and the extensive experience to ensure your seawall is constructed properly to keep you, your family, and your property safe.

The stability of a seawall is dependent upon some key variables such as wall height, wall length and strength, the building materials being used, and more. Each of these factors informs the seawall design and each can affect the seawall pressure balance, a key component of a properly built seawall.

Why is Having Balanced Pressure so Important?

Seawall construction experts must take into account the pressure of the water rushing against the seawall and the pressure exerted by the land and property being protected by the seawall. Excess pressure in one direction can lead to wall damage such as cracks, and over time can attribute to seawall failure. Keeping the pressure on a seawall balanced helps ensure the safety and long-term stability of the wall.

Common Causes of Seawall Pressure Imbalances

The most common causes of seawall pressure imbalances include:

  • Changes to Water Flow Patterns
  • Changes to Your Living Space
  • Landscaping Modifications

Identifying Seawall Pressure Imbalances

Keep reading. Part four of the seawall failure series focuses on the most common causes of seawall pressure imbalances and what you can do to prevent seawall failure due to a pressure imbalance.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: seawall failure

Seawall Failure Series: Part II

October 25, 2017 by gibson Leave a Comment

Naturally Occurring Environmental Conditions Can Cause Seawall Failure

Our first post in the series discussing common causes of seawall failure focused on the naturally occurring environmental condition referred to as normal wear and tear. To refresh your memory on normal wear and tear, please revisit the previous post.

Water Depth Changes and Severe Weather Can Be Harmful to the Strength and Stability of a Seawall

In this post, we will discuss two more conditions, natural to the environment, that can cause or contribute to seawall failure. These are:

  • Significant Changes in Water Depth Along a Seawall
  • Severe Weather Conditions, such as Tropical Storms or Hurricanes

Significant Changes in Water Depth Along a Seawall Could Result in Seawall Failure

Waterway lock systems, dams, canal dredging, and climate change are just a few ways the water flowing along or crashing against a seawall can be impacted, resulting in a significant change to water depth. Over the long term, significant water depth changes can result in seawall failure.

If water levels have increased since the seawall was constructed, the seawall may no longer be effective at preventing water surges from crashing over the seawall. This can lead to damage of nearby property. Even worse, if the seawall drainage system isn’t working properly, water can build up on the wrong side of the seawall, exerting pressure outwards, and potentially causing the seawall to fail.

If water levels have decreased after seawall construction wrapped, this could lead to an imbalance of the pressure against the seawall, potentially leading to seawall failure. Pressure imbalances will be discussed in more detail in the next section of this article: Changes to the Seawall Pressure Balance.

Keeping an eye out for things happening around you that might impact water levels along your seawall and tracking water levels regularly can help prevent seawall failure caused by a change in water depth.

Impact from Severe Weather Conditions Can Cause Damage to a Seawall

Florida residents have seen more than their fair share of severe weather conditions wreaking havoc throughout the state. Floridians know they need to stay in a state of constant preparedness, as you just never know when the next extreme weather event will come your way.

Being prepared to weather the storm takes more than shuttering windows, setting up the generator and stocking up on supplies. Those are all very important items on the checklist, but there is one more item that will help protect you, your family, and your property. Have your seawall inspected by a professional to ensure it is in the best working condition. A properly maintained seawall can often mean the difference between a water surge hitting the seawall or flooding the first floor of your house. It can also help people stay safe. In some cases, it can mean having a few additional seconds to scramble to higher ground.

Remember to call the seawall experts at Gibson Marine Construction to schedule a professional seawall inspection. They can help you with any seawall repairs you may need before the next severe storm begins its march toward Florida.

Learn More About Seawall Failure

Please stay tuned next month to get more great tips on how to spot the warning signs of seawall failure and how to potentially prevent future seawall failures. The next post will dive further into the topic of seawall failure, focusing on the seawall pressure balance and how an imbalance can lead to seawall failure.

And remember to reach out to the experts at Gibson Marine Construction for help inspecting your seawall and making repairs to seawall damage caused by naturally occurring environmental conditions. Staying on top of regular seawall maintenance and repairs today, can help delay or possibly prevent a future seawall failure.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: seawall, seawall failure

Seawall Failure Series: Part I

October 23, 2017 by gibson Leave a Comment

Why Do Some Seawalls Fail? How Can I Prevent a Seawall Failure?

