Warning signs and what they mean
| What you see | What it often means |
|---|---|
| Sinkholes or soft ground behind the wall | Soil washing out through an open joint, a crack or the bottom of the wall |
| Cracks in the cap, or a gap between cap and panels | Settlement, movement, or corroding steel inside the cap |
| Rust stains on the face | Corroding reinforcing steel or tiebacks |
| Wall leaning or bowing toward the water | Failed tiebacks or anchors, or erosion at the toe |
| Water coming through at high tide | Open joints or cracks. In Broward this also matters legally. |
| Muddy water beside the wall after rain | Fine soil escaping through the wall |
Common repairs
- Joint sealing and injection. Grout or polyurethane foam injected behind the wall to fill voids and stop soil loss. See foam injection.
- Cap repair or a new cap. Replacing cracked or spalling concrete, sometimes raising the height at the same time.
- New tiebacks and anchors. Replacing corroded rods to pull a leaning wall back into line.
- Toe protection. Rock (riprap) placed at the base to stop scour. See riprap.
- Panel repairs for localized damage.
When replacement makes sense
- The wall is moving or failing along most of its length, not in one or two places.
- Tiebacks have failed across the wall.
- Repeated repairs keep failing.
- The work needed is big enough that local rules require the wall to be raised anyway. In Broward that's repairs to more than 50% of the shoreline, which must meet 5 ft NAVD88.
A common middle option is a new wall installed just in front of the old one, without removing it. Whether that's allowed, and how far it may extend, depends on local rules and permits.
Get it inspected
Only an inspection can tell repair from replacement, ideally by a licensed marine contractor or an engineer who will write down what they found. If you get two very different recommendations, ask each to explain what they saw. You can ask us for an inspection quote using the form below.
This page summarizes published rules and prices for general information. It isn't engineering or legal advice, and codes change. Your contractor, engineer and building department have the final word for your property.
Common questions
How long does a seawall last in Florida?
It varies widely with the wall type, the original construction, the water and how well it's been maintained. Many concrete walls give decades of service, but salt water corrodes the steel inside caps and tiebacks over time. Regular inspection matters more than age alone.
Can I fix seawall sinkholes myself?
Filling a sinkhole behind the wall only hides the problem if soil is still washing out through a joint or crack. The leak needs to be found and sealed first, which usually means a marine contractor.