The advantages of sheet pile bulkheads are their long and relatively maintenance-free life and their
uniform appearance. Their disadvantages include the special pile-driving equipment and trained
operators required to install them. The equipment requires a fairly wide access route and ample
maneuvering room at the site, and it is noisy.
The different materials available for sheet pile bulkheads are discussed below.
Treated Timber
Well-designed and built timber structures have long been recognized as viable and economical for
bulkhead construction. Figure A-5 illustrates the common types of timber sheeting used.
Only specially treated timber should be used for marine construction. Only granular material
should be used for backfill. If anchor piles are used, the backfill should be mounded over them before
filling commences against the bulkhead. Joints between sheets should be kept as tight as possible. The
use of a filter fabric is advisable as an added precaution against loss of backfill through cracks.
Supplemental drain holes should be placed at regular intervals to further facilitate movement of water
from behind the structure and must always be backed with filter cloth or crushed stone filters. only
corrosion-resistant steels should be used for all hardware and fasteners. Wrought iron anchor rods with
turnbuckles and bolts have proven to be durable. Galvanized fasteners are also recommended. Carbon
steel should not be used unless protected with special coatings, such as coal-tar epoxy or other
bituminous materials.
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