If you live along the Florida coast or waterways, you know a seawall can be a vital part of protecting your waterfront property. And although most seawalls are custom builds, uniquely designed for your property, seawalls of all types still have a lot in common. This is especially true when discussing potential causes of seawall failure.

Learning a little about how seawalls work and understanding some of the main reasons why seawall failure occurs can help you identify potential problem areas and take the necessary steps to prevent seawall failure.

Common Causes of Seawall Failure

The most common causes of seawall failure fall under these three main categories:

  • Naturally Occurring Environmental Conditions
  • Changes to the Seawall Pressure Balance
  • Miscellaneous Seawall Issues, Often Attributed to Human Error

A series of posts will follow breaking down each category, providing further details. This first set of posts will take a closer look at what naturally occurring environmental conditions can affect a seawall and how they can contribute to seawall failure.

Naturally Occurring Environmental Conditions Can Contribute to or Cause Seawall Failure

According to Wikipedia, “the natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally,” meaning in this case, that it is caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind. The first of these naturally occurring environmental conditions that can lead to seawall failure can be described as normal wear and tear.

Normal Wear and Tear Can Cause a Seawall to Deteriorate Over Time

As is with most things in life, normal wear and tear refers to the expected decline in the condition of something due to normal everyday use. A seawall or components of a seawall are constantly being exposed to natural elements, such as wind, water and an especially corrosive element found in the ocean, saltwater. Over time, deterioration and corrosion of seawall components by natural elements can lead to seawall failure.

Repair Areas Where Normal Wear and Tear Occurred to Prevent Seawall Failure

Regular seawall inspections by seawall service professionals, such as the experts at Gibson Marine Construction, can identify areas in need of work. Having these areas repaired and/or replaced will help stave off the misfortune of the more costly damage and repairs typically associated with a complete seawall failure.

Learn About More Naturally Occurring Environmental Conditions That Can Cause Seawall Failure

Significant changes to water levels along a seawall and severe weather are two more ways natural environmental conditions can lead to seawall failure. Dive into the details of our next post in this series to learn how these failures can happen and how to prevent them.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: seawall, seawall failure

Rebuilding After Hurricane Irma: Seawall and Dock Repair

September 25, 2017 by gibson Leave a Comment

From flattening complete communities in Key West to record flooding in Jacksonville, Hurricane Irma left a path of damage and destruction as she bulldozed her way through the state of Florida. Damage estimates attributed to the hurricane are all over the board, but the experts do seem to agree on one thing: Hurricane Irma will be among the costliest hurricanes of all time.

Rebuilding and Repairing the Damage from Hurricane Irma

Florida communities will be recovering from Hurricane Irma related damage for months to come. As the damage recovery effort continues and it comes time to focus on your dock and seawall repairs, call on the experts at Gibson Marine Construction.

Seawall Damage Due to Hurricanes

When a seawall is built, seawall construction experts must take into account the pressure being exerted on a seawall by the water it is protecting the property from. They must also account the pressure exerted on the seawall by the land and dirt behind it. Keeping the pressure balance is key to quality seawall construction.

Many people would assume that seawall damage by hurricanes would be due to the surges of water coming toward the land. But that assumption is incorrect. Most seawall damage from hurricanes happens before the water surge, when the water is sucked out away from land. The pressure of the land and dirt combined with the pressure of water rushing outward, and the lack of support by the water on the other side of the wall creates too much pressure being exerted in a single direction. This can cause a seawall to crack or even crumble.

Seawall Inspection and Repairs

Since the water often returns to normal levels before property owners are able to inspect the seawall this damage can be hidden. So even if your property wasn’t flooded during Hurricane Irma, she could still have caused damage to your seawall. Get your seawall inspected for damage. It is better to error on the side of caution and ensure your seawall is in proper working order before the next hurricane heads your way.

Dock Damage and Repair

By now, we have all seen an assortment of photos featuring overturned and damaged boats due to Hurricane Irma. And all too often the docks they were anchored against suffered some storm damage as well.

So while your boat is undergoing any clean up or repair efforts, don’t forget to schedule the same type of treatment for your dock. Have your dock inspected for damage and make the repairs necessary to get your dock back to working order. That way you can relax knowing your dock is a safe place for your family to enjoy.

