Sea Wall

matt5151

Wondering what kind of cement or mortar to use when building a see wall 20 x ten. Using bolders and stone from the ocean.

thanks

bruno002

portland cement

concretemasonry

Building a 10' high sea wall is not a small project. the length is a minor issue. Is it exposed to waves or just some tide fluctuations?

Do you have any idea what you need to hold it together or reinforce it? Centainly mortar or concrete is not enough unless you have 5,000# blocks.

Look for contractor that has done this before and check references.

Dick

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Dick

Engineer, designer and consultant recently active domestically and internationally on construction and design in about 35 countries.

bill r

Someone experienced in bank stabilization in your area needs to advise you. Usually, loose HEAVY rip-rap is best, but every site is different.

denick

matt5151,

You do need to supply more info as the guy's have said. We have built 1000's of feet of sea wall on Long Island Sound using many different styles of construction. And greatly varying size rocks.

The wall I would have considered the strongest built that we worked on was moved about 75' in one freak storm and it's tidal wave action.

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Nick

"Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving" Albert Einstein

Tscarborough

The ones that I have seen that work don't use any mortar. They are either driven steel piles (and they end up washing), or seriously battered (as in set-back, not beat up) rip-rap. Any wall fronting on water is not a DIY'er project and a 20' tall sea wall is a serious undertaking. You need an engineer that is familar with local conditions and materials.

hurricane hogan

You really should research the information on how seawalls can cause changes with tidal action effects on the water flow, sand banking, erosion etc. It is complicated and there are people who have a lot of info and expertise on the subject. With that said, if the wall is 10 feet high, or 20!, you definetly need an engineer.
I have done some little seawalls. (4 feet high) and some steps to my own beach. We get some serious winter storms here, with logs that pound the shore like batterig rams and make the ground shake. Remember that wave action is like rust and government, it never sleeps.
24/7 as they say.
But what I really wanted to say is if you use beach rocks, pressure spray them to get the dirt and salt off. Also, in many areas it is a real no no to take rocks off the beach, but I want tell anybody.
If you make concrete or mortar, use fly ash, it adds a huge advantage especially in sea wall applications, Also type 50 cement (high sulphate resistant, right?) is a good idea. My beach steps are concrete, about 7 years old, and the only damage they show is where some of the clam shells I put in as decoration have been broken by the storms.

Good luck, Michael

matt5151

To be more clear. There is a pre existing baracade. the stone wall Im attempting to build is basicaly cosmetic not structural. I have sunk 5/8 rebar into the concrete wall and now would like to build and attach a stable stone wall to it. It will at times be pounded by the ocean.

thanks

Teetorbilt

Wish you luck. The ocean works 24/7/365 and it's force varies significantly. Few ill conceived structures last very long.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

POOLMANinCT

I have always marveled at sea wall construction. I have never seen on being buit... anybody have pix?

whenever I admire a seawall, I think to myself where do I get the stones to complain about ground water lol

ray

Teetorbilt

Rebar is self-destructive. The swelling (caused by oxidation, rust) will blow masonry apart.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

JasontheMason

We built one couple years ago and we did out of stone and when we finished they drilled 10' deep holes I think it was 1'' round, and they put in crommolly rods in there with epoxy. I dont know how well it help up, but it was really strong.

Dik Redi

First i like to say im glad i scrolled thru and read all the replys be4 i commented. Becuase my first reply to this was going to be the ocean ROCK ( we lay STONES and throw the Rocks lol) and the SALT init,, glad to see Hurricane hogan knows what the ocean salt can do to mortar and cement,,, and i wouldnt use the ocean rock at all its still soaked with salt and wont bond if u use mortor/cement... rip-raff and blast-rock dry set probly best bet.