Document the cap before selecting a patch
Photograph the cracking pattern, exposed steel, separated sections and where the cap meets docks or returns. Record any change over time from safe ground.
Ask how the professional will investigate the concrete and reinforcement and whether the damage reflects movement elsewhere in the wall.
What belongs in the written scope?
- Exact limits of removal and retained concrete.
- Specified treatment of reinforcement and connections.
- Repair material and preparation requirements.
- Drainage and joint details near the repaired section.
- Protection and reinstatement of dock attachments or finishes.
Ask what findings would expand the scope. A quote for surface finishing alone should say so.
Cap work and cap raising are different questions
The City’s submittal checklist asks for top-of-cap and adjoining-wall elevations. If the proposal changes the cap elevation, have the designer resolve drainage, neighbor transitions and current local requirements.
The height guide explains why visible wall height and survey elevation must not be substituted for each other.
Separate appearance, reinforcement and elevation
Photograph the original condition and keep any earlier repair invoices. Ask for a drawing or marked photograph of the proposed limits instead of a price described only by cap length. At handover, request the installed-work record and instructions for attachments or future maintenance; do not treat a neat surface as proof of the condition below it.
| Scope item | What to request |
|---|---|
Surface or structural work | Ask whether the scope addresses a finish defect, damaged concrete, reinforcement or the connection to the wall. |
Existing steel | Ask how exposed or concealed deterioration will be assessed and how extra repair is approved if found. |
Cap geometry | Request the repair limits and finished elevation. Identify connections, attachments and neighboring transitions that may change. |
Use the findings to choose the next step
Get the diagnosis and repair limits in writing. Compare a cap-only proposal with any needed drainage work or broader wall repair. Keep the permit and completion records with your property file.
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- Seawall permit checklistSource reviewed 2026-11-05