Gibson Marine Construction: Fast, Efficient, Professional Dock and Seawall Repair Services

Are you in need of professional seawall and dock repair services? Gibson Marine Construction is the company you can rely on. With over 30 years of experience, these professionals can be trusted to ensure your seawall and dock repairs are done right.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: dock repair, hurricane damage, seawall repair

Drying Out Your Property After Water Damage

September 20, 2017 by gibson Leave a Comment

As Hurricane Irma ripped through the state of Florida, the storm left widespread flooding and damage in its wake. With so much destruction, it can be challenging to quickly get professional help cleaning up your property. Here are some tips to get your property recovery effort started.

Safety First

When cleaning up a flooded area, your safety should be your primary concern. Taking a few of these precautions can help:

  • Disconnect the power to the area; water and electricity don’t mix
  • Wear protective clothing: Gloves, long sleeves, pants, and work boots provide a layer of protection
  • Move electronics, furniture and any other obstacles out of your way

Mop up the Water

You need to clear as much of the standing water out of the flooded area as quickly as possible. Using tools such as mops, brooms, buckets, and old towels can help. For larger areas consider renting a wet/dry vacuum or a sump pump.

Dry Out the Area

Opening windows and doors near the wet area can help. Use fans and dehumidifiers to circulate the air in the area. Keeping the air moving aids the drying process.

Dispose of Contaminated Items Responsibly

It is very likely that water seeped through your walls and flooring. Affected drywall needs to be cut away, and most trim and flooring will need to be pulled up. Insulation and padding under carpets all need to be removed too.

Disinfect Water Damaged Areas

Hot, humid, and damp conditions are the perfect breeding ground for mold. Use professional grade disinfectants to treat water damaged areas. Since mold growth can be very dangerous to your health it is often advised to hire a water damage remediation company to inspect and treat the area. This holds especially true in situations where sewage water could be a factor.

Rebuild, Repair, and Replace

Once the areas have been completely dried out and treated, it is time to begin rebuilding. If filing an insurance claim to cover the cost, make sure you know exactly what is and what is not covered. And getting a few quotes for the repair work is also a good idea.

Preventing Future Water Damage

If you are cleaning up water damage after Hurricane Irma, you may want to consider looking into ways to help better protect your home and property in the future. Call the seawall experts at Gibson Marine Construction to take a look. They offer custom seawall designs that can help protect your property and possibly prevent future hurricane related water damage to your home.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Hurricane Protection, property damage, water damage

Make Your Seawall a Selling Feature

July 31, 2017 by gibson Leave a Comment

Part II: More Tips to Make Your Seawall a Selling Feature of Your Florida Home

Now that you have tackled cleaning, decluttering, making repairs and upgrades, and staging the home, discussed in part one of this post, we will move on to more tips that you can apply to your Florida seawall to make it a valuable selling feature.

Working with Experienced Professionals

Working with experienced professionals can make a big difference in the home selling process. They can make recommendations, guide you when making important decisions, and help get it listed and sold quickly.

An Experienced, Licensed Real Estate Listing Agent

Hiring the right listing agent to help you sell your home is key. Listing agents have a lot of responsibilities related to the sale of your home. The number of offers you receive, the dollar amount of those offers, and the speed of the sale can all be affected by who you choose to represent you as your listing agent. Their experience and familiarity with the area can make a big difference and financial impact on the sale of your home.

Asking friends, neighbors, and family for recommendations, reviewing a listing agent’s resume, calling references and understanding the agent’s marketing plan for your home are all great ways to find an experienced professional you can feel comfortable working with.

Gibson Marine Construction: Your Seawall Inspection and Repair Experts

When it comes to your seawall, hiring the right vendor to produce quality work is also important. Just as it is key to work with an experienced listing agent, it is also key to work with an experienced marine construction company that specializes in seawall inspection and seawall repair services. Gibson Marine Construction has over 30 years of experience; They are the seawall experts you can trust. Their full-service marine contractors offer customized solutions, designed to get you the most bang for your buck, making your seawall into a valuable selling feature of your Florida waterfront home.

Pricing Your Property to Sell

Pricing can be a sensitive topic of discussion. Too often property owners want to equate the price they paid for their home plus any additional funds put towards the property with the price they want to list the property for. But that’s not how the real estate pricing system works. The list price should be based on what the market will bear, essentially what buyers are willing to pay for the property.

Buyers Will Pay More for a Well Maintained, Updated Property

It’s no secret that buyers will pay more for a well maintained and updated property. The less money a buyer has to set aside for making repairs and upgrades, elevating the property to their desired standards, the more money they can put toward their purchase offer.

