St. Johns River Homeowner Replaces Failing Timber Bulkhead with Novum Wall

THE CHALLENGE: A Failing Wooden Bulkhead on the St. Johns River

A one-of-a-kind riverfront home with a guest house in St. Johns, Florida, needed a one-of-a-kind solution when an existing failing timber wall was no longer up to the task. Novum Wall, produced by Green Cove Springs manufacturer Truemont Materials, was selected by the homeowner to protect the structural integrity of their residence, maximize the use of their backyard, and ensure ready access to their dock.

Located on the St. Johns River, this stately residence utilized two walls to both protect the property from erosion and mitigate the steep grade that ran down to the river. The river wall, a vinyl bulkhead with a cast-in-place (CIP) cap and reinforcing rip rap, works to protect the property from the forces of the river, including storm surges and tidal fluctuations. Meanwhile, the second wall, constructed of wood, was set back from the water and initially installed to create two tiers. The upper tier housed the home, the guest house, a pool with a lanai, a patio, and a fire pit.

Ultimately, the timber wall proved to be no match for Florida’s heat and humidity. It was beginning to show concerning signs of deterioration and potential failure, jeopardizing the patio and pool area, and potentially the residence and guest house themselves. The timber wall was also rapidly becoming an eyesore, detracting from the property’s beautiful riverfront setting.

The homeowner needed a wall solution that would:

• Support the existing structure of the upper tier, including the pool and the patio, and further safeguard the residence and guest house’s integrity
• Provide a durable, long-lasting alternative that wouldn’t rot or deteriorate like a wooden wall
• Allow for the integration of stairways to provide easy and direct access to the lower yard and dock
• Install directly in front of the failing wooden wall, minimizing excavation and eliminating the cost of removing the timber wall
• Offer a high-end natural appearance to complement the property’s beauty

Initially, the homeowners considered repeating the same timber wall concept further in front of the failing structure. However, after dealing with the dreaded ongoing maintenance and replacement cycle, they sought a long-term solution: a wall system that would “do it right” and break the pattern of replacing underperforming materials ill-suited for Florida’s climate.

THE SOLUTION: Novum Wall Gravity System for Waterfront Stability

The solution was an innovative machine-set precast modular block (PMB) solution crafted by Truemont Materials. A Novum gravity wall would be built directly in front of the deteriorating wooden bulkhead, transforming the upper wall into a durable, engineered system that still felt at home on the river. Unlike a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall, which requires extensive excavation and anchoring mechanisms, such as geogrid, a gravity wall utilizes the mass of the blocks to hold back the earth, making it ideal for sites with limited excavation capabilities.

Novum’s innovative design allowed them to

• Construct a new gravity wall tight to the existing bulkhead, providing necessary support without additional measures like geogrid or soil anchors
• Protect the patio, pool, and structure foundations by shifting loads into a stable, engineered block system
• Integrate stairways near both the main house and guest house, turning a walk-around detour into a direct, convenient path to the dock
• Create step-downs and elevation breaks that match the changing slope while maintaining a clean, cohesive, and classic appearance enhanced by Novum Wall’s Summit texture

This wall represented the installer’s first time working with a modular block system like Novum. They were familiar with vinyl and wood bulkheads that often rely on soil anchors, so the idea of a gravity wall that didn’t require anchors was very appealing.

THE PROJECT: Modular Block Gravity Wall on a Florida Riverfront

The project focused on replacing the upper, failing wooden bulkhead in a way that minimized disruption to the existing site while maximizing the new wall’s performance. Novum Wall is ideal for installations with limited access or tight project footprints, such as those often found in waterfront projects. It installs with smaller, less intrusive equipment, such as skid-steers and mini-excavators. With a per-block face area of nearly three square feet, installations are completed in a fraction of the time compared to hand-set dry cast segmental retaining walls (SRW) and other labor-intensive wall alternatives.

Novum Wall is also designed for maximum design versatility, including the ability to create tight 90-degree corners and add both concave and convex curves to the wall. The seamless integration of two stairways – one near the main home and patio, and another by the guest house – was executed without compromising wall stability or aesthetics. The modular block layout made it straightforward to frame clean stair openings directly into the wall, maintaining proper support while creating convenient, direct access down to the lower yard and dock. This flexibility allowed the finished riverfront to feel intentional and connected, rather than an afterthought patched onto a failing structure.

By choosing Novum, the team delivered a wall system that outperforms the old timber wall in terms of durability and lifespan, improves the daily usability of both the upper and lower yards, and enhances the property's appearance with a more finished, intentional design. The success of the project also gave the installer the confidence to schedule their next Novum job soon after.

THE OUTCOME: Long-Term Riverfront Retaining Wall Performance

With the new Novum wall in place, the homeowners enjoy a more stable, usable, and attractive outdoor space.. Upon its completion, the project delivered:

• Vital structural support for the home, the guest house, the pool, and the patio
• A long-term, minimal-maintenance wall system that won’t rot or decay like timber
• Direct, integrated stair access to the lower yard and dock from both the main house and guest house
• A wall that can step down with grade changes without looking patched together or improvised
• A massive upgrade in the attractiveness of a high-visibility outdoor space, giving the wall the refined character of natural stone, which the owners now enjoy nearly every day

What began as a deteriorating upper wall and a frustrating maintenance cycle has become a clean, engineered solution that the installer is now eager to replicate on future projects. The homeowners no longer have to choose between structural performance and aesthetics. They get both in a system designed to last a lifetime.