Full Answer
What is the best material for bulkheads?
Traditional bulkhead materials include wood timbers, treated lumber used for sheeting and steel sheet pilings. These materials work reasonably well and are cost-effective, but the wood can easily be damaged by the water and rot away, while the steel suffers from corrosion and electrochemical reactions.
What is a bulkhead used for?
Bulkhead materials can also be used on land as retaining walls, to keep soil from traveling down inclines, or for water control, including protection against flooding or to divert water into a predefined area. Traditional bulkhead materials include wood timbers, treated lumber used for sheeting and steel sheet pilings.
What kind of lumber do you offer for marine construction?
Marine lumber is specially treated to stand up to the Coast’s salt and brackish water. We offer a wide range of Marine Lumber. Available stock: Why are so many people choosing vinyl sheet piling? Vinyl sheet piling is quickly becoming the most popular product to use for construction of bulkheads and seawalls.
How can I protect my bulkhead from stormwater?
Talk openly with your neighbors and stay active in the community. If everyone follows the local idle speed rules when they’re boating, this protects the berms that hold the toe of your bulkhead in place. It’s also critical for your neighbors to maintain their bulkheads properly and manage stormwater responsibly on adjacent properties.
How do you treat wood for saltwater?
If possible, treat the wood with a creosote or oil based preservative to repel and prevent salt water from leaving behind soluble residues. The treatment should be applied to the wood or pilings before the wood is affected with salt kill.
What is marine lumber treated with?
Let's go over some of the most common treatments you'll see in marine lumber. MCA (micronized copper azole) and CA (copper azole) – Copper-based preservatives suitable for above-ground, below-ground, and freshwater uses. These treatments penetrate deep into lumber to prevent rot from water exposure and pests.
What kind of wood is used for bulkhead?
Traditional bulkhead materials include wood timbers, treated lumber used for sheeting and steel sheet pilings. These materials work reasonably well and are cost-effective, but the wood can easily be damaged by the water and rot away, while the steel suffers from corrosion and electrochemical reactions.
Is Marine wood pressure treated?
Marine plywood is not chemical treated, unlike pressure-treated plywood. Rather, marine-grade plywood's thin veneer sheets are glued together in a cross-laminated manner using waterproof glue, pressure, and heat. The result is increased strength to the wood. What is this?
Is marine-grade the same as pressure treated?
Marine-grade plywood does not undergo a chemical treatment to prevent decay like traditional pressuretreated products. The absence of the chemicals means it will not deposit hazardous materials into nearby waterways or into the water when immersed or submerged.
What is the difference between pressure treated and marine plywood?
Marine plywood is specifically manufactured to stand up to the harsh marine environment. The materials used in in its construction are specifically chosen to assist in making it as water resistant as possible. Pressure treated plywood is usually regular softwood and will absorb moisture very easily.
How long do wooden bulkheads last?
15-20 yearsTypical wooden bulkheads only last 15-20 years, bulkheads with vinyl sheeting, it can reach 25 years in some cases. With both vinyl and wooden sheet systems, you still have a wooden structure which is vulnerable to rot.
What are bulkheads made out of?
Bulkheads are normally constructed in the form of a vertical wall built in concrete, stone, steel or timber. The concrete, steel or timber walls can be piled and anchored walls, whereas the concrete and stone walls can also be constructed as gravity walls. A typical design of a bulkhead seawall is shown in Fig.
How do you make a wooden bulkhead?
0:276:24How to Build a Wood Bulkhead - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd let's say that we are building a three-foot tall wood bulkhead the typical wood bulkhead isMoreAnd let's say that we are building a three-foot tall wood bulkhead the typical wood bulkhead is different from a vulnerable kid partly because it uses pilings.
How long will pressure treated wood last in water?
A pressure-treated wood usually guarantees a longer lifespan than untreated wood. It can serve you well for about 30 years when in direct contact with water, provided there're no entry points into the wood's grain.
What is MCA treated lumber?
Product Group: Treated Lumber Micronized Copper Azole (MCA) is a copper-based wood preservative used in the pressure treatment of wood products for use in residential applications above ground, in-ground contact or in freshwater contact.