Homeowners who tackle the repairs and upgrades before putting the house on the market usually see an exponential return on their investment. The same applies to a property’s seawall.

A Well Maintained Seawall Can Add Exponential Value to a Property

Not only does a well maintained seawall add ambiance to your property, it also adds significant value. The cost of adding a seawall to a property typically runs around $150 per linear foot, depending on the materials used.

Well constructed and well maintained seawalls can have an extremely long lifespan, again, depending on the materials used and other elemental variables. You can call on the experts at Gibson Marine Construction to inspect and make repairs to your Florida seawall. Some common seawall repairs include:

    • Adding, repairing or replacing a well point drainage system
    • Supplementing existing anchors that are failing or have already failed with secondary anchors
    • Install a replacement cap
    • Repair or replace a tie back rod(s)
    • Repair grouting joints or replace grouting joints with new ones

Being able to market your property, showcasing a well maintained and structurally sound seawall can add significant value to your Florida waterfront property. It can give potential buyers some additional peace of mind and can often help the property command a higher sale price.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: florida homes, florida seawalls, seawall, seawalls

Make Your Seawall a Selling Feature

July 30, 2017 by gibson Leave a Comment

Part I: Selling Your Florida Home? Make Your Seawall a Selling Feature

Selling your beloved Florida home can be a stressful, and too often, difficult experience. From making an excellent first impression to pricing your property to sell, these general selling tips can also be applied to your seawall, making it a valuable selling feature.

Preparing to Sell

Getting your home or property ready to sell is one of the most important steps in the selling process. It can also be one of the most tedious and time-consuming steps. General preparation usually includes cleaning, decluttering, making repairs and upgrades, and staging the home. And just as you would diligently complete each of these preparatory steps inside your home, you should apply the same diligence to your outdoor areas and seawall.

Cleaning and Decluttering

You only get one chance to make a good first impression with potential buyers, and a dirty, dusty, or cluttered home will not do that. Dirt, dust, and clutter gives the impression that the home has not been well cared for during your time as the property owner. This can lead potential buyers to:

  • Inspect the home more closely
  • Potentially see and focus in on more red flags or areas of concern
  • Perceive the property as less valuable, translating into lower offers
  • Turn potential buyers off or even scare them away

Some buyers may be able to see past the mess and clutter inside the home, but they are less likely to be able to look past a dirty, damaged, or poorly maintained seawall. Potential buyers are usually less familiar with seawalls. And the less familiar something is to a person, the more uncomfortable it can make them feel.

Most Florida home buyers understand that the primary function of a seawall is to protect the property from water damage. And a properly maintained seawall is more likely to do a better job of this, therefore, making the property appear more valuable.

Making Repairs and Upgrades

A home is typically one of the biggest purchases people make during their lifetime. It can be a bit scary, especially for first-time buyers. A home buyer needs to feel comfortable with the purchase and confident in their decision.

One of the best ways to make buyers feel good about purchasing your property is by putting your best foot forward. Take the time to freshen up the paint and make any repairs needed. Making some updates to the home, such as replacing worn out floors or carpet, and/or updating features in the kitchen or bathroom(s) can go a long way toward selling your property quickly.

The same holds true for your landscaping and seawall. People flock to Florida for the beautiful weather; they want to be able to enjoy it, especially in their own backyard. By making the yard an inviting space, and making any repairs needed to the seawall protecting this space, potential home buyers know they can begin enjoying this outdoor area as soon as they move in.

Staging Your Property

Potential buyers need to be able to picture themselves living in the home and enjoying the property. Just as you would stage each room in the house, to show how it could potentially be used, you should apply the same staging techniques to your outdoor area and seawall. A few staging ideas include:

  • Lining walking paths down to or along your seawall with small solar lights. This can be a relatively inexpensive way to highlight the walkways, drawing attention to them.
  • Creating an outdoor living space. Outdoor living spaces can often help a property feel bigger. It can also draw attention to specific areas around the property, and along the seawall. A well-placed sitting area can draw potential buyers out to the water’s edge, showcasing beautiful waterfront views, accompanied by the sounds of waves crashing along the seawall.

Proper staging of the entire property helps potential buyers picture themselves living there, likely leading to a deeper emotional connection with the property. Emotional connections typically translate into higher offers and faster sales.

