Dune Walkovers

The walkway from your property to the beach is called a dune walkover.  It is very important that it is built correctly and with all the proper permits.  As most property owners know, beachfront structures are very regulated by the State of Florida and the dune walkover is no exception.  This regulation does not prevent you from having or repairing one but it is important that you do it properly. 

Boardwalks are firm structures built over rolling, unstable land or wetlands.  Their purpose is to allow the pedestrian a safe and dry walk through what is usually a very beautiful landscape.  Due to the sensitive nature of the environment that it traverses it usually requires permits and solid construction. 

An important part of the construction is that the walkway be installed to the proper depth.  Installing the stairway or ramp to the existing elevation is fine for the moment, it is important to realize that the beach dune is a variable environment.  As storms come and go sand can be deposited or removed from the same site.  Therefore, the walkway that was built several years ago seemed fine at the time, it may be several feet off the ground now.

Unfortunately, the State of Florida regulates the size of the timbers and therefore we cannot always build it as strong as we would like.  But, when done improperly, it can also be built without anticipating these changes and could fail without sufficient reason, prematurely.