Vinyl Sheet Pilings: Good For The Environment?

By Author: Leonard Simmons
Total Articles: 152
Comment this article

Vinyl sheet pilings are the latest and strongest products being used for seawall construction today. They have made all other construction materials for that application obsolete. Unlike those other products, they will last for a very long time without any breakdown or decomposition. They are also environmentally friendly.

The purpose of a seawall is twofold. The first is to keep the sea or lake off of the surrounding land to prevent erosion. The second is to keep the land and everything on it and in it, out of the water. The materials used in the past accomplished these things with varying degrees of success.
• Steel. These seawalls are subject to rust and corrosion causing breakdown and eventual erosion of the soil from behind. This allows for fertilizers, oil and other pollutants to leach into the waterways.
• Aluminum. This material is subject to corrosion by close contact with other materials that may be present in the soil or nearby in the water. The usually metallic materials have a chemical reaction aided by salt water to cause corrosion.
• Wood. Wood is subject to borers that do exactly ...
... as their name implies. They bore into wood and along with natural decay, weaken it and eventually cause it to fall into the water, followed by the land behind, causing muddy pollution choking healthy plant growth and robbing oxygen in waterways.
• Concrete. Concrete is porous and has alkaline properties with over time can affect the PH of the water. It is also supported internally by steel which will corrode as water penetrates the porous material.

Vinyl is impervious to water. It never corrodes or fades and will remain in place for many years. It will not allow anything from behind it to leach into the water system keeping out fertilizers, pesticides, oil, leaking sewage and anything else that has found its way into the soil. It is impact resistant and not subject to being damaged by boats or floating debris. It is unaffected by the ultraviolet rays of the sun.

Because of the inherent properties of sheet vinyl construction it is the best material against flooding events and used in the construction of the following:
• Levee and dike stabilization. Vinyl sheeting provides underground stabilization that prevents piping of water, due to poor soil conditions, which can lead to a total breach of the levee causing flooding of catastrophic proportions. This is a more cost effective method of long term stabilization than replacement of the total levee with steel or clay.
• Foundation protection. Vinyl sheeting prevents erosion around waterfront homes and buildings.
• Retaining walls. Able to withstand the toughest conditions and applications.
• Weir Walls. Longevity to structures that manage a constant flow of water.
• Detention ponds. A cost efficient alternative to concrete, wood and block. Easily accommodates outflow pipes and culverts.
• Flood Walls. Long lasting, lightweight constructability to contain seasonal water levels that may suddenly rise to flood stage.
• Cut off walls. Specially designed Ever Stop 30 is designed specifically for cut off wall and Superfund Site applications. Chemically resistant and 30 inches wide, it is an easily installed low cost solution.
• Bridge abutments and channel liners. Impact resistance and retaining qualities make it the perfect choice for these applications.

Sheet piling and its related products are the best choice for any project where water and land meet. There is no better way for establishing long term environmental protection for the sea, estuaries, lakes, rivers or anywhere else where a barrier is required to maintain the division between soil and water.

Want to learn more about sheet piling?

Get more information: http://www.everlastseawalls.com