A Fort Myers bulkhead that's leaking soil, has open joints, or a cracked cap but still stands plumb can usually be repaired without replacement, and in unincorporated Lee County even repairs need a permit unless the county waives a minor one.
866-398-9323Licensed seawall specialists — FL · GA · SC
Seawall Repairs by Solid Foundations provides bulkhead repair in Fort Myers, FL for riverfront homeowners, HOAs, and commercial property owners. Typical projects include foam void fill behind Caloosahatchee walls loosened by Ian's surge, joint sealing on canal walls in McGregor and Whiskey Creek, and cap rebuilds in Iona. Call 866-398-9323 or use the quote form to book a free on-site inspection.
Often. The question is whether the wall is still standing where it was built. If so, the trouble is usually in the joints, the cap, or the fill behind it. Watch for:
If the wall has leaned out or panels have broken through, see bulkhead replacement in Fort Myers.
Ian pushed the river backward. In 2022, NHC reported 5 to 8 feet of surge inundation up the Caloosahatchee in Fort Myers. The tide gauge near downtown hit 7.26 feet above normal high tide, and the surge actually reversed the river's flow and flooded city streets (NHC Ian report). Water that high behind a wall, followed by a fast drop, pulls fill out through every weak joint.
The hits kept coming. Helene and Milton each drove the Fort Myers gauge above 5 feet over normal high tide in 2024. Joints that opened in 2022 had little time to be fixed.
A river, not just a canal. The Caloosahatchee carries freshwater releases from Lake Okeechobee through the locks, and the tidal estuary below the Franklin Lock mixes that with Gulf water. Walls on the river feel both current and tide.
NCFI marine-grade polyurethane goes in through small ports behind the wall, fills the washout, binds the fill, and seals joints from the land side. No excavation. See polyurethane injection.
Cracks are routed and sealed. Damaged cap is cut to sound concrete, steel treated, and new concrete poured.
Trapped rainwater pressure is a common hidden cause of cracking. Relief drains let it out.
| Condition | Our usual advice |
|---|---|
| Leaks and voids, wall straight | Foam fill and joint sealing |
| Cap damage, panels sound | Cap restoration |
| Wall leaning a few inches | Anchors first; see seawall reinforcement in Fort Myers |
| Panels broken through | Replace that section |
| Failing along most of its length | Replace the wall |
Void fill in Fort Myers usually costs $80–$250 per linear foot, and tieback anchors run $800–$2,500 apiece. Most residential repairs total $4,000–$20,000, well below replacement.
That depends on the address, not the mailing city. McGregor, Whiskey Creek, and Iona are unincorporated Lee County communities even though many have Fort Myers mailing addresses. There, Lee County's code says a permit is required to repair or replace an existing seawall, though the director can exempt minor repairs (Lee County Ord. 22-24). Inside City of Fort Myers limits, the city's marine checklist asks for seawall documents by a Florida registered design professional and an FDEP authorization letter. We handle either path.
We also repair bulkheads in Cape Coral and Naples. See all our local work on the Fort Myers seawall repair page.
Not if it's still straight. Filling the voids and sealing joints can stop the loss, and sooner is better, because every tide makes the voids larger.
Lee County requires a permit to repair or replace a seawall, but its director has discretion to exempt minor repairs. We check before starting.
Communities like Whiskey Creek and Iona are unincorporated Lee County despite Fort Myers mailing addresses. The property's jurisdiction decides.
Usually. Injection ports are small, so we work around hardscape rather than removing it.
Licensed, insured, NCFI-certified. Serving Florida, Georgia & South Carolina since 1996.
866-398-9323