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How to Choose a Marine Contractor?
Choosing your marine contractor can be more important than any other contractor you may need. Why? Because the marine
construction industry is largely unregulated, with at present little or no standard building codes for marine construction in South
Florida. Some see that as an opportunity to take advantage of customers. We see it as an opportunity to educate them. Below are
some factors you should bear in mind for your safety and to ensure you obtain a dock or seawall you can be proud of.
All marine contractors are not the same.
Take your time. We highly recommend that you see the work of any marine contractor you consider for your project, and "ask around"
about their reputation. The best quality installation and workmanship on your project will stand the test of time and stand up to the
environment and give you many years of enjoyment.
All materials are not the same?
All wood is not the same. Wood is treated to different levels. The chemical treatment used in pressure treated wood is called Copper
Chromated Arsenate, or CCA. Most hardware and home improvement stores carry pressure treated lumber which has 1/4 pound (.25
lb) of chemical per cubic foot of wood. Marine treated lumber is more heavily treated, and the following are guidelines for choosing the
proper treatment levels.
For ground contact or salt water splash, use a minimum of .40 PT lumber, which has 60% more CCA than .25 lumber.
For fresh water immersion (such as fresh water bulkheads), use a minimum of .80 PT lumber. For brackish water immersion, use 1.0
PT lumber.
For saltwater immersion, use 2.5 PT lumber. This lumber, at 2.5 pounds of chemical per cubic foot of wood, has 10 times the chemical
treatment of .25 boards.
Ensure that the timbers used on your dock are treated accordingly. Make sure you know the dimensions and treatment levels for the
boards to be used on your project.
Board dimensions are very important. 2" x 8" boards are much stronger than 2" x 6" boards when used for stringers.
Grades of wood - boards come in different grades. #1 grade boards are stronger and have fewer knots. #2 grade boards are less
expensive, and are well suited for dock substructures. Make sure you know which grade will be used for any decking so you get a fair
comparison among bids.
Pilings come in different sizes. They should be well seated in the ground as piles that are not long enough may lead to problems.
Inadequate pile length may allow your bulkhead to bow out or your dock to sink. Find out the diameter, treatment level, and the length
of the piles to be used in your project.
Boards that attach to supporting posts such as piles, and are a part of the substructure of docks, should be attached with large bolts -
5/8" diameter and through bolted, not fixed with large screws or lag bolts. This type of construction is significantly stronger and will last
much longer than using nails alone. Galvanized nails will eventually rust and weaken in a saltwater environment, so they should not
be used as fasteners for the stringers and decking. Has your contractor specified these materials in his/her proposal? Is the decking
screwed down or nailed? Are the screws and nails stainless steel?
All concrete used should be no less than 3500 p.s.i. after a 28 day curing period. Higher strength concrete is preferred. The steel
reinforcements need to be placed at least 3” from the surface to prevent spalling (concrete rusting through the surface over time).
Choosing your contractor can be a daunting task to say the least. We suggest you go through this list of recommended
questions for your contractor interviews.
1. How many years has your company been in business?
If the contractor doesn't have at least three years experience building docks he may not be able to perform the job to a professional
level. Is this their main source of income? Make sure that this is all they do and that they are not a "jack of all trades and master of
none".
2. Do they have a business license?
If your contractor doesn't have a business license, then they haven't completed the appropriate paperwork to obtain one and may not
have the necessary insurances. They will not be able to obtain the required permits and should be avoided at all costs. A business
license is vitally important because it validates the legitimacy of the business.
3. Do they have proper insurance?
Proper insurance includes Longshoreman's insurance ( insurance coverage required by the Federal government for construction
works over the water ), general and public liability and workman's compensation insurance. This is very important for your protection
as a homeowner. If the contractor does not hold these insurances, you may be liable for property damage and worker injury on your
property. Ask to have a certificate sent to you by the insurance company or call the listed agent on the certificate to see if the
contractors insurance is paid up to date.
4. Do they have references?
You should ask for a list of people that the contractor has worked for. You should go and see the work that they performed and ask
their past customers a few questions such as: When did they work for you? Would you hire them again? Did they respect your
property? Was the quality of work good? Did they deliver on their promises?
5. Do I get a written quote/proposal?
This means a solid figure that the contractor will commit to in the contract to finishing the work, not an estimate. You need a detailed
quote or proposal on the specified work. If the contractor isn't willing to put in the time as a professional up front by providing a detailed
quote and drawing, then they may not be professional with your project. The quote should contain the following details at a minimum:
A. Construction details:
Grade of materials, size of materials, type or species of materials, connectors (screws, nails, bolts) etc.
B. Payment schedule:
No contractor should ask for more than half the amount of the project up front before starting the job. Some projects require 50% when
the work is first started and remaining 50% when our work is completed. Others require a smaller deposit and partial payments at set
points during the contract. You should pay your contractor within 24-48 hours of the contract completion.
C. A drawing of the project:
You should get at least a two dimensional drawing of the proposed dock. You'll want to make sure they are on the same page as you
with what you want to have built. You definitely don't want any surprises at the end of the project.
D. Permits and Surveys:
It is common to have the contractor obtain the construction permits from the local authority. If the job is started without a permit, then
the fines are usually four times and in some cases the structure has to be removed. Ensure the contractor has included for the permits
and notice of commencement costs and the survey costs which will be required by a professional land surveyor.
E. Clean Up:
Make sure the contractor includes the cleanup of all scraps and excess materials when the job is finished to complete the contract.
F. Communication:
Make sure that you have the phone number of the person in charge of the job. The job foreman should keep the homeowner updated
at least weekly on the progress of the job.
