Lake Ontario Shoreline Protection & Improvements

Properties on the shores of Lake Ontario face many challenges. Between powerful waves, water level swings, and year-round erosion, protecting your waterfront investment isn’t always easy.

That’s where we can help. Since 1996, Lakeshore Guys has helped property owners stop erosion, stabilize damaged shorelines, and create beautiful waterfronts that provide years of stress-free enjoyment.

With our riprap shoreline installation, custom staircases, and boat ramps, you can:

• Protect your property value and prevent further land loss
• Gain safe, convenient access to your waterfront
• Create a beautiful shoreline that adds to your property’s appeal

Don’t let shoreline issues take away from your lakefront lifestyle. Contact us to discuss your situation, or read on to learn more about what we can offer your Lake Ontario property.

The Beautiful but Challenging Shores of Lake Ontario

Though it’s the smallest of the Great Lakes by surface area, Lake Ontario reaches depths of 802 feet and holds more than three times as much water as Lake Erie.

The name “Ontario” comes from the Iroquois word meaning “beautiful lake” and the Canadian province was named after the lake, not the other way around.

Lake Ontario has made such an impression that there’s even a methane lake on Saturn’s moon Titan named “Ontario Lacus” because of its resemblance.

Back here on Earth, Lake Ontario has the most islands of the Great Lakes: 1,864 islands range from tiny rock outcrops to substantial landmasses with homes and businesses.

The 712 miles of shoreline tell different stories on each side of the border. The southern U.S. shore has bluffs and gravel beaches, while Ontario’s northern coastline transitions from the urban waterfronts of Toronto and Hamilton to the rocky, rugged terrain where the lake meets the St. Lawrence River near Kingston.

Properties along Ontario’s shoreline vary from seasonal cottages in Prince Edward County to luxury waterfront estates worth millions in the Golden Horseshoe region.

But the same waters that make Lake Ontario properties so desirable also create serious challenges for owners.

Lake Ontario Shoreline Problems

Severe Weather and Wave Damage

Lake Ontario’s 7,320 square miles of water allows waves a lot of room to gather energy during storms, particularly when weather systems cross from the west or northwest.

Waves can reach heights of 20 feet during severe storms, but even smaller waves create problems through their repetitive impact, eroding beaches, damaging infrastructure, and reshaping shoreline profiles.

Intense storms can cause years’ worth of erosion in a single 24-48 hour period. In 2017, Hamilton experienced significant flooding and erosion when Lake Ontario water levels combined with strong easterly winds. Hamilton’s Waterfront Trail sections collapsed due to high water levels and wave damage.

The freeze-thaw cycles from heavy lake-effect snowfall can destabilize already erosion-prone shorelines. Unprotected landscaping, decks, and staircases can be completely washed away during major storm events.

Water Level Fluctuations

Lake Ontario went from record low levels in 2012 to record high levels by 2017, a swing that typically happens over several decades.

In 2017 the lake rose 4.5 feet by late May, reaching levels almost 3 feet above normal and threatening properties that had been safely set back from the water for decades.

Properties that had been safely set back from the water for decades suddenly found waves reaching their foundations, with beaches submerged and seawalls destroyed.

Ice Heaving & Ice Push

Though Lake Ontario has completely frozen over only five times in recorded history, it frequently forms significant nearshore ice that can exert damaging pressure on shorelines.

Ice expansion can generate forces of up to 30,000 pounds per square foot, enough to shift large rocks, break seawalls, and dislodge structures.

Without properly designed barriers and systems to divert pressure, this seasonal ice pressure causes lasting damage that gets worse with each freeze cycle.

Bluff Instability

Many Lake Ontario properties sit atop bluffs 30 to 100 feet high composed of soft, erosion-prone materials like silty clays, silt loams, and layered clay deposits from ancient glacial lakes. These clay and silt materials are particularly susceptible to erosion, with silt particles being among the most easily washed away by water.

