It’s a Great Time to Schedule Your Seawall and Marine Construction Projects

We recognize that in these unprecedented times, projects that were once a priority now may need to be put on hold due to financial uncertainty. If we can offer help during this time, we would like to offer a 5% discount on all contracts executed by April 30, 2020. We hope that this will help you move your project along as you planned.

Please feel free to give us a call at 727-942-3111 with any questions, issues or emergencies that our marine construction company may be able to help with. Or reach out to us via the website by submitting a website contact form.

Stay well and we look forward to speaking with you soon.

Regards,

Eric Swauger, President

Mike Mittler, Vice President

Seawall Damage

October 7, 2019 by gibson Leave a Comment

How to Tell If Your Seawall is Damaged

A well-constructed and well-maintained seawall is vital to preserving the value and integrity of your Florida waterfront property. If your seawall fails, it can be devastating to both, not to mention, an expensive mess to clean up. Keeping an eye out for signs of seawall damage, can help you keep your seawall properly maintained and help prevent seawall failure.

Five Signs Your Seawall Needs Repaired or Replaced

Regularly inspecting your seawall for signs of damage can help you determine if your seawall may be in need of repairs. While performing these regular inspections, answer the following questions:

Do you see any cracks in the seawall cap or have any small chunks broken off of it?
Are there any visible rust stains on the seawall?
Are there any large or widening gaps between the seawall slabs?
Are any slabs cracked, bowing, leaning, or misaligned?
Do you see soil settling or any holes along the seawall?

Cracks or Small Chunks Broken Off of the Seawall Cap

The seawall cap runs along the top of the seawall and is typically comprised of steel reinforced concrete. It’s not enough to just check the top side of the cap, you also need to inspect the sides of the cap, particularly the front of the lower cap area facing the water. If you see cracks or small chunks missing from the cap, this can mean the rebar is exposed. This exposure can lead to corrosion of the rebar, weakening the seawall, and potentially causing it to fail.

It is important to contact a seawall repair company, as soon as you notice that the rebar could be exposed. If you catch the issue quickly, you could save yourself some serious cash by only having to repair or replace the concrete part of the seawall cap and not all the rebar too.

Visible Rust Stains on the Seawall

Visible rust stains are another sign of possible corrosion. It is important to find out where the rust stains are coming from. Sometimes the source can be easy to pinpoint, such as it coming from a metal railing or decorative feature. Other times, it may appear to be seeping through cracks in the seawall’s surface.

If you can’t easily track the source of the rust to a nonessential feature of the seawall, especially if you are unfamiliar with the seawall’s maintenance history – you should contact a professional to have the seawall inspected.

Large or Widening Gaps Between Seawall Slabs

If you see a gap between seawall slabs that is significantly larger than the other gaps between slabs, or the gaps appear to be widening in general, this could be a sign that the joints have weakened or broken. It is usually caused by anchors failing, which can lead to the seawall cap cracking and/or significant damage to seawall slabs.

Seawall Slab Damage is the Leading Cause of Sudden Seawall Failure

Seawall slabs are under constant stress and pressure. A pressure imbalance can lead to a slab cracking, bowing, leaning, or becoming misaligned. And if the slab is not repaired or replaced, and the pressure balance restored, the slab(s) can buckle resulting in a partial or complete sudden seawall failure.

If you see any signs of a seawall pressure imbalance, call a seawall construction company immediately. Repairing a damaged slab(s) is much more affordable than having to replace a seawall that has failed.

Soil Settling or Holes in the Ground are Signs of a Seawall Pressure Imbalance

Soil settling or holes in the ground along or near your seawall are signs of erosion. Erosion is another common cause of a pressure imbalance, that can lead to slab damage and potential seawall failure. Call a professional seawall repair company right away to assess the problem and make repairs before seawall failure occurs.

If You See Signs of Seawall Damage, Call Gibson Marine Construction

Gibson Marine Construction is your one stop shop for all of your seawall repair and replacement needs. Contact us today about any signs of seawall damage you see and ask for a free consultation.

Drone Video of the Seawall at Sand Key Park

July 31, 2018 by gibson Leave a Comment

Protecting and Preserving Sand Key Park, Florida

According to the Pinellas County, Florida Parks and Preserves website, Sand Key Park is a public park comprised of ninety-five acres, located on Sand Key Island, a barrier island situated between the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida mainland. It is a popular destination, welcoming more than one million visitors each year.

