Read through the Frequently Asked Questions below for information about docks, seawalls and other related topics. Contact us if we can answer any other questions you may have.
What areas do Boca Dock & Seawall service?
We service Palm Beach and Broward counties in South Florida for both salt and fresh water. Contact us for a free estimate for construction and repairs in these areas.
What is the warranty on new dock construction?
Our new dock warranty is for five years. This covers all workmanship. However, cracking and checking of lumber, which is normal for pressure treated boards, is excluded from this warranty.
What do you recommend for annual dock maintenance?
- Inspect for loose deck boards and rotting frame members. Re-nail and replace as necessary.
- Inspect the bolts holding your dock framing to the seawall and to the dock pilings. Tighten all loose bolts and nuts. Replace broken fasteners with new hot-dipped galvanized hardware. Also tighten bolts holding cleats and line holders.
- Apply a high quality wood preservative/sealant to the deck boards. This will help repel water and extend wood life. It is not advisable to paint dock boards because most paints will peel in a short time and become unsightly.
- Inspect all electrical lines for broken or frayed insulation. Repair or replace as necessary.
- Check water lines for leaks and loose hangers and repair any that are in bad shape.
What can be done about deteriorating wood pilings?
If you check your wood pilings at low tide and see erosion and loss of wood at or near the water line, they are being eaten up by marine borers. These nasty critters can destroy your pilings in a few years, if you let them. FORTUNATLEY, even severely decayed dock pilings can be saved by the installation of a quality "piling wrap" system. Since this "piling wrap" repair costs 25% of the dollar cost of piling replacement, your saving are substantial.
How do I check my seawall?
At least once a month, and after every heavy storm, check your seawall. Walk along the top and look for signs of movement: newly cracked concrete; crevices opened up in the land behind the seawall; or a recent drop in the ground level immediately behind the seawall. Stand at the property line and sight down the seawall cap to see if it is straight. If there is a "bow" in the wall, you may have a problem. If you suspect movement, contact us to inspect your seawall and recommend a repair. Incidently, insurance rarely covers seawall repairs or construction. The important thing is to act early to avoid serious property loss later.
What should be done about holes behind a seawall?
Almost all waterfront property owners have seen some holes behind their seawalls. Sometimes they develop slowly, but often they appear overnight, usually after a rainstorm. The most common cause is leakage of fill through seawall panel seams or through rock wall crevices. Since the holes form from the bottom-up, even small depressions at the surface indicate significant holes below.
It's important to fix the problem for two reasons:
- Safety- avoid someone stepping into a hole and being injured.
- Preservation of wall structure- Densely packed fill behind the wall keeps it stable, and helps protect the tie-rods that anchor it.
Just filling the holes occasionally with sand is not enough. The leaks should be stopped and the holes should be properly compacted and filled. The sealing of seawalls is a relatively inexpensive maintenance practice that protects and preserves the seawall. Depending on location and other conditions, sealing work should last 2-5 years. We recommend having it done every three years.
How are seawall seam seals repaired?
These are the important specifications- accept nothing less.
- Strip all loose and deteriorated seal groat from seams.
- Clean the area to be sealed of all marine growth and wire brush to promote new seal adhesion.
- Use a high strength, quick setting marine grout and extend seal 6" into berm of canal.
- Before and during filling, use a high pressure water jet probe to collapse and compact the holes behind the seawall.
- Use a quality compactible fill such as "shellrock".
What is seawall undermining?
What is seawall footer?
Nearly all seawalls lose some fill from behind them over time due to seepage through seams and cracks. However, sometimes walls become undermined, and fill loss is more rapid. This can lead to more serious problems.
Undermining is a condition where the underside of the wall becomes exposed, usually due to berm erosion. When this happens fill flows out from under the seawall and the grade behind the seawall begins to sink, usually unfortunately across the property. This is a potentially serious problem; the wall itself can begin to sink due to lack of bottom support. The most cost effective solution is to install an aluminum panel footer wall in front of the current wall. It secures the bottom of the seawall and stops the fill loss.
What are batter pilings?