As waves erode the base of these slopes and rainwater saturates the upper layers, bluffs become increasingly unstable.

The combination of wave action below and water infiltration above has led to emergency situations where homes have required immediate evacuation or demolition, as bluff failures brought them dangerously close to—or over—the edge.

The freeze-thaw cycle is a major factor. Water expands about 9% when it freezes, loosening soil and contributing to slope failures, especially during spring when melt water elevates groundwater levels.

Shoreline Protection: Stop Erosion Now

Once part of your shoreline is lost, it’s extremely difficult—often impossible—to fully recover it.

Our riprap shorelines focus on two critical needs: immediately stopping further erosion and stabilizing shoreline that has already been damaged.

Riprap (large, durable stones carefully positioned along the shoreline) creates a strong barrier that disperses wave energy before it can reach your property. Even during high water levels, severe storms, and ice pressure events, our shorelines continue protecting your investment when other solutions fail. Riprap is also effective at deterring burrowing animals like muskrats from undermining the shoreline.

For properties that have already experienced significant erosion, our stabilization process strengthens what remains and creates a protective barrier that preserves your remaining shoreline. While we can’t recover what’s already gone to Lake Ontario, we can help make sure you don’t lose more valuable property.

While other solutions often require expensive periodic replacement, our riprap shorelines need very little maintenance. You won’t find yourself in the cycle of repairs that plague many Lake Ontario properties with poorly designed shorelines.

When you choose Lakeshore Guys, you’re investing in both immediate protection and long-term peace of mind.

Custom Aluminum Staircases: Safe Shoreline Access

Aluminum staircase built on hillside down to shoreline

Steep banks, bluffs, or dunes shouldn’t prevent you from enjoying your Lake Ontario waterfront. Our custom aluminum staircases provide safe and durable access.

Aluminum resists the humidity, shore ice, lake-effect snow, and UV exposure that can damage other materials over time.

We design each staircase to fit your property’s characteristics. Whether your terrain requires complex switchbacks down a towering bluff or a direct route along a moderate slope, our custom designs work with your specific situation.

Many customers tell us their staircase dramatically increased the enjoyment of their property simply by providing reliable, worry-free access to the waterfront they already owned but couldn’t easily reach.

Looking for a material other than aluminum?

While aluminum makes a great staircase, it isn’t the only option. We can build you a durable staircase out of a wide range of other materials, including:

• Lumber. A classic look that blends well with wooded properties
• Prefabricated concrete. Clean, modern appearance with excellent durability
• Flagstone. Elegant natural stone that complements traditional landscaping
• Sawn boulders. Heavy-duty construction for the most challenging terrain

Each material has its advantages depending on your property’s style, usage needs, and the specific conditions of your shoreline.

Boat Ramps Built to Last

Enjoy easier water access with a boat ramp designed for anything Lake Ontario can throw its way.

Our textured surfaces give reliable traction for safe footing while helping protect your boat from damage during launching and retrieving. The consistent slope works effectively during various water level conditions.

Segmented Concrete: A good choice for many Lake Ontario properties, prefabricated concrete segments are bolted together and secured onto a bed of compacted gravel. The small gaps between segments are filled with more compacted gravel, creating drainage channels that prevent washout.

Recycled Timber: An environmentally friendly option that provides excellent traction and blends beautifully with natural surroundings.

Gravel: For lighter watercraft or more protected areas, a gravel ramp offers a simple appearance while providing good launch capabilities.

The true value of professional engineering will become apparent during the first major storm or significant water level change. When many standard ramps fail yours will remain intact and functional.

Contact Lakeshore Guys to Give Your Stretch of Lake Ontario New Life

If enjoying your part of the lake requires you to halt the erosion and make your shoreline more solid, then you’re in luck. Our DNR-approved practices, shoreline innovations, in-depth explanations of our processes, photos, videos, and best-in-industry reviews make your next step a clear and easy one. Contact Lakeshore Guys today for a consultation.