It is very important that Florida’s public parks, like Sand Key Park are protected and preserved. The seawall being constructed along the water way is a key component of the 2018 Sand Key and Treasure Island Nourishment Projects currently underway this summer.

Drone Video Showcasing the Seawall Construction Project at Sand Key Park

This drone video gives us a bird’s eye view of the project. The video starts in an area where work on the seawall has been completed and where you can see a man enjoying his afternoon of fishing. The video then continues down the waterway towards the areas of the seawall still under construction. This can gives us a peek at the all of the engineering and construction work that goes into building a stable seawall, capable of withstanding hurricanes, tropical storms, and the foot traffic of over one million park visitors each year.

Once the drone approaches the bridge spanning the waterway from Clearwater Beach to Sand Key Island, it turns around to head back in the direction from which it came. And if you look closely at this point, you can see quite a few dolphins enjoying their afternoon swimming in the waterway.

Call the Seawall Experts, Gibson Marine Construction

For more information about seawalls or seawall construction projects, contact Gibson Marine Construction. These seawall construction experts are happy to take on seawall construction projects, both large and small.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Our Top Four Reasons for Loving Vinyl Seawalls

March 18, 2016 by gibson Leave a Comment

No, we do not play favorites when it comes to the materials we select for our premium marine construction in Tampa Bay!

Actually, multiple factors drive the decision about the materials to use – two of the most important ones of course being: what the customer wants and how that may be achieved within their budget based on whatever seawall type currently exists.

For example, with an existing wood wall, should a marine-grade material one in need of some repairs be ripped out in favor of a Rip Rap seawall? Or can we achieve that natural look by installing a landscape retaining wall that works with the repaired wood wall to give a unique effect without demolishing a perfectly solid structure? We need customers to be happy and bottom lines to make sense. That’s why our consultations are in-depth.

What Are Some of the Key Advantages of Vinyl Seawalls?

Vinyl seawalls (also referred to as PVC seawalls) offer some choice alternatives. If you haven’t considered this as a viable option, check them out as this week we salute these seawalls as something worth considering. Here at Gibson Marine Construction, our vinyl sheet piling carries a 50-year manufacturer warranty against UV damage, corrosion, rot and marine borer damage.

In addition to the manufacturer’s warranty, Gibson Marine Construction provides a 25-year workmanship warranty. Enough of the shameless plugs – here are our top four favorite things about vinyl seawalls – in no particular order of importance:

Vinyl Seawalls are Sustainable

Seawalls are subjected to a terrible trio endeavoring to undermine its integrity: the sun’s harmful UV rays, the punishing effects of all water types, and the creatures of the deep who feast. These elements are essentially relentless, yet on the other hand are the same features that make waterfront living so singular. Therefore, a peaceful co-existence is a vote for vinyl. The longer shelf life of this material simply makes it ideal to fend off such factors.

Manufacturer Warranty and Gibson Marine Construction’s Workmanship Warranty

Even the manufacturers are onboard. They can literally afford to be as magnanimous as they are because this product is one that does not easily fail and does not require the same level of tending other seawall materials do. They don’t tend to succumb quite as easily to corrosion, cracking, and rotting.

Vinyl Seawalls are Easy to Install

If you are having a pool installed, you are going to expect it to be a pretty invasive project, what with the excavation and the many steps required to make it safe and viable. The same is true in a sense for vinyl seawalls as care and calculation goes into their installation of course, but the duration of time it takes to erect and secure one, is generally of a shorter duration than a seawall made with other materials.

An Affordable Seawall Option

The price tag for these structures is reduced in part because the labor is typically reduced because they are easy to install. To add to that savings, the material itself is relatively inexpensive. Vinyl seawalls are also cost effective over time as they tend to last longer.

Florida Seawalls and the Materials That Support Them

February 11, 2016 by gibson Leave a Comment

In landscape architecture, retaining walls provide the function that retards erosion while adding style to the overall design. Concrete, brick, natural stone; their configurations are endless – some are truly inspired and lend an ornamental touch that distinguishes a front lawn or a backyard retreat.

Seawalls are a Super Retaining Wall that Retard Erosion

Their purpose is to retard erosion, but they are between a rock and a hard place so to speak. Seawalls are subjected to the relentless force of water trying to work against them. Not to say that these walls are less aesthetically pleasing than a wall whose purpose is to control moisture runoff and provide an effective drainage system.

Seawalls have come a long way from solid blocks of concrete devoid of character. As a weekend warrior you may wish to tackle an array of landscape design ideas, but when it comes to seawalls, you’re going to need a professional.

