Southwest FL: (239) 322-3535
Southeast FL: (954) 480-3802
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A damaged seawall is more than an eyesore — it’s a threat to your home, your land, and your safety. At Seawall Medic, we specialize in repairing and restoring seawalls across South Florida using modern, non-invasive methods that last.
Early detection saves THOUSANDS in repair costs.
Watch for:
Don’t ignore these red flags. Left untreated, they can lead to total seawall failure!
Our owner Mike Brandt will perform every consultation personally and will perform a detailed inspection of your seawall including the following:
Visible cracks in your seawall are early signs of structural stress and water intrusion. We address these issues by routing and patching cracks using high-strength marine-grade repair compounds — not sealants. This protects the wall and helps stop further deterioration.
When your seawall shows signs of bowing, shifting, or instability, we strengthen it using non-corrosive reinforcement materials and proven stabilization techniques. This service restores integrity to aging seawalls and helps prevent full replacement.
We use high-density polyurethane foam injection to stabilize the soil behind your seawall. This innovative method:
It’s fast, clean, and doesn’t require heavy equipment or excavation.
Minimal disruption. Long-lasting results. Foam injection takes hours, not days.
You don’t have to guess. Let us inspect your seawall and tell you what’s happening behind it.
Cracks in a concrete seawall cap are a clear warning sign of damage. Typical signs of a failing seawall include cracks or fissures in the wall or cap (often accompanied by rust stains leaching from inside), bowing or leaning sections of the wall, and gaps or soil loss behind the wall. You might notice sinkholes or depressions forming in the ground near the seawall, or adjacent features like patios, walkways, or pool decks starting to settle and crack. Any tilting, misaligned wall panels, or separated joints are also red flags. If you observe these issues, it’s wise to have a professional inspection, as these symptoms indicate the seawall’s integrity is compromised and at risk of further failure.
Coastal experts recommend inspecting your seawall at least once a year and after any major storm or extreme high-tide event. Regular inspections help catch small problems (like minor cracks or clogged drains) before they escalate. Walk along the seawall and look for new cracks, erosion behind the wall, or any movement. It’s also prudent to have a professional seawall inspection every few years (or more frequently for older seawalls) to assess structural conditions you might miss. After intense storms or hurricanes, a post-event inspection is critical to identify hidden damage early. Consistent monitoring and maintenance will prolong the wall’s life and ensure your waterfront property stays protected.
Preventative maintenance is key to a long-lasting seawall. Important tasks include keeping all drainage outlets (weep holes) clear so water pressure doesn’t build up behind the wall, and promptly sealing any small cracks you find in the concrete to prevent water intrusion. Make sure the ground behind the seawall is properly sloped to direct rainwater away from the wall. Avoid placing heavy structures or landscaping too close to the seawall, as extra weight can stress the wall. It’s wise to remove any vegetation growing in cracks or joints, as roots can widen openings. In saltwater areas, rinse the seawall with fresh water occasionally to reduce salt buildup that accelerates corrosion. By performing these simple upkeep tasks and repairing minor issues early, you can significantly slow down deterioration and save on major repairs.
Rising sea levels mean higher water is pressing against your seawall more frequently, which increases stress on the structure and can lead to more rapid erosion and overtopping during high tides. In South Florida, sea levels are projected to be about 10–17 inches higher by 2040 than they were in 2000, so a seawall that once stayed mostly dry may now have water against it daily. This can overwhelm older seawalls that weren’t designed for such conditions. Saltwater intrusion is also a big concern: saltwater is very corrosive to steel and concrete. The salt causes steel reinforcement bars inside concrete to rust and expand, cracking the concrete from within. Over years of exposure, saltwater will weaken metals (like steel sheet piles or rebar) and even accelerate rot in wood. This corrosion and decay reduce the strength of seawalls, docks, and pilings. Essentially, sea-level rise puts more strain on coastal structures, and saltwater intrusion eats away at their materials – a destructive combo that makes regular maintenance and eventual upgrades (like using more salt-resistant materials or raising seawall heights) increasingly important for waterfront properties.
Weep holes (or drainage ports) in a seawall allow groundwater and rainwater behind the wall to drain out instead of building up pressure. This is crucial because if water is trapped behind the seawall, the hydrostatic pressure can push hard on the wall, causing it to crack, bow, or even burst outward. Proper drainage relieves that pressure safely. If weep holes get clogged by debris or marine growth, water will seek other paths – often through small cracks or under the wall – and carry soil out with it, leading to voids and erosion behind the seawall. Regularly check and clear your weep holes or drainage pipes to ensure they function correctly. Seawall Medic is an approved installer of Jet Filters weep drains to let water out but keep sand and soil in. In short, drainage is the seawall’s way of “breathing” out water; without it, the wall can suffocate under pressure or suffer internal damage.
If your weep drains are too small, at the wrong height on the wall, not functioning or otherwise not existent. Seawall Medic highly recommends installing new weep drains. This is especially important when polyurethane foam soil stabilization is performed. In essence the foam is preventing soil from escaping through joints and cracks in the wall. However, it is also preventing water from easily draining out of those same areas as it did prior to the soil stabilization. By installing properly functioning weep drains your giving the water a preferred pathway of least resistance to drain out. Otherwise, water will create new avenues to drain out by forcing open new cracks thus creating structural damage and/or even escaping from under the seawall panels.
The lifespan of a seawall can vary widely based on its construction material, the environment, and maintenance. In South Florida, a well-built concrete seawall might last around 30 years or more with proper care. Newer vinyl seawalls or composite materials can last 50+ years since they resist corrosion and rot. Age certainly matters: as a seawall gets older, the effects of decades of waves, salt, and sun take their toll. Older seawalls (especially those 40-50 years old) may begin to show extensive cracking, crumbling of the concrete cap, rusting through of steel rebars or tie-rods, or general weakening of the structure. Regular maintenance can extend a seawall’s life – for example, timely repairs and reinforcements might squeeze extra years out of an aging wall. However, if a seawall is very old and severely deteriorated, proactive replacement or major rehabilitation may be necessary. Always consider the wall’s age alongside its condition: a 25-year-old seawall with no visible issues may just need monitoring, whereas a similarly aged wall with multiple cracks or leaning segments might be nearing end-of-life and require intervention.
Yes, major storms (like hurricanes or tropical storms) and seasonal king tides can significantly impact your seawall. During powerful storms, wind-driven waves and storm surge can crash against the wall, sometimes overtopping it. This can wash out a lot of backfill (soil) from behind the seawall and cause rapid erosion or even structural damage in a single event. It’s common after hurricanes to find new sinkholes or voids behind seawalls where water scoured out the soil. King tides – the exceptionally high tides we often see in South Florida during the fall – can also lead to seawater flowing over lower seawalls or through small cracks, carrying soil away each cycle. Additionally, the repeated sloshing of water at the base of the wall (even on calm days) acts like slow erosion, similar to how sand moves away under your feet at the beach. Over time this can undermine the foundation of the wall if not accounted for. The best approach is to prepare and inspect: before storm season, ensure your seawall is in good repair (patch cracks, clear drains). After any severe event or king tide period, inspect the wall and the ground behind it for new damage. Quick repairs after a storm can prevent a minor issue from becoming a major failure.
