Cap Restoration
If you need seawall cap repair in Miami, the cap is usually telling you that chloride ingress has reached the rebar. We arrest the corrosion, restore the concrete profile, and protect the steel for the next 20 plus years.
Seawall cap repair in Miami is a sequence of operations designed to stop active corrosion, replace lost concrete, and protect the cap going forward. We do not paint over the problem. Every project follows ACI 562 concrete repair guidance adapted for salt-exposed marine work.
Active cracks are routed open, cleaned, and injected with low-viscosity polyurethane or epoxy resin depending on crack width, water condition, and movement. In Miami's salt environment we favor flexible polyurethane resins that tolerate thermal cycling.
Delaminated and spalled concrete is removed back to sound material with hand or pneumatic tools. Exposed rebar is wire-brushed to bright metal, treated with a corrosion-inhibiting coating, and where section loss exceeds 20 percent, replaced with epoxy-coated or stainless rebar tied to existing.
Cleaned section is rebuilt with polymer-modified repair mortar or, for larger sections, structural concrete with corrosion inhibitor admixture. Patches are bonded with a slurry coat or commercial bonding agent and finished flush with the existing cap.
Where the cap is otherwise sound, we recommend a silane or siloxane penetrating sealer to slow future chloride ingress. This is a 5 to 10 year maintenance step that meaningfully extends cap life.
| Condition | Method | Cost / LF | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairline cracks, no rebar corrosion | Polyurethane injection + sealer | $40 to $80 | 5 years |
| Active cracks < 1/4 inch, light rust | Inject + spall patch + rebar treat | $80 to $160 | 5 years |
| Moderate spalling, exposed rebar | Section repair + bar replacement | $160 to $280 | 5 years |
| Heavy spalling > 30% | Partial cap rebuild | $300 to $480 | 10 years |
| Cap failure across full length | Full cap replacement | $400 to $600+ | 10 years |
Why Miami Owners Choose Us
Our crew is trained to ACI 562 (Code Requirements for Evaluation, Repair, and Rehabilitation of Existing Concrete Structures). That matters because patching without arresting corrosion is the most common reason repaired caps fail again within 5 years.
ACI 562 trained crew leadsWe use repair mortars and concrete mixes designed for chloride-exposed marine work, not generic patch products. Inhibitor admixtures, low water-cement ratios, and silica fume additions are standard. ACI 318 specifies 1.5 inches clear cover for saltwater exposure; many older Miami caps had under 1 inch, which is why they fail.
ACI 318 saltwater specs minimumCap repair carries a 5-year workmanship warranty in writing on every contract. Repeat-call rate over the last 3 years is under 4 percent on jobs still inside their warranty period.
<4% repeat-call rate inside warrantyMiami caps are particularly vulnerable because of the combination of high humidity, salt-saturated air, and chloride-laden splash zone water. ACI guidance says concrete in marine splash zones needs 1.5 inches of clear cover over rebar plus corrosion-resistant admixtures. Many Miami caps from the 1970s and 80s were built with under 1 inch cover and standard portland cement. The result is predictable: by year 25 the rebar is corroding and the cap is opening up. Cap repair is not just patching; it is correcting a 50-year-old design choice with materials and methods that did not exist when the wall was built.
"Our HOA needed 320 feet of new vinyl sheet pile and a phased build to keep the Intracoastal dockage open. Crew worked off a barge for most of it. Came in on time and on budget. Board signed the closeout three weeks early."Michael R.Sunny Isles Beach · Sheet piling installation
"Old timber bulkhead was finally giving up after 30 years. They walked me through repair vs replacement honestly, recommended converting to vinyl since repair would have cost 70 percent of replacement. Glad we listened. Wall looks great."Karen W.Palmetto Bay · Bulkhead repair
"Listed our house and the buyer asked for a seawall inspection. They were out in four days, diver did the underwater work, full written report with photos. Helped us close the deal without surprises. Worth every minute."John B.Surfside · Pre-sale seawall inspection
Crack injection and surface spall patch typically runs 60 to 180 dollars per linear foot in Miami. Heavy spalling with rebar replacement runs 200 to 400 per linear foot. Full cap replacement is generally 300 to 600 per linear foot.
In Miami's saltwater environment, the dominant cause is chloride ingress that corrodes the cap's reinforcing steel. Once rebar corrodes, it expands up to 7 times its original volume, splitting concrete from inside out. Thermal cycling and overtopping pressure during king tides accelerate the process.
Most cracked caps can be repaired. Cracks under a half inch with no rebar corrosion are typically injection candidates. Spalling under 30 percent of cross-section can be patched. Beyond that, partial or full cap replacement is usually the better long-term call.
Most cap repair projects are completed in 3 to 7 working days, including cure time. Larger section repairs can run 1 to 2 weeks.
Free inspection. Written estimate within 48 hours.
Schedule Free Inspectionor call (555) 000-0000