Go Back   Winnipesaukee Forum > Winnipesaukee Forums > Home, Cottage or Land Maintenance
Home Forums Gallery Webcams Blogs YouTube Channel Classifieds Calendar Register FAQDonate Members List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-26-2022, 12:47 PM   #1
Merrymeeting
Senior Member
 
Merrymeeting's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham
Posts: 2,216
Thanks: 299
Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts
Default Precast shoreline walls

I'm curious to know how others feel about the attached photos. All are of projects, approved by DES, that have been installed this spring.

There was a period when DES discouraged these types of walls due to the visual impact on the natural shoreline, the reflection of boat wakes/waves, etc. But apparently they are now being allowed as "in-kind" replacement of natural stone waterfront walls.

Personally, I think they are eyesores and would prefer a wall like the one in the last picture. Both accomplish the same but the latter is much more in keeping with the natural lake shoreline and helps dissipate wave action.

As things are going, soon the lakes will all have a shoreline that looks like all the seawalls in FL. But perhaps it's just that I don't like the look.
Attached Images
    
Merrymeeting is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Merrymeeting For This Useful Post:
BroadHopper (04-26-2022)
Old 04-26-2022, 12:56 PM   #2
BroadHopper
Senior Member
 
BroadHopper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Laconia NH
Posts: 5,504
Thanks: 3,113
Thanked 1,089 Times in 783 Posts
Default

Eyesore plus requires drainage as precast walls are not porous.
__________________
Someday may never be an actual day.
BroadHopper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2022, 01:25 PM   #3
WinnisquamZ
Senior Member
 
WinnisquamZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,865
Thanks: 192
Thanked 589 Times in 394 Posts
Default

Half the cost of a natural stonewall and does the job. Glad to hear DES is helping out with shoreline ownership.


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app
WinnisquamZ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2022, 01:31 PM   #4
Onshore
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 500
Thanks: 12
Thanked 400 Times in 143 Posts
Default

If there is in fact a pre-existing wall then NHDES cannot reject a permit based on poor taste in aesthetics. That's just not within our scope. The new wall face cannot be lakeward of the old wall face. If there was toe protection rip-rap we will permit retaining it as it helps dissipate wave energy. Precast block walls are not water-tight and all walls should incorporate proper back drainage otherwise they risk failure due to the freeze thaw cycle or hydrostatic pressure build up.
Onshore is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2022, 01:47 PM   #5
Descant
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Merrimack and Welch Island
Posts: 4,003
Thanks: 1,203
Thanked 1,498 Times in 975 Posts
Default

It looks better than just dropping in a bunch of jersey barriers. I think I'd prefer permitting some sele3ctive mining of navigation hazards if you need to build retaining walls. I understand there are some downsides to wave action on flat walls.
Descant is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Old 04-26-2022, 02:31 PM   #6
WinnisquamZ
Senior Member
 
WinnisquamZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,865
Thanks: 192
Thanked 589 Times in 394 Posts
Default

Absolutely. To this day I don’t understand why water rock hazards can’t be removed


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app
WinnisquamZ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2022, 04:35 PM   #7
winterh
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 229
Thanks: 21
Thanked 118 Times in 53 Posts
Default

Agree those walls are butt ugly but probably better than letting the shoreline erode.
winterh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2022, 04:57 PM   #8
LIforrelaxin
Senior Member
 
LIforrelaxin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Long Island, not that one, the one on Winnipesaukee
Posts: 2,813
Thanks: 1,011
Thanked 878 Times in 513 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by winterh View Post
Agree those walls are butt ugly but probably better than letting the shoreline erode.
There is the key right there, they may not be the most attractive thing, but they help lakefront owners, protect their property... Unfortunately the cost of doing manual labor to build a true walk wall is out of site....

If the shoreline continues to be allowed to deteriate, the end result is not good for the lake...
__________________
Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....
LIforrelaxin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2022, 07:05 PM   #9
Winilyme
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Ice in = CT / Ice out = Winnipesaukee
Posts: 431
Thanks: 100
Thanked 262 Times in 139 Posts
Default

The top two patterned walls are sad-looking and, although not great, the rectangular block wall at least looks a tad better IMO since it doesn't appear like someone is trying to mimic a natural rock wall. Regardless, after a few years of exposure I suppose any of the walls might start to blend in a bit. Maybe? Hopefully?

Over time, the opportunity is for the manufacturers to make their products look more natural...or maybe they already do. That may not mean lower cost but in many cases people will still pay a premium for low maintenance AND good design. We've seen that with all manner of building products. Why not lakefront walls?

BTW - This string is tempting FLL to carry on yet again about his concrete-in-a-bag (or whatever it is) underwater wall solution.
Winilyme is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2022, 07:32 PM   #10
John Mercier
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 2,904
Thanks: 2
Thanked 523 Times in 431 Posts
Default

They can mimic it.
Just the choices made are not for stone that is native to the area... more of a cut stone format. It is less expensive.
John Mercier is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2022, 08:34 PM   #11
samosetguy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 57
Thanks: 38
Thanked 35 Times in 14 Posts
Default Natural Stone

I much prefer the natural stone. It's not just the look. It's everything. We had a family of mink in our wall one spring. It was amazing to see.
samosetguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2022, 09:08 PM   #12
FlyingScot
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Tuftonboro and Sudbury, MA
Posts: 2,208
Thanks: 1,108
Thanked 934 Times in 576 Posts
Default

I prefer the natural stone. If you've had your property for a while, you have an existing wall. If you're doing new construction on the lake today, chances are you've got plenty of cash, no need to economize
FlyingScot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2022, 09:35 PM   #13
Descant
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Merrimack and Welch Island
Posts: 4,003
Thanks: 1,203
Thanked 1,498 Times in 975 Posts
Default Scavenger

Many years ago building s breakwater was moistly scavenging boulders from the shore and stacking them up. Over time, the shore where the boulders used to be, eroded. If the property sold, nobody noticed. It is only evident to those who have occupied the same property for, say, 50 years, and shorefront trees have died where their roots used to hold things together. Erosion is a slow process.
Descant is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Descant For This Useful Post:
FlyingScot (04-27-2022)
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:19 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

This page was generated in 0.34694 seconds