Replace a Savannah bulkhead when it has rotated, broken through, or rotted along most of its length. For most marsh-front homes, vinyl or composite sheet pile, driven deep and tied back, holds up best to the area's big tides.
866-398-9323Licensed seawall specialists — FL · GA · SC
Seawall Repairs by Solid Foundations provides bulkhead replacement in Savannah, GA for waterfront homeowners, HOAs, and marinas. Typical projects include swapping worn timber bulkheads on Wilmington Island creeks for vinyl sheet pile, rebuilding walls damaged by the storm tides of Matthew and Irma, and tying a new wall cleanly into a neighbor's bulkhead on the Skidaway River. Call 866-398-9323 or use the quote form to book a free on-site inspection.
If only a section is failing, replacing just that run can make sense. If the wall is basically sound, start with bulkhead repair in Savannah.
| Material | Typical lifespan* | Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl sheet pile | 40–50+ yrs | Doesn't rot, rust, or attract borers | Needs a strong cap and anchors |
| Composite (FRP) sheet pile | 50+ yrs | Very stiff, long service life | Costs more up front |
| Treated timber | 15–25 yrs | Familiar look on older creek lots | Rot and marine borers shorten its life |
| Steel sheet pile | 25–40 yrs in salt water | Heavy commercial loads | Rusts without coatings |
| Precast concrete | 30–50 yrs | Matching an existing concrete run | Heavy; needs sealed joints |
*Actual life depends on exposure, installation, and upkeep.
Because Savannah walls see roughly seven feet of water come and go twice a day, the sheeting has to reach deep enough below the mudline to hold when the creek drains to low water. That depth, not just the material, is what keeps a new wall standing.
Your bulkhead rarely stands alone. On a creek lined with private walls, each one butts into the next, and a mismatch in height or alignment becomes a weak point where water wraps around. We survey both neighboring walls, plan the transitions, and tie the new sheeting into the old so the joint doesn't open up. If a neighbor's wall is failing, we'll point that out before we build so you can plan for it together.
Georgia treats new bank-hardening seriously. The Coastal Resources Division says a permit is needed to put a bulkhead or riprap on any tidally influenced creek or river bank, and work below the high tide line needs written approval from both DNR and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CRD authorizations). Your county or Georgia EPD may also review work inside the 25-foot erosion and sediment buffer. We pull the survey, plans, and applications together for you.
Tip: After a named storm, every contractor on the coast gets busy. Starting before hurricane season gives you the best shot at a spot in the schedule.
Bulkhead replacement in Savannah typically costs $250–$600 per linear foot for a full replacement. A 75-foot residential vinyl sheet pile replacement typically runs $20,000–$45,000. Wall height, sheet length, access from land or water, and any rock at the toe all move the number. Our Savannah seawall services page covers the rest of what we do here.
If you want rock at the toe too, see riprap installation in Savannah. Planning a new dock at the same time? Visit marine construction in Savannah. We also replace bulkheads in Hilton Head and St. Simons Island.
For most homes, yes. Vinyl doesn't rot or get eaten by marine borers, so it usually outlasts treated timber by decades. Timber still costs less up front.
Sometimes, but in Georgia any placement change on a tidal bank goes through state and federal review. We'll show you what's realistic before you commit.
It depends on wall height and the soil we find, and the engineer sets it. Big tides and soft marsh mud usually call for longer sheets than people expect.
Usually. Where the dock ties into the wall, we plan how to support, detach, or rebuild that connection as part of the job.
Licensed, insured, NCFI-certified. Serving Florida, Georgia & South Carolina since 1996.
866-398-9323