Project documentation
Repairs Documented Start to Finish
Each published project records the problem reported, what the assessment actually found, the repair performed, and before and after photographs taken from the same positions.
The short answer
This site publishes no invented case studies, no stock project photography and no testimonials. Project documentation appears here only once real repairs have been completed and photographed. The case-study format and the photography requirements are published in the meantime, so you can see exactly what will be recorded.
No documented projects published yet
Plenty of contractor websites fill this page with stock photography and invented testimonials. This one does not. A case study here means a real repair, with real photographs from matched angles, and findings that can be checked against the work that was done.
Until there is genuine work to publish, the page documents the format instead. If you are evaluating contractors, the questions below are worth asking anyone whose project gallery looks impressive.
Case-study format
What each documented project records
The same fields every time, so projects can be compared rather than admired.
| Field | What goes in it | Required |
|---|---|---|
| Project titleDescribe the work and the wall, not the customer. "Vinyl bulkhead tieback restoration, 110 ft" rather than a homeowner name. | Describe the work and the wall, not the customer. "Vinyl bulkhead tieback restoration, 110 ft" rather than a homeowner name. | Yes |
| LocationCommunity or neighbourhood level only — never a street address. "Fleming Island, FL". | Community or neighbourhood level only — never a street address. "Fleming Island, FL". | Yes |
| CountyUsed for filtering and for linking the case study to the relevant location pages. | Used for filtering and for linking the case study to the relevant location pages. | Yes |
| Existing wall materialVinyl, timber, concrete, steel or composite, plus approximate age where known. | Vinyl, timber, concrete, steel or composite, plus approximate age where known. | Yes |
| Problem identifiedOne or two sentences stating what was wrong, in the property owner’s terms. | One or two sentences stating what was wrong, in the property owner’s terms. | Yes |
| Symptoms observedWhat was visible before assessment — the signs that prompted the call. | What was visible before assessment — the signs that prompted the call. | Yes |
| Assessment findingsWhat the assessment established, including anything that was not visible beforehand. Keep findings separate from recommendations. | What the assessment established, including anything that was not visible beforehand. Keep findings separate from recommendations. | Yes |
| Repair performedThe work actually carried out, in sequence. Avoid implying the same method suits other walls. | The work actually carried out, in sequence. Avoid implying the same method suits other walls. | Yes |
| Approximate length of workLinear feet of wall affected or treated. | Linear feet of wall affected or treated. | Optional |
| Before photographsWide shot of the wall, close-ups of the damage, and the ground behind the wall. Low tide where possible. Real photographs only. | Wide shot of the wall, close-ups of the damage, and the ground behind the wall. Low tide where possible. Real photographs only. | Yes |
| After photographsMatching angles to the before shots so the comparison is genuine rather than flattering. | Matching angles to the before shots so the comparison is genuine rather than flattering. | Yes |
| OutcomeWhat the work achieved. State it factually and avoid guaranteeing longevity or performance. | What the work achieved. State it factually and avoid guaranteeing longevity or performance. | Yes |
| Completion dateMonth and year is sufficient. | Month and year is sufficient. | Optional |
| Related servicesService slugs this project demonstrates, for internal linking. | Service slugs this project demonstrates, for internal linking. | Yes |
Photography standard
Why matched angles matter
A before photograph taken at high tide and an after photograph taken at low tide will make almost any repair look transformative. That is marketing, not documentation.
- Wide shot of the full wall from a fixed position, repeated identically after the work
- Close-ups of each specific defect, with a scale reference in frame
- The ground behind the wall, showing any depressions, voids or exposed hardware
- The waterline and toe at the lowest tide available
- Work in progress — excavation, injection ports, anchor installation
- The same fixed-position angles after completion and after site restoration
The same fixed positions, the same tide stage where possible, and the subsurface conditions recorded as well as the visible ones.
Questions worth asking any contractor’s project gallery
- Are the before and after photographs taken from the same position?
- Was the before shot taken at a different tide stage than the after?
- Does the case study say what the assessment found, or only what was done?
- Is the wall material and approximate age stated?
- Are findings separated from recommendations?
- Can the outcome be verified, or is it only asserted?
These are not rhetorical. They are the difference between a portfolio you can learn from and one you can only be impressed by. More on evaluating a repair recommendation.
Next step
Your wall could be the next documented project
Send photographs and a description of what you are seeing. Documentation starts at the assessment, not at the end of the job.