Gibson Marine Construction

Marine Construction Structures

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What is a Marine Construction Structure?

A marine construction structure is something that is built or constructed in a marine environment, most commonly along the shoreline. Most marine construction structures are built to protect or prevent damage to shoreline or waterfront property.

What are the Most Common Marine Construction Structures?

The four most common marine construction structures are:

  • Bulkheads
  • Retaining Walls
  • Seawalls
  • Revetments

Why Hire a Marine Contractor to Build Your Marine Construction Structure?

Building a marine construction structure, such as a seawall, requires a unique skill set and additional resources beyond those required of a general contractor. A few of these additional requirements include:

  • Specialized Marine Construction Knowledge
  • Specialized Ocean Marine Insurance Coverage
  • Specialized Equipment
  • Marine Construction Experience

Gibson Marine Construction: Tampa Bay’s Marine Construction Specialists

The specialists at Gibson Marine Construction understand the unique challenges associated with building a marine construction structure and do more than just meet the special requirements listed above. They have the specialized knowledge, coverage, and equipment to meet the needs of any marine construction project – large or small. And with over 30 years in the industry, you know they have the experience too.

Call Gibson Marine Construction today to discuss your marine construction structure needs.

For Waterfront Property Owners, It’s All About ‘Safety First’

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Owning a waterfront property in Florida, or other coastal towns throughout the U.S., can certainly feel like a privilege; but with great perks, comes great responsibility! Keeping your waterfront property, and all that comes with it, well-maintained can help keep your friends, family and visitors safe, allowing you to enjoy all that mother nature has to offer.

Having worked in the marine construction industry for over 30 years, we here at Gibson Marine have truly “seen it all.” From failing, or dilapidated seawalls, rotting or leaning docks and decks, rusted or broken boat lifts, and worse, we have seen what can happen when outdoor structures are ignored or neglected. Each of these conditions, mentioned above, not only create eye sores for your neighbors, but grave safety concerns for anyone attempting to use or walk on these structures. However, we’ve yet to come across a seawall, dock, deck or boat lift we couldn’t fix! Below, we’ve compiled some of the major concerns we face as waterfront property owners, and when you should leave the repairs to the experts!

Seawalls

A seawall acts as your first line of defense, and is an invaluable structure for homeowners on the water. While we recommend regular cleaning, maintenance and monitoring of your seawall, a major storm or invisible damage can result in a severely compromised seawall that needs professional attention ASAP. If you feel that your seawall might be damaged, it’s always better to call an expert to come out and take a look at it – better safe than sorry!

Common causes of damage to seawalls:

Example of a damaged seawall in need of repair

  • Natural wear and tear over time
  • Storm surge/hurricanes
  • Lack of maintenance
  • Changing water flow
  • Improper installation

 

 

Docks and/or Decks

While seawalls act as the first line of defense for your waterfront property, they oftentimes go unnoticed. However, your backyard deck, (and if you have one) dock are often where most the activity happens in your outdoor space, and is usually what guests and visitors see first. Docks and decks can rot or break after time and if they aren’t protected with pressure-treated lumber or built with quality materials, they immediately become a safety hazard to your family or visitors.

While there is a lot that a homeowner can do to protect their dock or deck against damage, if rot sets in, it’s time to call in the professionals. Some common signs that it might be time to call the professionals are:

Example of damaged deck in need of repair

  • Rotting or broken wood
  • Bowing or loose beams
  • Termites
  • Nails or screws won’t hold

 

 

 

Boat Lifts

Every good boatowner knows just how important it is to take care of your investment with regular maintenance, cleaning and long-term care. If you’re fortunate enough to live on the water as a boatowner, it’s imperative that you invest in a boat lift. Boat lifts are central to upkeep and is one of the best ways to proactively maintain the hull. A boat’s hull is obviously subjected to the most potential abuse; particularly if left in the water for extended periods of time. The eventual corrosive effects of elements like algae, moss, and salt water can wear away at the finish, something no boatowner wants to see.

