Sinkholes, Cracks & Erosion Behind Your Seawall

A hole opening up in the lawn or pool deck a few feet back from the water almost always means soil is escaping through or under the seawall. Every tide pulls a little more fill out through an open joint, a crack, or a gap at the toe, until the surface collapses.

Why it matters

The soil behind the wall is part of the structure. As it washes out, the wall loses support, tiebacks can loosen, and pavers, patios, pools and even foundations can settle. Neighboring walls can be affected too. In Manalapan, seawall damage between neighbors led to lawsuits (The Coastal Star, "Manalapan seawall damage has neighbors vying with lawsuits").

Typical fixes

• Find and seal the leak path: joint grouting, filter fabric, or patching cracked panels
• Refill the voids, sometimes with polyurethane foam or cementitious grout injection
• Add riprap at the toe to stop scour
• Repair or replace the wall if it's structurally compromised

Safety: Keep people, pets and vehicles away from active sinkholes near the wall. If the wall is moving quickly, ask for an urgent evaluation. Related: seawall repair, inspection.

Areas served

Lake Worth Beach · Lantana · Hypoluxo · Manalapan · Boynton Beach · Palm Beach · West Palm Beach · Delray Beach · North Palm Beach · Jupiter