Learn More About Making Your Seawall a Selling Feature of Your Florida Property

Now that you have tackled the first part of cleaning, decluttering, making repairs and upgrades, and staging the home, we will move on to more tips that you can apply to your Florida seawall making it a valuable selling feature. Read part two of Make Your Seawall a Selling Feature of Your Florida Home here.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: florida seawalls, seawall, seawalls

Florida Seawalls Protect Your Property From Erosion

June 30, 2017 by gibson Leave a Comment

Stone Seawall - Erosion Prevention
When it comes to seawalls, one-size does not fit all. These amazing structures are often as unique as the people and properties they protect. Florida seawall designs can span a variety of heights, widths, shapes and colors. And the types of construction materials used can vary just as much. But all seawall construction projects have at least one thing in common: they are built to protect your property from erosion.

What is Erosion?

Erosion is the action of surface processes, by elements such as water or wind moving rock, soil, or other material from one location to another. Waves of water are one of the most common erosion culprits, washing small amounts of sand and sediment away each time a wave retracts.

Erosion is a slow process, that happens over time. Many people may not even notice the erosion of their property happening, until it causes visible property damage.

How Erosion Causes Property Damage

Over time, these small amounts of sand or sediment being washed away, can add up creating instability and damage to the foundation of your property. And a damaged foundation will gradually affect other structures in or around your home and property.

Foundation Damage to a Home may Include:

  • Cracks on walls
  • Doors that won’t close completely
  • Crooked window frames
  • Warped floorboards
  • Musty smells, odors
  • And more…..

Other Areas of Property that can be Affected by Foundation Damage may Include:

  • Swimming pools
  • Decks or porches
  • Fences and railings
  • Driveways and parking lots
  • Outdoor lighting
  • Irrigation systems
  • Utilities, such as water pipes and waste disposal drains
  • And more…..

Prevent Costly Foundation Repairs Due to Erosion with a Seawall

A professionally engineered seawall can protect your home and property from erosion damage, and can help you prevent costly foundation damage repairs. A seawall built along the edge of your property, stops the waves and high winds from interacting with the materials underneath your foundation, preventing erosion leading to foundation damage.

Adding a properly engineered seawall to your property may seem like a large expense, but the price usually pales in comparison to foundation repair and replacement expenses.

Call the Seawall Construction Experts

The seawall construction experts at Gibson Marine Construction use leading-edge products, quality materials, and advanced technology to create an aesthetically pleasing seawall design that will properly protect your property from damage due to erosion. Call today to learn more.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Erosion, Erosion Protection, Protect Property

Seawalls Help Protect You From Hurricanes and Flooding

June 20, 2017 by gibson Leave a Comment

Seawall: Hurricane and Flood Protection

Hurricanes Are Common Along the Florida Coast

Living along Florida’s beautiful coastlines, you are likely to have encountered or evacuated for at least one hurricane in your lifetime, if not many more. Hurricanes tend to be a common part of life along the coast, bringing damage and destruction with them.

Hurricanes affecting the Florida coast start forming in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, or the Caribbean Sea. The power of the storm tends to grow stronger as it approaches the coast. When the hurricane finally makes landfall, it brings high winds, torrential downpours, and a storm surge (a rise of the ocean caused by the winds of the storm) that often floods the area. This can lead to property damage and loss of property, or even worse, injury or loss of life.

Preparing for a Hurricane or Flood

There are many things you can do to prepare for a hurricane or flood. The most common preparations tend to take place as local storm warnings begin.

Stay Safe

The safety of you and your family is of the utmost importance during a hurricane or flood. It is important to have a hurricane plan in place, stay informed, and be prepared to evacuate. If you are advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

If you have some time before evacuating or before the hurricane hits, you may choose to take some additional precautions to protect yourselves and your property.

Protect Your Property By:

  • Boarding up the house, protecting windows with plywood boards or storm shutters
  • Securing outdoor objects
  • Turning off utilities and propane tanks as recommended
  • Moving valuables to higher ground
  • If not able to move furniture and appliances to higher ground, try to raise them a little higher by propping them up with wood, cinder blocks, or other materials

If Not Evacuating, Follow These Precautions:

  • Make sure you have several days supply of nonperishable foods and drinkable water on hand for each person
  • Have plenty of fuel on hand
  • Have any tools or supplies needed with you
  • Have plenty of flashlights and batteries available, do not use candles
  • Have a first aid kit available, along with life-saving medications family members might require. Medications may include: inhalers, epi pens, insulin, etc.
  • Have a safe room to gather in during the storm
  • Pay attention to local weather reports, via radio, tv, or the internet for as long as possible
  • If called to evacuate, do so immediately

Pre-Season Hurricane and Flood Protection

Most Florida coast homeowners are familiar with the standard hurricane and flood protection recommendations listed above, but did you know you can do more to protect your family and property before hurricane season starts? Take these additional measures to protect your home and property.

