With summer winding down, Michigan residents with waterfront property need to start considering fall seawall maintenance. Your seawall is essential to protect your property from water damage and erosion, and without proper maintenance, the harsh winter weather can wreak havoc on the seawall, leaving your property vulnerable. Pro-Tech Marine can build you a new seawall to protect your property, but do you know how to properly prepare it for the coming winter? Read further for more information about how to keep your seawall in prime condition during harsh Michigan winters.

The Importance of Your Seawall

Your seawall is a crucial barrier to protect your waterfront property from the constant flow of water and the inclement weather. If you have a property on Lake Michigan or any of the local inland lakes, you need to maintain your seawall to ensure it can protect against the fluctuating water level and any potential ice damage in the winter. With the constant cycle of freezing and thawing that comes with unpredictable Michigan winters, you could notice the formation of cracks, which, if left untreated, can accelerate the damage to your seawall. Here are five tasks you should complete for fall seawall maintenance:

Key Fall Seawall Maintenance Tasks

• Visual Inspection: Take the time to closely inspect the entire seawall, looking for cracks, loose stones, erosion, or other signs of visible damage. The sooner you identify these issues, the easier they are to fix.
• Repair and Reinforcement: Using proper sealants, you should immediately address cracks that you see in your seawall. You should also consider riprap reinforcement to help absorb the energy from the constant wave activity.
• Vegetation Management: If you notice any unwanted plant growth from the seawall, you should clear it. The longer the root structure is allowed to grow, the greater the chances of it weakening the structure and facilitating erosion.
• Erosion Control: Through the use of proper backfill and erosion control fabric, you can fortify the seawall to prevent erosion, especially in areas where the water level is higher.
• Winterization: Take the time to secure any loose objects around the seawall. Unsecured objects, like boats, furniture, and other equipment, can be damaged or dislodged during winter storms, causing damage to your property.

Professional Assistance for Your Seawall

If you find yourself in a position where there is significant damage to your seawall, the experienced professionals at Pro-Tech Marine can help. Whether you need help repairing and reinforcing your seawall, or you need an entirely new one built, we can complete the work and make sure your property is protected for the cold winter months. Contact us and let us know how we can help with your seawall needs in Southwest Michigan.