Florida Seawalls Function as an Extension of Your Property

In Florida, seawalls are not simply delineations, some provide a usable surface that almost acts as an extension of your property. (Not true necessarily of rip rap seawall, but those materials boast their own unique charm because of their ability to naturally integrate into the surrounding area.)

Vinyl Sheet Piling for Seawalls

The use of vinyl sheet piling for seawalls bestows a great deal of flexibility. Inherent in the composition of the material is an opportunity for the ultimate creativity. Even better, vinyl sheet piling offers an appealingly appearance, due in part by the flexibility of a vinyl seawall. They are resistant to damage caused by UV rays, and are impervious to rot and corrosion; and even the devastation caused by marine borers.

What else do we like as far as using vinyl in seawall installations? Overall, their installation is actually easier than that of other materials. Because it is more impact resistant, the installation is more efficient, and that gets us out of a client’s way sooner!

Rip Rap and Wood Seawalls

Again, your seawall installation should not only do the job, it should look the way you want it to. Beyond the design itself; the material makes a strong statement.

A rip rap seawall – constructed from stone – may appear like a jumbled collection, but those elements are intentionally placed to function optimally as they are laid atop an underlayment as a foundation. Rip rap provides a unique look and even acts as a natural environment for marine life.

Wood seawalls could be considered the most traditional. They do tend to be cost effective at first installation, but they do of course have their vulnerabilities. The seawall owner will need to be cognizant of the need for more frequent inspections and vigilance about repairs. Marine grade pressure treated woods are your first line of defense, but the beauty of that more organic look does come with a price of sorts: maintenance.

Tampa Bay, Florida’s Seawall Construction Specialists

As Florida marine construction specialists, 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. 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 or complete the website contact form. We can even support your landscaping vision!

Seawall Maintenance Tips

October 1, 2015 by gibson Leave a Comment

Seawalls are the demarcation between the water and your property. They are subjected to changing tides and in some areas, salt water — this powerful combination is the source of erosion. It is therefore not a matter of “if” but “when” in regard to their integrity.

In addition to constructing new seawalls, Gibson Marine conducts seawall inspections and performs repairs. Just like good roof maintenance, by remaining ahead of the curve you can avoid a more costly replacement when your approach to upkeep is proactive. And again, just like roof maintenance we strongly urge caution when attempting to conduct an inspection yourself. In the absence of the proper tools and expertise, serious injury can result.

When it comes to seawall inspections, a great deal of knowledge goes into the performance of an effective one. A few items of note:

All Growth is Not Good Growth

Take rip rap seawalls for example – they are very effective (and lend themselves aesthetically to the natural surroundings), but, depending on conditions, will eventually lean or erode. The vegetation that makes these such a viable choice can also cause their undoing. The plants that intertwine with the rocks should be inspected… for weeds. Traditional landscape shrubbery makes a positive contribution, but weeds not only proliferate, their roots run deep and can easily cause cracking.

Weep Holes

These are essentially relief valves designed to relieve water pressure which can accumulate both behind the seawall and as a result of ground saturation. Like any filtration system, it is only as good as its ability to flow. Check regularly for natural debris which can clog weep holes and render them ineffective. The inability of your seawall to disseminate the water pressure will lead to cracks, and cracks lead to crumbling, and crumbling leads to collapse.

The Foundation is in the Footer

One of the most essential of maintenance efforts is to ensure that this support system is free from cracks and structural issues. Footers are the best low-cost way to prevent erosion and washout of seawalls from the intense water pressure that can build up.

Types of Seawalls

Different seawall materials carry different potential problems. For example, even treated specialty wood is vulnerable. For these inspections, instead of cracking, you are looking for signs of splitting, rotting or evidence of termite or carpenter ant infestation. General shifting or movement is also something of which to be aware.

Seawalls are structures that offer protection. Like the roof on your home, they provide defense against the elements yet require a consistent inspection regimen. Unlike your roof, these breaches are not made apparent by stains on sheetrock or visible when cleaning the gutters.

We recommend inspections four times a year and by a professional who is licensed, insured, and knowledgeable. Trusting your seawall to your own expertise or someone who does not meet these criteria will result in issues that could have easily been avoided. These are the inspections that keep seawall repair/replacement costs down and maintain the safety of your family and your property.

If you would like to schedule an inspection by one of our licensed professionals, contact us here, or call (727) 942-3111.