Make Sure Your Home Measures Up to the Guidelines

Building codes for withstanding a hurricane have become more strict over the years as punishing storms have hit the coastline leaving a path of damaged structures.

If your home was built before stricter enforcement of building guidelines began in the early 2000s, you may want to consider renovating your home to meet the requirements set forth in the Florida Building Code. This code is updated every three years, therefore homeowners should routinely check the guidelines to ensure their property meets these standards and remains a safe place to take shelter during a natural disaster.

Add a Seawall to Help Protect Your Florida Coast Property

Seawalls are best known for preventing erosion, that can lead to structural damage to your property and very costly repairs. But seawalls can also help protect your home and property during a hurricane or flood.

A seawall can add an additional layer of protection between a hurricane or storm surge making landfall and your back door. It can help keep some airborne debris, such as trees from hitting the house. Or it can help block the wall of water (storm surge) from washing away your entire yard. But most importantly, it can slow down the rushing waters of a flash flood, potentially giving you a little extra time to get you and your loved ones to safety.

Begin Your Pre-Season Protection Process by Calling Gibson Marine Construction

The seawall experts at Gibson Marine Construction are happy to help you to upgrade your hurricane and flood protection by adding a seawall to your property. They will be with you every step of the way, recommending the best wall height, building materials, wall location, and creating a custom design just for you. Get your seawall construction project started today before it’s too late.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Flood Protection, Hurricane Protection, Property Protection

How to Make the Most of Your Waterfront Lifestyle

March 28, 2017 by gibson Leave a Comment

Whether you live right on the water, or your property is close by, there is a unique lifestyle afforded to those who choose to live in waterfront communities. Activities like kayaking, boating, swimming, fishing, water tubing, jet skiing and even sightseeing are all available in your very own backyard. But, even being steps away from paradise can have its drawbacks if you don’t know the tricks of the trade! Here are some of our favorite suggestions for making the most of your waterfront lifestyle.

  1. Be Prepared! Coastal living means living with big storms. Whether it’s the daily summer thunderstorms or the threat of an impending hurricane, not being prepared for these types of events is a rookie move. Make sure you educate yourself (and your family) on how to prepare your outdoor spaces for a big storm, and don’t be afraid to practice your storm procedures! Storms can sometimes “come out of nowhere” leaving property owners just a few hours (or less) to lock everything down and protect it from the impending barrage of rain, wind and lightning!
  2. Stay Safe! While it might seem like an obvious statement, there are a lot of safety hazards that homeowners can overlook. We recently posted about some of the most common issues we come across when inspecting boat lifts, docks and decks, and seawalls for our clients. Take a look at this post about waterfront safety, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you think your structures might need some maintenance, or to be replaced.
  3. Accessorize! Once you’ve done the (very important) work of preparing your family with a set plan in the event of a storm, and have ensured that your outdoor structures are all up to code and in tip-top shape, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor! One of our favorite ways to do this is by adding some accessories to your outdoor space. One of the requests we get most often is for underwater lighting (especially from our avid fishermen). Adding underwater lighting on your dock or deck can transform your space into a beautiful oasis and attract many different kinds of fish!
  4. Decorate! Whether you want your backyard to feel like an extension of your living room, or you’re looking for prime sunbathing real estate, there are endless possibilities when it comes to outdoor décor. Our favorite resource for inspiration is Pinterest, believe it or not. But, if you need some inspiration that goes beyond the computer screen, give one of our professionals a call to come out and give you personalized suggestions for how to transform your outdoor space.
  5. Enjoy! We may have our own ideas for how best to enjoy a waterfront oasis, but we’d like to hear from you! What are some of your favorite waterfront lifestyle perks? How have you personalized your space, and what do you do to enjoy it? Next time you’re out there, snap a picture and share it with us in the comments below.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: boating, deck, decking, decor, dock, outdoor decor, outdoor furniture, waterfront lifestyle, waterfront living

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