Protecting and maintaining your boat lift is one in the same with protecting and maintaining your boat. Here are some of the common causes of damage to your boatlift:

  • Excessive chafe on the cables
  • Over-extending the life of your cables
  • Improper maintenance/care of lift beams
  • Cracked bunks
  • Improperly greased gears, drive units, pulleys, etc.

If any of these warning signs sound familiar to you, it might be time to give us a call. Safety is something that should be on the forefront of every waterfront property owner’s mind, and maintaining your seawalls, docks and decks, and boat lifts is a big part of staying safe!

 

 

Seawall Repairs That Can Help Extend the Life of Your Seawall

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Any waterfront property owner knows just how vital a well-constructed, and well-maintained seawall is to the value and integrity of their property. Whether you’re a homeowner or developer, protecting your property against storm surges, corrosion, deterioration and damage can be one of the most stressful aspects of waterfront living. However, there are precautions that can be taken to protect your property against these common problems whether your seawall was built five, or 25 years ago. As a leader in marine construction, we have helped countless homeowners and developers extend the life of their seawalls using some of these common types of seawall repairs.

 

  1. Well Point Drainage System: A well point drainage system is a series of well points placed along a trench, all connected to a header which is attached to a pump. This type of drainage system can be installed at the site of an existing seawall and can help prolong the life of your seawall by alleviating pressure build up on your seawall that may cause future damage to or weakening of your structure.

 

  1. Secondary Anchors: A secondary anchor, if installed and maintained correctly, can extend the life of your seawall by 10 plus years. Used as a supplement to an existing, possibly failing/failed, anchor, secondary anchors typically consist of a one-inch diameter coal tar epoxy coated steel rods (often referred to as tie back rods), encased in PVC, anchored with a concrete anchor block (often referred to as a deadman).

 

  1. New Cap and Tie Backs: Repairing or replacing these elements on your seawall can be vital in extending the life of your existing seawall. A replacement cap can be installed with limited disruption to the surrounding structure, and can not only help increase the strength of your structure, but also improve the curb appeal of your property. Typically, a little more effort is needed to repair or replace a tie back rod, but doing this will help stabilize your seawall and provide added strength in dealing with the elements your wall is up against every day.

 

  1. New Grouting Joints: A deterioration in the joints of your seawall can allow water to flow in where it’s not supposed to be, causing erosion and compromising the integrity of your structure. Repairing these joints using a chemical compound to fill in the weaknesses allows for a much smoother and faster repair of your seawall than many other methods. Instead of taking months to repair your wall, possibly costing as much as it would to just replace it, new grouting joints can help extend the life of your seawall, saving you time and money in the long run.

 

Protecting your property’s seawall is just as important as protecting your home and safety. To preserve this vital structure, contact us to see how we can extend the life of your seawall through seawall repairs, possibly even increasing the value of your property! Visit our Contact Us page, or call us directly at (727) 942-3111.

The Best Platform for Relieving Stress

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We are marine structure contractors. Besides getting to spend every day designing, engineering, and building docks and decks, we even get into the water to conduct inspections on seawalls and repair those mightiest of barriers. The environment in which we work is one of the most beautiful; it beats the four walls of an office, any day!

So while everyone is not as lucky perhaps to work for Gibson Marine, or even to live in the homes by Florida’s coastline; it’s all out there. In other words, if life is getting stressful, go take a walk!

Stress in Our Lives

It’s everywhere. The stress we put on ourselves and the contribution to it by others. Then there’s that consistent accessibility by our clients and our employers and our jobs, permitted thanks to technology. No one is every off the clock. All of these factors add up to the statistics that support the impact of stress on body and mind.

There are however, ways to manage stress naturally.

Outdoor walking: Walking is an inexpensive, low-risk and easiest accessible form of exercise. It significantly contributes to enhanced mental health and well-being.

Exercise: Studies have proved that daily physical exercises help protect brain from stress-induced depression. One should ensure physical activity like walking, jogging, playing games like tennis or football on a daily basis for at least 30 minutes as it rejuvenates one’s mind and senses.