What is the best grade of pressure-treated lumber?
The 5 Pressure Treated Lumber Grades Select structural, or SS, is the highest grade based on durability and strength. Standard grade lumber can be used for joists and other load-bearing applications.
What is bulkhead wood?
Building a wood bulkhead is similar to building a privacy fence. You have posts (pilings), rails (wales), and pickets (sheets or sheeting). A bulkhead typically has great horizontal force applied against it, though, so it has more structural requirements than a fence. In order of front to back ...
What are the parts of a wood bulkhead?
In order of front to back (water side to ground side) the parts of a wood bulkhead are: Center Match (sometimes call “sloppy tongue & groove”) All the required Hardware (nails, screws, spikes, nuts, washers)
What is a Wales bulkhead?
Wales. Wales are the horizontal boards (like the rails on a fence). Most wood bulkheads have two but some will have three or more. Wales are connected to the land-side of the pilings and will have the center match sheets nailed to them. A very common size used for wales is 3×8.
Can you use round pilings in freshwater?
You can use round or square pilings. It is totally up to you. You might want to match your neighbors’ bulkheads or you might be concerned about costs (round pilings cost less). Either way, use properly treated wood – 2.5 pcf in saltwater and a minimum of .60 pcf in freshwater.
How old is a wooden bulkhead?
The homeowner has a 10-12-foot high wooden bulkhead on a creek running through his property. The bulkhead is about 10 years old. Access to the house is via a wooden bridge across the creek with concrete driveway before and after. As a result, the driveway sections are effectively bridge approach slabs.
How much did it cost to replace a bulkhead?
The only real alternative was to replace the bulkhead altogether. This would have cost about $60,000. Also, that would make the house inaccessible by vehicle for the duration of the rebuild. The homeowner solved his problem for less than a quarter of the cost of replacement.
What is the main structure of a bulkhead?
The pilings and sheeting form the main structure of the bulkhead, but here are many other parts that are critical. In the soil behind the bulkhead, poles called deadmen are driven or buried, then connected to the bulkhead with tie rods or wire to support the weight of the wall.
What is composite piling?
Similar to vinyl sheet pilings, composite sheet pilings are made from a composite material, such as fiberglass-reinforced polymer, which provides the strength of steel sheet pilings, with reduced weight and better resistance to corrosion and weather damage.
What is a vinyl piling?
Vinyl sheet pilings were designed as an alternative to steel sheet pilings, which have a relatively short lifespan due to corrosion, especially in saltwater marine environments. They are larger interlocking vertical sheets, with large vertical ridges or channels that add extra strength and rigidity.
What is bulkhead material?
Bulkhead materials can also be used on land as retaining walls, to keep soil from traveling down inclines, or for water control, including protection against flooding or to divert water into a predefined area. Traditional bulkhead materials include wood timbers, treated lumber used for sheeting and steel sheet pilings.
Why is the top of the bulkhead capped?
The top of the bulkhead can be capped to increase its rigidity and add a finished look, and wales can be added for protection . By choosing the materials for your bulkhead carefully, you can reduce your maintenance costs, extend the lifetime of the bulkhead and avoid costly replacements in the future. Sources:
Why do we need bulkheads?
They prevent erosion of the shoreline, keeping your valuable soil in place, and provide a distinct separation between the water and the land. Bulkhead materials can also be used on land as retaining walls, to keep soil from traveling down inclines, or for water control, including protection against flooding or to divert water into a predefined area.
What size is treated wood?
Traditionally, the sheeting has been treated wood boards, in common sizes such as 2 by 10 inches, with a tongue machined in the center of one edge and a matching groove on the other. This allows multiple boards to lock together to create a strong surface, supporting the weight of the soil between the pilings.
What Is A Bulkhead?
Most people are already familiar with the concept of a retaining wall — a structure designed to hold back the spilling or unwanted relocation of soil mass and other ground materials, such as rocks, sediments, and more.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Bulkheads?
Why use a bulkhead rather than another staple marine construction structure? The benefits of employing one of these dual-sided builds can be understood as they relate to the needs of the project, as well as the location of the build site, its surrounding structures, and the natural features of the vicinity.