Choosing your marine contractor can be more important than any other contractor you may need. Why? Because the marine
construction industry is largely unregulated, with at present little or no standard building codes for marine construction in South
Florida. Some see that as an opportunity to take advantage of customers. We see it as an opportunity to educate them. Below are
some factors you should bear in mind for your safety and to ensure you obtain a dock or seawall you can be proud of.
All marine contractors are not the same.
Take your time. We highly recommend that you see the work of any marine contractor you consider for your project, and "ask around"
about their reputation. The best quality installation and workmanship on your project will stand the test of time and stand up to the
environment and give you many years of enjoyment.
All materials are not the same?
All wood is not the same. Wood is treated to different levels. The chemical treatment used in pressure treated wood is called Copper
Chromated Arsenate, or CCA. Most hardware and home improvement stores carry pressure treated lumber which has 1/4 pound (.25
lb) of chemical per cubic foot of wood. Marine treated lumber is more heavily treated, and the following are guidelines for choosing the
proper treatment levels.
For ground contact or salt water splash, use a minimum of .40 PT lumber, which has 60% more CCA than .25 lumber.
For fresh water immersion (such as fresh water bulkheads), use a minimum of .80 PT lumber. For brackish water immersion, use 1.0
PT lumber.
For saltwater immersion, use 2.5 PT lumber. This lumber, at 2.5 pounds of chemical per cubic foot of wood, has 10 times the chemical
treatment of .25 boards.
Ensure that the timbers used on your dock are treated accordingly. Make sure you know the dimensions and treatment levels for the
boards to be used on your project.
Board dimensions are very important. 2" x 8" boards are much stronger than 2" x 6" boards when used for stringers.
Grades of wood - boards come in different grades. #1 grade boards are stronger and have fewer knots. #2 grade boards are less
expensive, and are well suited for dock substructures. Make sure you know which grade will be used for any decking so you get a fair
comparison among bids.
Pilings come in different sizes. They should be well seated in the ground as piles that are not long enough may lead to problems.
Inadequate pile length may allow your bulkhead to bow out or your dock to sink. Find out the diameter, treatment level, and the length
of the piles to be used in your project.
Boards that attach to supporting posts such as piles, and are a part of the substructure of docks, should be attached with large bolts -
5/8" diameter and through bolted, not fixed with large screws or lag bolts. This type of construction is significantly stronger and will last
much longer than using nails alone. Galvanized nails will eventually rust and weaken in a saltwater environment, so they should not
be used as fasteners for the stringers and decking. Has your contractor specified these materials in his/her proposal? Is the decking
screwed down or nailed? Are the screws and nails stainless steel?
All concrete used should be no less than 3500 p.s.i. after a 28 day curing period. Higher strength concrete is preferred. The steel
reinforcements need to be placed at least 3” from the surface to prevent spalling (concrete rusting through the surface over time).
Choosing your contractor can be a daunting task to say the least. We suggest you go through this list of recommended
questions for your contractor interviews.
1. How many years has your company been in business?
If the contractor doesn't have at least three years experience building docks he may not be able to perform the job to a professional
level. Is this their main source of income? Make sure that this is all they do and that they are not a "jack of all trades and master of
none".
2. Do they have a business license?
If your contractor doesn't have a business license, then they haven't completed the appropriate paperwork to obtain one and may not
have the necessary insurances. They will not be able to obtain the required permits and should be avoided at all costs. A business
license is vitally important because it validates the legitimacy of the business.
3. Do they have proper insurance?
Proper insurance includes Longshoreman's insurance ( insurance coverage required by the Federal government for construction
works over the water ), general and public liability and workman's compensation insurance. This is very important for your protection
as a homeowner. If the contractor does not hold these insurances, you may be liable for property damage and worker injury on your
property. Ask to have a certificate sent to you by the insurance company or call the listed agent on the certificate to see if the
contractors insurance is paid up to date.
4. Do they have references?
You should ask for a list of people that the contractor has worked for. You should go and see the work that they performed and ask
their past customers a few questions such as: When did they work for you? Would you hire them again? Did they respect your
property? Was the quality of work good? Did they deliver on their promises?
5. Do I get a written quote/proposal?
This means a solid figure that the contractor will commit to in the contract to finishing the work, not an estimate. You need a detailed
quote or proposal on the specified work. If the contractor isn't willing to put in the time as a professional up front by providing a detailed
quote and drawing, then they may not be professional with your project. The quote should contain the following details at a minimum:
A. Construction details:
Grade of materials, size of materials, type or species of materials, connectors (screws, nails, bolts) etc.
B. Payment schedule:
No contractor should ask for more than half the amount of the project up front before starting the job. Some projects require 50% when
the work is first started and remaining 50% when our work is completed. Others require a smaller deposit and partial payments at set
points during the contract. You should pay your contractor within 24-48 hours of the contract completion.
C. A drawing of the project:
You should get at least a two dimensional drawing of the proposed dock. You'll want to make sure they are on the same page as you
with what you want to have built. You definitely don't want any surprises at the end of the project.
D. Permits and Surveys:
It is common to have the contractor obtain the construction permits from the local authority. If the job is started without a permit, then
the fines are usually four times and in some cases the structure has to be removed. Ensure the contractor has included for the permits
and notice of commencement costs and the survey costs which will be required by a professional land surveyor.
E. Clean Up:
Make sure the contractor includes the cleanup of all scraps and excess materials when the job is finished to complete the contract.
F. Communication:
Make sure that you have the phone number of the person in charge of the job. The job foreman should keep the homeowner updated
at least weekly on the progress of the job.