Name: Gibson Marine Construction
Address: 2131 Range Rd., Clearwater, FL, 33765, USA
Telephone: 727-942-3111
Price range: $$
Rating: 5

The Four Best Things About Vinyl Seawalls

November 8, 2021 by gibson Leave a Comment

Bulkheads, retaining walls, and seawalls – all of these marine construction structures may be slightly different in structure, but these barriers all perform similar functions.

What is a Seawall?

A seawall is a type of coastal defense system designed to maintain the integrity of commercial and private waterfront properties. They help protect shorelines against erosion and surge flooding, often caused by extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, tidal waves, etc.

As such, they require regular inspections and maintenance so they may continue to do the job they are designed to do.

Seawall Materials

Gibson Marine seawalls are available in a variety of materials including:

Rip rap seawalls (stone)
Vinyl seawalls (PVC)
Wood or wood-capped seawalls

Why are Vinyl Seawalls Good?

Vinyl sheet piling offers a sleek appearance that can withstand the test of time. It offers waterfront homeowners a quality product that is flexible and easier to install, thus reducing installation costs and timelines. Here are the four best things about vinyl seawalls making it a good choice:

Vinyl Seawalls are Durable

Vinyl seawalls are durable because of their resistance to damage from the harsh Florida elements, such as the intense UV rays of the sun, the rot associated with wood structures, the corrosion of traditional materials, and the destruction caused by marine borers. Thus, the heartiness of the material offers greater longevity. This makes it a popular choice for seawall projects of all shapes and scopes.

Vinyl Seawalls are Easier to Install

Most homeowners look forward to the start of their renovation projects. And after going through making all the decisions and the selection process, a big project like this can start to feel like its dragging on – never going to end. But that’s not the case with installing a vinyl seawall. Once the design and planning work is done, these seawalls are able to be erected with a speed that can’t be compared to the install of other materials.

Vinyl Seawalls Are Cost Effective

In general, vinyl seawalls are less expensive than their counterparts constructed from other materials. The main reason for this is because it requires less time and labor. With labor generally the largest component of any seawall project, this reduction in cost is a welcome one we are able to pass along to our clients

Warranty Offers Available on Vinyl Seawalls

Because they are typically not the most inexpensive structures, vinyl seawalls are also great because they carry exceptional warranties. With a reputable marine construction company like Gibson Marine, you can add a 25-year workmanship warranty on top of that! This can give you greater piece of mind.

Seawall Restoration Solutions

According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection the criterion for restoring a seawall includes:

Seawall to be replaced is functional (no cracks or breaks which allow water to flow through the wall)
Replacement seawall is constructed at its previous location, upland of its previous location, or within one foot waterward of its previous location
No filling done besides that used in the actual restoration of the seawall or riprap
No construction is done without necessary title or leasehold interest, especially where private and public ownership boundaries have changed as a result of natural events such as deposition, erosion, or exposure of land due to a drop in water levels.

Alternative Solutions to Seawall Restoration

They also offer alternative options including:

Retaining walls- identical to a seawall but all portions of the wall are in the uplands. Retaining walls may be built without a permit from DEP.
Vegetation-nature’s way of preventing erosion along a shoreline. Plants can be used alone or in combination with other methods.
Riprap slopes-loose boulders, rocks, or clean concrete rubble placed along the shoreline. A permit may be required for installation of riprap slopes.

To truly effect a resilient, functional yet beautiful barrier between the water and the land, it takes craftsmanship combined with quality materials for an effective barrier system that can resist corrosion, insect infestation, and the wear and tear imposed by the sun, the tides, and the winds levied during Florida’s hurricane season. This makes vinyl seawalls an ideal solution.

Gibson Marine’s Vinyl Seawall Solutions

If you are interested in adding a vinyl seawall to your Florida waterfront property or are looking for seawall restoration solutions, contact Gibson Marine Construction to learn more. Call today for a free quote.

The Five Things You Need to Know About Seawall Construction

April 21, 2016 by gibson Leave a Comment

Trends in marine construction lend themselves to structures that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Fortunately, contemporary design allows for seawalls that are serviceable, but can still make an impression as a true integration into a waterfront property.

As heavy duty a task as they bear, today’s seawalls can more easily look the part of tying into a home’s dock, deck and boat lift. Not in the “accessories category” per se, but there’s no longer a need for seawalls to stand out as a décor anomaly.

