Seaside Seawalls is in Pinckney, MI working on the shoreline
of Portage Lake. Our talented team of marine construction specialists is
installing a brand new galvanized steel seawall in front of a failing cement
seawall. The project also calls for refining the condition of the lake bed in
front of the wall so we will dredge a 10’ x 62’ area and haul away the spoils.
Due to age and nature of the material, much like
the highways, the cement began to deteriorate. There a few different situations
that can agitate concrete and cause it to crumble. One is time. Given enough of
it oxygen in the air merges with calcium hydroxide in the concrete which causes
it to turn into calcium carbonate (chalk). These buildups quickly break down and cause
the concrete’s surface to become weakened by large gouges. The extreme changes
in Michigan weather conditions can cause the concrete to expand and contract and ultimately
breakdown. Water is also a common enemy to concrete seawalls as it tends to erode the
material. Lastly, believe it or not, the largest problem with concrete is actually
caused by bacteria. An invasion of anaerobic bacteria to be exact. Resembling
the bacteria found in plaque on teeth, the microorganisms cling to the porous
holes in the concrete’s exterior and survive by drawing out mineral nutrients
within the material. Trace amounts of sulfuric acid is created by the bacteria’s
waste and eats holes into the already fragile concrete. Replacing the concrete
seawall with a galvanized steel seawall will eliminate these predicaments and
improve the home’s overall Portage lake waterfront appeal.