Are There Different Types Of Bulkhead Materials?
Bulkheads may be limited in that they’re generally best suited for marine construction and other water-land retention purposes, but that certainly doesn’t mean they’re limited in appearance or material design. Indeed, there are half a dozen or so different types of bulkhead material that are widely used in marine construction projects.
What is copper azole?
Copper Azole is the required material on freshwater projects. Timber bulkheads are typically constructed as Navy Walls with sheet piling next to the soil bank that are held in place with stringers and piling.
What is a BMP?
BMP's have been adopted by the Western Wood Preservers' Institute (WWPI), and the National Timber Piling Council (TPC), a division of the Southern Pressure Treaters' Association (SPTA). BMP's give treated wood users confidence that they are protecting the environment with the most modern technology available, and are required by NOAA ...
Can you use stainless steel fasteners with copper azole treated wood?
Unlike with the use of some competitive products, you do not need to use Stainless Steel fasteners with either CCA or Copper Azole treated wood. As in past years, you can build your marine structure with galvanized hardware that meets ASTM A 153 or better standards.
What is bulkhead protection?
Bulkheads (often referred to as “seawalls” by non-technical people) are the most common form of protection for coastal properties in Texas, but the best coastal defense methods may differ slightly depending on your location. Let’s take a brief look at some of the variations in property types you should ask about before you make any big decisions about bulkhead installation, replacement or repair.
How does Olshan work?
To quickly and inexpensively restore joints and seals in otherwise structurally sound bulkheads, Olshan uses environmentally safe products, that include polyurethane high density closed cell foam and other polymer resins that can be injected directly into the problem areas of the bulkhead. They effectively seal and fill areas where soils are being washed out, stop the erosion , and restore the strength of the bulkhead panel. We can adjust the product mix depending on the location and extent of the problem.
Why does the soil settle on the land side of a bulkhead?
It could result from a number of drainage issues described earlier in this guide or from settlement of the soil against the bulkhead from not being compacted properly at the time of construction. This will lead to erosion of soils at joints, cracks in panels or below the toe of the bulkhead. Once water finds its way through the bulkhead, the pressure of the water side will pull water through to the land side as water levels rise and then pushing it out again as they drop, taking the soil away with it.#N#When repairs become necessary, developed lots can present real (and costly) challenges to even the most experienced marine contractors. The presence of houses, trees, landscaping, sprinkler systems, docks, davits, underground utilities, outdoor living spaces and other miscellaneous site improvements (not to mention sensitive structures on neighboring properties) can all present complicated access problems for materials and equipment. The most desirable repair option is to carefully follow all the preventive measures in this guide to extend the useful life of your bulkhead.#N#In extreme cases, sections of an older bulkhead may need to be removed and replaced, but this can be very cost prohibitive. Repairs like these can average in the tens of thousands of dollars, but there is a much less expensive (and far less invasive) filling and sealing method that can extends the useful life of most bulkheads for a fraction of what it would cost to replace them. These proprietary materials strengthen bulkheads at the seams and immediately halt soil movement and erosion. This is a very important option for coastal property owners to explore because in many cases the bulkhead is still in good overall structural condition. Professionally sealing a leaky joint can make a lot more sense than tearing it out and replacing it, and there is no excavation needed.
What is a berm made of?
Rising from the toe is the “panel” or “slab” material of the bulkhead, which may be made of concrete, vinyl, PVC or a combination of natural and synthetic materials.
Why are tie rods anchored?
The tie rods are anchored separately to help keep the bulkhead structure vertical and stable. Further back on the property and away from the water, “anchor piles” or “deadmen” are placed at an engineered angle and distance.
Why are bulkheads not watertight?
If you’re just becoming familiar with bulkheads, you might be surprised to learn that they’re not watertight. Their main job is to hold soil in place, not to keep water out. In fact, bulkheads are intentionally designed to let water flow through and away from the soil they’re meant to protect.
What is the purpose of bulkheads?
Their main purpose is to prevent land movement. Bulkheads are similar to retaining walls, but contain more engineered components for greater functionality and durability. The biggest difference between bulkheads and common retaining walls is that bulkheads are designed primarily to separate soil from water.