FAQs

Yes. We provide a free estimate within 24 business hours of your request.

Yes. In Florida, every new seawall, major repair or replacement requires a permit.

Two to three months on average, though it varies by building department. We handle the paperwork as part of the project.

Florida's Gulf Coast, from Pinellas and Hillsborough down through Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties, plus the inland counties of DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Polk and Hendry.

Yes. We are a Florida Certified Specialty Contractor, license SCC131152520, and fully insured.

Yes. Financing available for qualified residential clients, subject to credit approval. Ask about it when you request your estimate.

Boat docks and piers, boat lifts of every size from personal watercraft to large yachts, seawalls and retaining walls. We build new, and we repair, inspect and maintain existing structures.

The most common warning signs are cracks in the cap or panels, a wall that leans or bows toward the water, and soil sinking or small holes opening in the yard behind the wall: that means fill is washing out through the joints. If you see water seeping through the wall as the tide drops, the wall is actively losing soil. Any of these is worth an inspection before it gets worse.

It depends on the structure, not the symptoms. If the panels are sound and the problem is a failing cap, eroded joints, or lost fill, a repair usually solves it. If the panels themselves are deteriorated, the tiebacks have failed, or the wall has rotated significantly, replacement is the honest answer. We tell you which one it is after inspection: repairing a wall that's past saving wastes your money.

Water, from both sides. Tidal action scours soil from the base, while heavy rain builds hydrostatic pressure behind the wall that pushes it toward the water. Add salt corrosion on aging tiebacks and storm surge events, and even well-built walls have a service life. Weep holes and proper drainage extend it; ignoring drainage shortens it.

Depends on material. Vinyl seawalls typically last 50 years or more, concrete around 30 to 60 depending on construction and salt exposure, and wood roughly 20 to 25. On the Gulf Coast, vinyl has become the standard for new construction because it doesn't corrode or rot in saltwater.

The problem compounds. Once soil starts escaping, every tide cycle removes more, and a repairable wall becomes a replacement, often at several times the cost. Failing seawalls can also undermine pool decks, patios, and foundations behind them. Early repair is the cheap version of this project.

Yes. After a storm we prioritize inspections and emergency stabilization for walls that took surge damage. If you're filing an insurance claim, our inspection documentation is written so your adjuster can use it.

Total the boat's dry weight, fuel, water, and gear, then add a safety margin; we size lifts at least 20% above that number. Undersized lifts are the most common mistake we correct. Tell us the make and model and we'll spec it for you.

Once a year, minimum. Cables are the wear item: they should be inspected annually and replaced at the first sign of fraying or rust, typically every few years in saltwater. Motors, gears, and bunks get checked at the same visit. An annual service costs a fraction of a dropped boat.

Cables, then motors. Saltwater is hard on both. If you hear grinding, see rust bleeding from the cable strands, or the lift travels unevenly, stop using it and have it inspected. A cable failure with the boat on the lift is the expensive version.

Usually, yes. It comes down to piling condition and spacing, water depth, and electrical service at the dock. We inspect the existing structure first; if the pilings can't carry a lift, we tell you before you've spent money on one.

Composite costs more up front and almost nothing after; wood costs less on day one and needs sealing, board replacement, and eventually re-decking. In our climate, composite generally wins on ten-year cost for homeowners who plan to stay. Marine-grade pressure-treated wood is still the right call for budget-driven builds and repairs to existing wood docks.

Permitting is the long pole: plan on two to three months for approvals, which we handle as part of the project. Once permits are in hand, most residential docks are built in a few weeks depending on size and weather.

Piling wrap is a barrier that protects wood pilings from marine borers and rot at the waterline, the zone where pilings fail first. Wrapping sound pilings is one of the cheapest ways to add years to a dock's life; it's much cheaper than replacing pilings later.

A structural assessment of every component (pilings, stringers, decking, and hardware on docks; panels, cap, tiebacks, and backfill condition on seawalls; cables, motors, and bunks on lifts), with photos and a written summary of what's sound, what needs attention, and what it will cost to fix. You get a document, not just an opinion.

Yes, and before you close, not after. Seawall replacement is one of the largest surprise costs in waterfront ownership, and standard home inspections don't cover marine structures. A pre-purchase marine inspection tells you what you're actually buying and gives you negotiating leverage if the wall or dock needs work.