What Purpose Does A Seawall Serve?

By Author: Leonard Simmons
Total Articles: 152
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A seawall is a structure that is generally built on the coastline of a body of water, when the water directly runs into certain landforms in the coastal region. This is not to be confused with a beach, where the water and shore run into one. A seawall protects land or property that ends in a sidewalk or dock or grassy area - anywhere that has a sharp drop-off between landform and sea. A residential vinyl seawall is always a popular choice due to its enhanced functionality and attractiveness and can be used to border the ocean, lakes, ponds and streams. These products are usually composed of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) so they are very resistant to deterioration.

There are several advantages to building a seawall from vinyl as opposed to other materials like concrete or cement. Vinyl is much more resistant to shifting land that can become uneven; it will not crack like a cement seawall would. You can expect your PVC seawall to last up to half a century, almost eliminating the need for most maintenance costs and repair. Since seawalls are exposed to saltwater, many materials may corrode after being in contact with ocean ...
... water for an extended period of time. Vinyl choices will not. You also have the added benefit of using different colors that can blend or contrast with the color scheme of your architecture and surrounding property. That way your wall will not look out of place or be unattractive.

There are several types of seawall designs. The first is the vertical seawall, which is usually used where there is a lot of exposure to the water. These seawalls are actually used to reflect the energy of the waves to reduce damage to land. Curved seawalls can be designed to prevent waves from going over the top of the structure and will deflect waves out to sea. There are also seawalls that are constructed in a mound type of design. These are reserved for areas where a large amount of erosion is unlikely. Mound-type seawalls are used to preserve the shoreline. They sometimes allow some water through them in an effort to dissipate any energy that waves have created.

The decision to install a vinyl seawall as opposed to using another construction can protect your property with incredible durability while still maintaining an aesthetic appeal. The fact that vinyl has such a long service life is a definite advantage as well. Vinyl can be customized to your particular specifications and can be installed efficiently, so that you do not have a long drawn out mess on your property. Since vinyl is manufactured with the color already in the material, you do not have to worry about them fading. Because they are not metal, they will not rust.

This longevity and ease of use make the choice clear when you go to shop around for your new vinyl seawall. Once you have made the decision, the only thing left to do is find a reputable contractor to do the work for you!

Want to learn more about a residential vinyl seawall?

Get more information: http://www.eastwestmarine.net