Back to the main site

Seawall Help needed

lakeliving

lakeliving

Well-Known Member
Messages
8,814
Reaction score
7,710
Location
Michigander living In Palm City FL
[SIZE=medium]I tried a seach and couldn't find what I thought was here. This fall I am going to tackle a seawall. From fall to spring our lake is drawn down 3ft to allow residents to work on seawalls/docks etc. I have about 48’ of frontage that I would like to protect. The wall above the lake bed will only be about 2ft high. And the water in that area is only a couple of inches deep. I plan on setting 4x6 posts about 4ft deep every 6’. Behind the posts will be tongue and groove 2x8’s. Then I’ll cap it all off with 2x6. I’m concerned with hitting water before I get down 4’ though. Should that be a concern? I plan on having concrete pads under each post. Code for post depth is 42” in my neck of the woods but if there is water there, it won’t freeze right?  Anyway my big question is with tie backs and deadmen. The soil behind the wall is mostly sand with just the top 8” being top soil. I plan on having drainage right behind the wall with stone/pea gravel. I don’t see a high load on the wall due to the height only being 2’ or less and given the soil type. Are tiebacks and deadman really needed for this low wall? If so what spacing between each?  Curious what others have for theirs or suggest for this purpose. [/SIZE]
 
What are you ice conditions, slope, etc? I've done 3 seawalls. The last one (stacked Allen Block) recent failed miserably, despite only being in an inch or so of water, actually a shallow all sand beach. The ice migrating up the shoreline completely destroyed it. I've never heard of using wood but these vinyl ones are really nice if braced and filled properly.

http://www.burkeseawall.com/
 
If you look past the benny you'll see the shore line. Not much slope. I'm just trying to stop the erosion and improve the look. The vinyl is nice but I am trying to avoid a large bill. I figure I should be into a wood one for less than $500. I think it will look good when done, just trying to get the behind the scenes details figured out.

As for ice our lot faces north so we don't get much ice load from westerly winds. We're also in a bay that is only approx 60 acres or so. With the lake being drained every other fall, we only have ice at shore everyother year. It typically melts around the shore first when it is there. Typically pretty soft even during winter as well.

SAM_3581_zps95fd997f.jpg
 
What about Rip Rap? Look at our shoreline.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
cwag911 said:
What about Rip Rap? Look at our shoreline.
Click to expand...
That's actually the only thing the DNR here will allow now, or glacial stone, which is pretty expensive these days.
 
We did ours about a month ago as well.  I personally like the look of the vinyl seawall but Rip Rap is the only material allowed in the Adirondack Park as well.  I was worried about how the rip rap would look but in the end it has grown on me and gives it a more natural look
 
Our neighbors have a Rip Rap style but I was looking for a smoother look, plus I already have the wood on site. This is the look I was going for. If money wasn't an option I'd pay someone to do the vinyl route. I figured this way I can have a nice smooth transition to the dock, and build stares off of for beach access.

woodseawallpic_zpsa8e8b5f6.jpg
 
That wood one does look nice LakeLiving, as I said I am happy with the rip rap but I do have to admit that wood looks even better
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top