Bulkhead repair in Jacksonville.
Fix the cause, not just the hole.

Bulkhead or seawall?

Locally the words are used interchangeably for a vertical wall that retains soil at the water’s edge. Florida’s marine contractor rule even separates “marine seawall” and “marine bulkhead” license categories. The federal bank-stabilization permit lists bulkheads among its covered techniques. Many older Jacksonville riverfront and creek lots have timber bulkheads; newer replacements are often vinyl or composite sheet pile, concrete or steel.

Fla. Admin. Code R. 61G4-15.100, Certified Specialty Contractors · 2026 NWP 13 – Bank Stabilization

How bulkheads fail in Northeast Florida water

Wood-Boring Marine and Estuarine Animals in Florida (SGEB-15) · St. Johns River · UFM 4-150-07 Waterfront Facilities: Operation and Maintenance

Common bulkhead repairs and published prices

Most of these figures come from one repair-focused publisher; other firms may price differently. Full detail and sources are in the cost guide.

^[1] · ^[2] · ^[9] · ^[5]

Riprap at the toe of a bulkhead

Rock at the base of a wall can reduce scour. Florida’s riprap general permit covers riprap at the toe of an existing vertical seawall, no steeper than 2 horizontal to 1 vertical and within 10 feet of the toe, using natural boulders or clean, rebar-free concrete rubble 1–3 feet across.

Rule 62-330.431, F.A.C. – General Permit for Installation of Riprap

Replacing a bulkhead in front of the old one

Florida exempts restoring a seawall within 18 inches waterward of the old face from state environmental permitting, with conditions, and the joint state-federal general permit uses the same 18-inch limit. Inside an aquatic preserve, the limit is one foot. The repair-or-replace guide explains how to use this.

s. 403.813(1)(e), F.S. (2026) · SPGP VI – 1. Shoreline Stabilization, Activity description · Rule 18-20.004, F.A.C. – Aquatic Preserve Management Policies, Standards and Criteria

If you rebuild in timber

Ask the engineer to specify the AWPA Use Category 5 treatment appropriate for southern salt and brackish water, and to explain the expected service life given local borers. One publisher states timber replacement typically runs 15–25% less than vinyl, but a shorter service life can erase that saving.

Accredited Agencies for Supervisory and Lot Inspection of Pressure Treated Wood Products (Jan 2026) · ^[7]

Next steps

1. Photograph the whole wall from fixed positions and note recent high water.
2. Book an assessment that includes sounding of timber and underwater checks if needed.
3. Check the permit guide for your city or county.
4. Verify the contractor’s marine license and insurance before signing.