Bulkhead Inspections
*May depend on tidal action and water visibility

Bulkhead Inspections or more appropriately Bulkhead Assessments can be limited by water clarity and tides. One of the largest problems with bulkhead systems is erosion of the backfill area. As the backfill begins to erode, the granular surface is affected, as is the drainage. The increase in hydrostatic pressure, coupled with the lateral forces of the earth itself, tend to push the bulkhead over or significantly warp it.

Secondly, wood bulkheads rot out and aluminum ones can corrode out. Wood pilings may last 15-20 years. Wood poly coated pilings may have a warranty of 25 years. Concrete exceeds most of these and is mostly limited by the life of the metal tie-backs.

The major points in favor of these structures is that they can be attractive and protect property while they are functional. In some cases one has no choice on bulkheads which may be dictated by deed restrictions or other authority having jurisdiction. Wood bulkheads should be used only in harbors or areas not prone to wave action as wave and water action on the front side of the bulkhead area creates a number of problems including but not limited to undermining the bulkhead.

Bulkheads can be constructed from a variety of materials including concrete, wood, vinyl, steel and aluminum. Each material has its pros and cons. Wood for example may be the least expensive but may also not last as long due to marine organisms and decay. In addition marine organisms, corrosion and soil pH can damage materials in ways that may not be obvious unless destructive testing is made by the owner of the bulkhead which would include laboratory analysis all of which is beyond the bounds of a visual inspection.

Marine borers are little organisms that love to eat wood, and they are divided into two groups:

1. Mollusca: The mollusca are animals with a shell, like oysters or clams.

2. Crustacea: The crustacean are in the same family as lobsters and crabs
 

There are also wood-boring insects and worms such as the teredo (Phylum: Mollusca) which is a marine bivalve mollusk similar to an elongated clam. Its two shells, enclosing only the front end of the body, function as a tool, rather than a protective covering; their ridged and roughened surfaces are used for boring. The common shipworm of the Atlantic Ocean, Teredo navalis, may grow up to 2 ft (60 cm) long, although its shells remain only 12 in. (12 mm) long.

Shipworms feed on wood particles and minute organisms. They do enormous damage to piers and ships and were death to the wooden ships that cruised the oceans of the world. Wood is perhaps historically the most popular choice of material in residential marine bulkhead construction. A wood pile/wale/sheet system is a common bulkhead configuration. With proper treatment the service life for a wood bulkhead might be 20 years (subjective) to minimize marine borer impact. CCA is Pressure Treated lumber or Pilings that have been pressure-impregnated with a preservative which makes the wood resistant to attack by marine borers that cause wood to decay. However, treated lumber is not immune from decay and will eventually rot in water. Any wood preservative starts to diminish from the day it is placed in the water.

Damage and rot to the sheathing boards and whalers is time-consuming and fairly expensive, since the entire earthen surface and granular backfill behind may need to be removed.

In some cases, the bulkhead may be damaged due to loads in excess of what it was originally designed to withstand. For example, the homeowners may have installed a swimming pool after the bulkheading. Adding a pool may have damaged the tie-backs as well and the only way of knowing is to dig up the yard. Planting trees along bulkheads can cause damage.

It would be best if inspections are performed at certain times of the year (typically winter - November/December to February) along the Gulf Coast shorelines and canals when winds tend to push the water from the canals and at low tide. Portions of bulkheads underwater or buried in the earth are naturally, not able to be seen or inspected depending on water clarity.