Dare to Dream — and Build

Seawall Inspection Steps And Repair Processes

by Marc Cole

A seawall protects a home from dangerous flood waters and prevents soil erosion. A seawall inspection is conducted upon the installation of this type of barrier. One is also usually performed when a piece of property may be purchased or listed for sale.

A Property Owner's Role

The seawall that runs in front of a residence should be inspected, repaired, and maintained by the current property owner. If a property has already been listed for sale, the current property owner may furnish a potential buyer with details about a recent inspection. If an inspection process wasn't conducted recently, a potential buyer can seek an inspection.

The person who is seeking ownership of a home and property can either take on any repairs that are needed or can negotiate with the current property owner. The current owner may go down on the price that they are asking or may satisfy the repairs that are needed, prior to selling the property to the interested party.

The Seawall Inspection

The seawall inspection process will involve visually assessing the wall and the land that is on either side of it. It may also necessitate the use of tools that will determine the strength of a wall. If parts of the wall are compromised, an inspector will make a notation of it. An inspector may notice that soil has shifted or that there are holes located along either side of a wall.

Soil that has shifted or holes on a piece of property could be indicative of a weak seawall. During an inspection, the person who hired an inspector can join the inspector. They will be advised of any issues that have been unveiled. They will also receive guidance with the seawall repair work that needs to be conducted. 

The Repair Process

Leveling property and filling in holes are relatively easy processes that can be performed to fix compromised land. The land will likely be addressed after a seawall has been repaired. A contractor and construction crew who is hired to repair cracks or other inconsistencies in a seawall's surface will schedule a repair process during a time when the tide is low.

A low tide is essential since water that comes into contact with a seawall could impede the repair process. Cracks can be filled with a bonding agent. A sealer may be applied to a seawall. If any parts of a wall have crumbled, they will need to be removed from the property and fresh concrete will need to be used to repair the wall.

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