Whether or not your dock has a boot moored to it, don’t forget about it. Never take it for granted, but look at this space as one in which to unwind. Pop in to earbuds and enjoy the view. Or pack a cooler, grab a few chairs, and invite some friends over. Having a front row seat to this kind of scenery is what your doctor would order if a pharmacy could dispense this kind of stress therapy.

We as a culture are so connected to our technology and streaming Netflix we forget about communing with nature. We are missing out on that primordial connection which preceded the WIFI ones. The ones that strip away everything external with the exception of the landscape.

While Gibson Marine can’t take totally take the credit for removing the stress from your life, we are experts at building the structures that provide the literal platform on which to do just that.

With the exception of people who are naturally drawn to sports and running and hiking, there is a huge number of Americans who spend entirely too much time indoors; contributing to the national obesity number.

Getting out in the Florida Sunshine offers a tremendous opportunity to bask, to rejuvenate. There’s just something about strolling along a wooden dock with white sands to your left, and an expanse of crystal blue water to your right. It calms and soothes. Put down the iPad and go take a walk.

The Many Nuances of Rip Rap Seawalls

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Despite its appearance, rip rap seawalls are anything but haphazard installations. Call it organized chaos, but these marine structures don’t only serve the traditional purpose of a barrier between water and the land, their function is far more nuanced.

Rip rap seawalls and marine life

The facts about the impact on the native environment of marine and terrestrial life is in direct proportion to pollution and our reckless disregard of our planet. No matter what shade of “green” you are, there is little denying that actions are speaking louder than words regarding the influence on the natural habitats of the animal world.

Rip rap seawalls are used to protect marsh grasses, but at your property’s edge, they actually create a haven for smaller water creatures in need of shelter during tidal changes. While you won’t necessarily be creating your very own ecosystem, it is a contribution.

Incline support

Waterfront properties come in all shapes and sizes, as do their shorelines. We engineer marine solutions for the gamut, but rip rap is a very suitable choice wherever a water erosion situation exists. If your home for example is up on a cliff overlooking the water, a concerted placement strategy will not only keep the body of water from eroding the land, it will actually help maintain its integrity in the face of precipitation that could just as effectively wear the hillside away.

Rip rap as a tandem component

Aesthetically, rip rap seawalls simply lend natural beauty to a home’s shoreline. They not only furnish that singular look as each one is completely unique, the addition of rip rap to vinyl seawalls makes for an effectual combination.

Installed along the baseline, they add additional stability and a natural look in front of an existing seawall while helping to prevent soil from eroding.

At Gibson, in addition to a buried toe to literally cradle the rocks, we install an underlayment before erecting rip rap seawalls. Once the underlayment is installed, Florida Fieldstone or lime rock is installed at a 2:1 ratio with rock between 8” and 24”. Here again, rip rap installations are decisively designed.

According to this House and Home Magazine article:

Rip rap actually absorbs waves coming on to your property. Seawalls and other types of erosion control can deflect waves and send them to other shoreline areas. With rip rap, when a wave crashes against it the wave is dampened, or absorbed, and does not bounce back to other areas.

In areas with very high rates of erosion riprap can be placed in front of a seawall. The seawall works as a high level of erosion protection and the riprap in front of the seawall works to keep the dirt at the bottom of the seawall from eroding away. Additionally, this helps to absorb the waves. This type of installation is preferable in inlets and marina type settings that have serious erosion problems.

While we are also huge proponents of synthetic materials in seawall construction as the warranties are very robust and the installation is comparatively simple, we reserve a good deal of applause for everything rip rap seawalls have to offer.

What Lies Beneath: Dock Pilings

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Whether you are living along Florida’s shoreline or enjoy vistas of one of its crystal clear lakes, you already know what you need to do to maintain your dock. Keeping it safe, looking good, and extending its lifetime are the responsibilities of us “coastliners”.

The initial dock construction however, really has everything to do with protecting your investment by having it installed properly the first time. Exposed to the harshest possible elements including: salt, tropical storms, the famous Floridian sun, and the occasional hurricane; stability is everything in dock construction.

