Create a useful record of your seawall and agree on care suited to its condition. Dated observations make the next assessment more informative and help keep follow-up decisions organized.
Regular checks can catch changes in the top of the wall, joints, drainage and nearby ground. Keeping dated photos and reports helps a professional spot problems and plan repairs.
From safe ground, note new holes, movement or damage and keep earlier reports. Do not clear drains, excavate, drill or try structural repairs yourself. Ask a professional which tasks are appropriate for your wall.
Answer from what you already know. Stay on safe ground; do not go near the edge or into the water to check. You can choose “Not sure” for any question.
Skip this and go to the request form
An inspection can help answer the questions you were unsure about.
An on-site inspection is needed to assess the wall’s condition. These answers help you explain what you have noticed.
Prepare for a professional assessment · Discuss the next step
Tell us about the concern and we’ll help you work out the next step.
Continue to the request form. You can choose whether to include this check with your request.
The questions cover signs shown in the City of Holmes Beach seawall manual (pages 5–13): soil loss, wall movement, open joints and damaged concrete.
Choose the care you want to discuss. Use this guide to understand the options, what is included and the next steps.
Request plan details
Ask what is included, what it costs and when it can be arranged.
If the wall is moving or the ground is opening, keep people away and get prompt professional help. Those changes need attention sooner than a routine maintenance visit.
The City of Holmes Beach seawall manual gives general examples of wear, drainage and maintenance. Use the property’s approved design and current Indian River County or municipal requirements for local work.
Tell us about your wall and the care you need. Discuss the options, schedule and price before you choose a plan.
The right schedule depends on the wall’s age, condition and exposure. Ask the person assessing it to recommend when it should be checked again.
Ask which maintenance tasks and repairs are included in the plan and which would cost extra.
Ask whether the plan includes a post-storm check. Repairs and insurance claims are separate, so check your agreement and insurance policy for the details.
Tell us if you need a written report. Ask for dated photos, the areas checked, any areas that could not be inspected and recommended next steps.
Yes. Tell us which properties need care and who owns them. Discuss the checks and access needed at each location.
Choose safe observation points and label each wall segment consistently. Record dates, visible water conditions and changes in the yard, joints or cap. Compare new photographs with earlier ones before describing a feature as recent.
Lagoon water levels respond strongly to wind, so a different visible waterline does not by itself show wall movement. Keep condition observations separate from surveyed elevations. If movement or ground loss appears new, seek professional review instead of waiting for the next planned maintenance check.
Drainage systems must release water while retaining backfill; their filters and design matter. Ask the professional to define any drain inspection or servicing task rather than treating a blocked opening as permission to drill, clear or modify the wall.
Likewise, a mangrove branch or root near the seawall raises a separate vegetation question. DEP distinguishes trimming from alteration and addresses conflicts with existing seawalls through its district review guidance. Keep structural care and authorized vegetation work clearly described in the agreement.
EM 1110-2-2502, Retaining and Flood Walls, September 29, 1989 · Mangrove Frequently Asked Questions
Agree on the tasks, written findings, excluded components and the circumstances requiring a separate assessment. Ask who provides engineering judgment when a concern needs it, and verify the relevant Florida credentials. A recurring visit is not a warranty that a wall will survive future storms.
Concrete-repair guidance starts with understanding deterioration before choosing a treatment. If new rust staining, spalling or soil loss is reported, ask whether the care plan needs to pause for investigation. Record the resulting recommendation and the owner’s next action.
Statutes and Rules · Construction Industry Business Information · Guide to Concrete Repair, second edition, 2015
Tell us about your wall and how to reach you. Use this guide to plan the care it needs.
Tell us where your property is and what needs attention.
Clear guidance for your waterfront project.
