Flush Seawall Timber Wale Splice Plates

Older Pinellas canal walls still run timber wales behind the sheet or the concrete face. The splice is a bolted joint. Once a paver walk covers the land side of that joint, the only way to see the bolts is to pull the field apart.

What the plate is for

A flush timber wale splice plate is a small reinforced bay set into the cap walk so the splice can be opened later. It is not a repair of the wall. The marine contractor owns the wale. We own the paver bay that lets someone look at it.

How it is built

Locate the splice with the marine contractor before the walk is locked. Set a rigid frame so the surrounding field can be compacted without dropping into the opening. Keep the plate flush with the cap walk, pitched so it does not become a pond.

• Opening sized to the bolt pattern, not to a full panel

• Frame isolated from the wale so a wall movement does not crack the walk

• Mark the bay so the next owner knows it lifts

PaverForge Hardscapes is based in St. Pete Beach. For a timber wale splice plate on an existing cap walk, call 727-490-9798.