Dock and pier maintenance goes beyond the surface to what lies beneath: dock pilings. There are two basic types of pilings – the ones used as the foundation of a dock and the batter pilings that shore up seawalls that sag.

For your dock, these pilings must be constructed and installed professionally and be paid as close attention to as any other marine structures.

DOCK PILINGS

Perpendicular to your dock, pilings offer the indisputable, essential support. Like nautical fencing, these vertical supports are driven into the water bed. How many and how deep is a job for our engineers. They of course calculate the finished size, the weight of the wood itself, the nature of the water’s bottom, and whether or not a boat lift is part of your installation to calculate if your dock is being designed to support the additional weight of the lift or davit and the weight of the vessel itself.

SEAWALL PILINGS

The marine alter ego of dock pilings are batter pilings. Instead of offering structural support from beneath, these are concrete structural supports installed in front of a seawall to keep it upright and to give it the reinforcement it needs after erosion and other natural wear breach its integrity.

DON’T DIY

Although we recommend that homeowners take an active interest in learning the right techniques for keeping marine structures viable, we do suggest the line be drawn at installing or attempting to repair dock pilings. They are the perfect example of the need for the absolute right tools for the job, having an excellent understanding of the soil conditions beneath the water, as well as knowing the load the pilings must bear.

Additionally, if you have a piling that is not adequately supporting its section of the structure, you will have distribution of weight issues and an uneven underpinning for the dock itself. Have your dock erected properly the first time and you will enjoy it for years and years. Wood pilings can be wrapped in polyethylene to stave off rotting and marine borers.

ENJOY LIFE ON THE WATER’S EDGE

Stay familiar with any changes to your dock. Even an expertly built dock fabricated from pressure treated lumber is not exempt. Take pictures, keep a close eye out.

Any water lover knows that safety is always first. A sound dock is the only dock for your property. You don’t want to issue your guests life jackets at your next party!

Working with a Seawall Repair Contractor? 3 Simple Ways to Work Together Effectively

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1.      Create a communication plan.

 Before the seawall repair project even begins, you should meet with contractor and create a definitive plan detailing how you will stay abreast of changes and updates. Will you be checking in by phone? Do you plan on stopping by the jobsite in person? Will you be dealing exclusively with the contractor or should you expect to receive progress reports from another project leader or job foreman? Establishing the primary method(s) of communication and devising a schedule will help prevent confusion and ensure everyone is on the same page. These meetings will allow you to ask questions and voice any concerns as well as give your contractor the opportunity to address them and take proactive measures to prevent future issues.

2.      Track changes in writing.

 Although the project should be outlined in writing before any work commences, you should also continue documenting the progress as the job evolves. You may encounter unforeseen issues or elect to add to the services originally agreed upon. Your contractor should be able to adapt to these changes and willingly provide you with adjusted bids for the cost in writing. When an agreement is reached, both parties must sign the revised work order just as you did in the initial contract.

 You may also want to consider keeping a “project journal” where you can document progress, make note of ideas and questions you want to ask your contractor, record product order numbers, and keep track of impending deliveries.

3.      Be flexible . . . and have a little faith.

Even the best contractor encounters unexpected delays due to events like adverse weather conditions, shipping delays, or equipment breakdowns. If the work is interrupted as a result of forces that are clearly beyond your contractor’s control, try to be flexible about the situation and avoid making unrealistic demands. If you did your homework and hired a capable contractor as discussed in the previous post, they will do everything in their power to maintain the work flow and keep on schedule.

 

Gibson Marine Construction is a full-service professionally certified marine contractor with over 30 years of experience building seawalls, docks and installing boat lifts. For more information about seawall repair and other services, call (727) 942-3111.

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

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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!

Dock Repair and Maintenance a Must Year Round

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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!

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Gibson Marine Construction © 2019
2131 Range Rd.
Clearwater, FL 33765
727-942-3111 | gibson-marine.com Florida Certified General Contractor: CGC1514396

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