At Sea Me Dive, one of the most common improvements we suggest to customers seeking our expertise in seawall inspection and repair is the installation of weep holes. But why are these weep holes so crucial to seawall maintenance?
Understanding Hydrostatic Pressure:
Weep holes are a critical addition to any seawall. They are hydrostatic pressure release systems installed in seawalls or retaining walls that provide a pathway for built-up water to mitigate potential damage. Whenever it rains, the water soaks into the ground. While some of the water may evaporate, the vast majority remains in the soil, posing a potential problem for properties with seawalls. Therefore, regular maintenance and repair of seawalls, through seawall inspection, including the installation of weep holes, becomes crucial to prevent such damage and maintain their long-term functionality.
The Evolution of Water Damage:
Hydrostatic pressure describes the weight and strain that the absorbed groundwater can put on the seawall. For a wall with no release system, the water will press against the wall, trying to find a way to get back to the river, lake, canal, or ocean that you live on. If your wall has no built-in way for the water to get out, the water will make its own escape route. This means that dozens of tiny- and not-so-tiny -hairline cracks will start to form in the wall. Water is very innovative and smart like that. If there is no way, then it will make a way. Once the water has established its system of water highways, they progressively expand, resembling human highways—growing wider, busier, and more substantial. Consequently, what initially appears as a minor hairline crack swiftly transforms into a significant separation crack.
Introducing Weep Holes:
While hairline cracks may seem insignificant, their implications are the issue. Once hairline cracks evolve into separation cracks, they compromise the structural integrity of the wall. At that point, the wall may not be capable of doing its full job of protecting your property from storms or floods. In addition to this, water damage can potentially reach the tiebacks in the walls. Seawall maintenance is crucial because these tiebacks are internal structural pieces within seawalls made of rebar. When the water reaches the rebar, it rusts. This can cause areas of corrosion on the wall, leading to the need for immediate repair of the seawall.
Preventing Water Damage:
So, how do you prevent the water from making aquatic superhighways in your seawalls? This is where Sea Me Dive comes in, performs a seawall inspection, and recommends weep holes. Weep holes are hydrostatic pressure release systems that- as the name would suggest- help to relieve hydrostatic pressure in your seawalls and retaining walls. Weep holes give the water a safe place to exit your yard and go home to the lake, river, canal, or ocean that it so badly wants to return to. This reduces the likelihood that hairline cracks will develop in your wall, and thus, separation cracks and tieback corrosion.
The Superiority of Jet Filters:
When it comes to weep holes, Sea Me Dive partners with Jet Filters. Jet Filters are not the only type of hydrostatic pressure release system, so why do we recommend them over other weep hole systems like PVC? Well, it is rather simple. Jet Filters are not just weep holes, but, as the name implies, they are also filters. The system works to relieve the water pressure while reducing soil loss. This is due to the usage of Mirafi geotextile fabric, which works to filter the soil instead of letting it run off into the body of water. No soil loss means no sinkholes and no buying bags of backfill or hiring landscapers! Plus, the backflow preventer check valve stops water from entering the other way, letting all the water get out without letting any in. It is for all of these reasons that Sea Me Dive chooses to use Jet Filters in its seawall repairs.
The Bottom Line:
The importance of consistent seawall inspection, repair and maintenance is unparalleled. Sea Me Dive wants to help your wall become the best, strongest wall it can be. We want it to last decades. We want you not to have to worry about its stability. And installing weep holes i just the start.