Tips For Purchasing Vinyl Bulkhead Material

[Posted on August 29th, 2013 by Aaron Presley]

When it comes to shopping for vinyl bulkhead material, it’s first important to understand why you would want vinyl in comparison to another material. Especially when you are creating a bulkhead or retaining wall, you want to look at the environment that it will be exposed to. What you put in your front yard for landscaping purposes may be very different than what you would need for a beachfront home.

There are several types of materials used for a retaining wall. If you don’t use vinyl, you could use wood or even steel. Vinyl has a number of advantages. It doesn’t warp, it cannot rot, and it is affordable. If you are going to buy bulkhead material, you need to know where to get it and how much to buy.

It’s important to know that a retaining wall and a bulkhead are one and the same. While the hull of a ship has a bulkhead as well, you are looking for the material that is designed for building – not for sailing.

Especially when you are creating a retaining wall for the purpose of erosion control, you want treated pilings. If they are not treated, you are going to end up building your retaining wall over and over again. The reason for this is because the water and soil are going to eat their way through the pilings and cause mold, decay, and ultimately, your wall will come sliding down.

The vinyl bulkhead material should be strong enough to last in the conditions that you are placing it in. When you purchase from a lumber company along with your other supplies, let them know what you will be using it for. They will then help you select the right weight. If you buy too flimsy of a vinyl bulkhead, it’s not going to last as long as you want it to.

While some people are concerned with retaining walls and what it is doing for the environment, you have to consider that it may be a necessity. When you are building on a beach, it may actually have a negative impact because of how the shoreline can be affected. Before you go out and buy the vinyl bulkhead material and build a retaining wall, you want to make sure it is permitted.

Washington State and several others have actually begun requiring a permit because of the Shoreline Management Act and other similar acts that have been created to protect the shores. If you are not building along a shore, then you have nothing to worry about.

Ultimately, when you purchase vinyl bulkhead material, you have to look at whether it is the best material for you based upon the environmental conditions. Further, it’s a good idea to discuss your project with professionals to obtain more tips for installation and assistance for buying the best materials possible.