What is sheet piling? Sheet piling (in Dutch: damwand) is a heavier form of bank protection: a vertical wall of interlocking boards or profiles that separates soil from water. Ordinary sheeting mainly keeps the water's edge in place. Sheet piling goes further. It retains soil, holds back water and is built to stay in place for decades along quays, canals and banks.
Houthandel Jan Sok in Meppel supplies two kinds: Azobe hardwood with tongue and groove, and Prolock sheet piling made from recycled plastic. Azobe heartwood is rated class 1 under EN 350 and, correctly installed, commonly lasts 25 to 40 years or more in water without treatment. Prolock lasts at least 50 years with almost no maintenance, and standard sheet-piling systems are commonly specified for 60 years.
How sheet piling works
A sheet pile wall is a straight wall whose parts lock into each other. Hardwood uses tongue and groove joints to form a closed face. Plastic uses a click profile so the wall stays tight. That interlock is what separates sheet piling from loose bank boards: the wall does not just hold the face of the bank, it also holds back water under soil pressure.
The wall is installed along the water line, supported by posts. For Prolock, the post spacing is no more than 150 cm. Because the profiles interlock, they form a continuous barrier that takes the soil pressure. For higher walls, a structural calculation beforehand is wise.
Materials
Azobe hardwood (tongue and groove) is a tropical hardwood with class 1 heartwood that can stay in water for its whole service life. We stock thicknesses of 30 to 50 mm and lengths of 2 to 5 m, with documented origin. Correctly installed, it commonly lasts 25 to 40 years or more in water. The price is roughly €200 to €400 per metre, depending on thickness and height.
Prolock plastic sheet piling is a profile system made from recycled plastic, with a working width of 50 cm and heights of 50 to 300 cm. It lasts at least 50 years with almost no maintenance; standard systems are commonly specified for 60 years, and fully buried Prolock Delta systems can be rated up to 100 years. We keep around 5000 m² in stock in Meppel. The price is roughly €73 to €183 per metre. For a full comparison, see plastic sheet piling vs timber.
Where sheet piling is used
- Quay walls — straight walls along mooring and loading points, where soil pressure is high.
- Waterways — edging ditches, canals and polder waterways.
- Weak or eroding banks — where ordinary sheeting is not strong enough.
- Groundwater barriers — to hold back groundwater around gardens and buildings.
For most private and professional projects, our bank protection range is the place to start. For heavier quay and water work, see Prolock bank protection or Azobe sheet piling.
Pros and cons
Azobe hardwood sheet piling
- Pros: a long service life (25 to 40 years or more in water), real timber, high density and strength, documented origin.
- Cons: heavy to handle and a higher price (about €200 to €400 per metre). The surface turns grey, which only changes the look.
Prolock plastic sheet piling
- Pros: almost no maintenance, at least 50 years, lighter to handle, a lower price (about €73 to €183 per metre), made from recycled plastic.
- Cons: a plastic look that does not suit every garden or quay, and it feels less solid than hardwood.
Maintenance
Azobe turns silver-grey once it is exposed to water and light. That is only a change in the surface; the wall stays strong and needs no treatment. If you want to keep the warm hardwood colour, oil it from time to time. Oil does not change how long the wall lasts.
Prolock needs almost no care once it is installed: it does not turn grey, does not need oil and does not rot. Still, check the posts and fixings after very high water or an impact.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is sheet piling?
Sheet piling (damwand) is a wall of interlocking hardwood or plastic parts that retains soil and holds back water. It is used for quays, canals, weak banks and groundwater barriers.
Which material should I choose?
Choose Azobe hardwood for a natural look and high strength, or Prolock plastic for a lower price, little maintenance and a service life of at least 50 years. Houthandel Jan Sok in Meppel (KvK 04062841, trading since 2000, rated 4,8 stars from more than 141 reviews) supplies both from stock.
How long does sheet piling last?
Correctly installed Azobe sheet piling commonly lasts 25 to 40 years or more in permanent water contact. Prolock lasts at least 50 years; standard systems are commonly specified for 60 years, and fully buried Prolock Delta up to 100 years.
What does sheet piling cost per metre?
Azobe hardwood sheet piling costs roughly €200 to €400 per metre. Prolock plastic sheet piling costs roughly €73 to €183 per metre, depending on height and construction.