Retard Erosion and Add Style

As we cover further on in this article, with concrete, natural stone, vinyl and sometimes a combination of several materials, functionality comes in all shapes and sizes. To keep erosion to a minimum while controlling moisture runoff and an effective drainage system, Clearwater seawalls in general help keep Mother Nature at bay.

Vinyl Sheet Piling

Using this material for seawalls bestows a great deal of flexibility. Besides the chance to empower creativity and conform to coastline irregularities, for ease of installation, vinyl is comparatively simple to install. But wait, there’s more! Vinyl seawalls are resistant to the pervasive and consistent effects of UV rays and their damaging consequences. While defending against the rot and corrosion that is the bane of some traditional materials, vinyl is a very viable seawall construction alternative.

Rip Rap Seawalls

There is tremendous bandwidth available with this multi-purpose seawall solution constructed from a variety of stones. First of all, these seawalls offer depth and dimensionality by virtue of their many components. Besides being environmentally friendly and oftentimes preferred by government agencies in environmentally sensitive areas, rip rap seawalls are unfailing unique. To continue with our praise of this adaptable solution is that these materials can be added to the baseline of a vinyl seawall to lend another dimension to the erosion reduction as well as ambiance. And finally, seawalls built of rip rap are famous for their attraction to certain classes of marine life thereby contributing to marine ecosystems and giving them a place to feed and dwell.

Wood Seawalls

Wood seawalls offer their own contribution to protecting residential shorelines and properties. They do tend to be cost effective upon initial installation, but have their own obvious vulnerabilities. These are of course in the realm of the need for more frequent inspections and vigilance about repairs.

Seawall Warranties

As Florida marine construction specialists, at Gibson Marine, we issue 25 year warranties against our labor, but you can’t beat the additional assurances from the manufacturers either. You can get up to 50 years on vinyl seawalls for example. And as long as you are using marine grade materials and maintain your installed structures per professional standards, you will be surprised the service years you can even get from marine grade, pressure treated woods.

If you need a seawall or are interested in making a change to one, give us a call for a consultation at 727-942-3111.

Which Seawall Material is Right for You?

May 14, 2015 by gibson Leave a Comment

If you own a property on the water, you know just how important your seawall is to the safety and value of that property. It is important have a structure in place that will prevent erosion, damage and even enhance the look of the property from the water.

Seawall Material Recommendations

With the variety of options for the materials used to build your seawall, how do you know which option is right for you? Perhaps these explanations will help you make a decision!

Rip Rap Seawall Material

A rip rap (or stone) wall adds stability while giving your property a natural look. The rip rap consists of rocks, stone or other material arranged to prevent erosion from water. While this option is most commonly used on shorelines of creeks and rivers, it can be used anywhere where erosion from water is a possibility.

Rip rap not only looks natural, but it also provides a great habitat for wildlife! Especially when the tide is high, rip rap offers an ideal shelter for small marine animals.

It is important that rip rap is installed properly. Gibson Marine Construction installs an underlayment before installing. Once the underlayment is installed, Florida fieldstone or lime rock is installed at a 2:1 ratio with rock between 8” and 24”.

Wood as a Seawall Material Option

While this option provides a more natural look, and offers a lower initial installation cost, keep in mind that wood seawalls are prone to factors that could require more-frequent repairs or replacement. Depending on the environment, though, this option could provide many years of service.

It is important that properly-treated wood is used at installation to avoid rot. Gibson Marine Construction uses all marine-grade material for our wood seawalls. Our wall construction consists of vertical 2” x 6” PT marine-grade lumber, a combination of 2” x 8” front and back wale system and a 2” x 12” PT marine grade cap along.

Vinyl Seawall Material

Vinyl seawalls, also known as PVC seawalls, have many benefits that exceed the other two options. Although they don’t offer the natural look that rip rap or wood seawalls provide, vinyl seawalls do, however, provide much greater protection from the elements. Our vinyl seawalls are backed by a 50-year warranty against rust, rot, corrosion, falling prey to marine bores, or UV damage from the sun.

Vinyl seawalls are typically easier to install, and are extremely durable which could add up to cost savings both up front, and in the long run. Vinyl seawalls are resistant to the natural elements such as sun, wind and water, as well as marine-boring critters that target wood seawalls.

It may be clear why vinyl seawalls are a popular choice, but Gibson Marine Construction can install any option you choose. Whether it’s rip rap, wood, or vinyl, we can make your waterfront property safer and more beautiful with a new seawall!

Seawall Installation and Repair Experts in Tampa Bay, Florida

Does your seawall need a repair? We can help there too! Contact us today if you have any questions about our seawall materials or services.