Answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions that come up before, during and after nearly every waterfront project — answered properly rather than in one line.
01
General
Do you share my enquiry with other contractors?
No. Jacksonville Dock Builder is not a directory or a lead marketplace. Every enquiry goes to one marine contractor — the one who would build the project. You will not be called by five companies.
Where are you based?
Our office is at 10945 Patton Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32246, in the Southside area east of the St. Johns. We work from there across the whole of Northeast Florida, and nearly all of our work happens at your waterfront rather than at ours — so the useful first step is almost always a site visit.
What areas do you serve?
Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau, Putnam and Flagler counties — Jacksonville and the beaches, St. Augustine and Vilano, Ponte Vedra, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Green Cove Springs, Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island, Palm Coast and Palatka, plus the communities in between.
How do I get an estimate?
Send the basics through the estimate form or call. For anything beyond a simple repair we will usually want a site visit, because the single most important number on a dock project — water depth at low tide on your own frontage — cannot be established any other way.
Do you charge for estimates?
No. An initial conversation and assessment costs you nothing. Where a project needs engineered drawings or a formal survey, those are separate costs we will identify up front rather than absorb into a vague allowance.
Are you licensed and insured?
We hold Florida Certified General Contractor licence #1533461, issued by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation. You can verify it yourself at <a href="https://www.myfloridalicense.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="link-underline">myfloridalicense.com</a>, and you should — on us and on anyone else you are considering. Ask us for current proof of insurance and references and we will provide both. Beyond that licence we do not display badges or claims on this site that you cannot independently check.
02
Costs & estimates
How much does a dock cost in Northeast Florida?
The dominant variable is length, because pilings and the labour to drive them are the largest cost on nearly every project. Length is set by how far you must go to reach water that remains usable at low tide — which is why a dock on a deep-water lot and a dock on a wide, shallow Clay County shelf can differ by a multiple. Decking material, a terminal platform, a lift and a roof all add, but none of them move the number the way length does.
Why can you not give a price over the phone?
Because the number would be wrong. Without a low-tide depth profile for your frontage we would be guessing at the length, and the length is most of the price. We would rather spend an hour measuring than give you a figure that changes later.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace?
Over a short horizon, repair. Over a longer one it depends entirely on the pilings. If the pilings are sound and well embedded, repairs are maintaining a structure with real life left and they are good value. If the pilings are failing, each repair buys a year or two on a foundation that is itself running out, and the cumulative spend overtakes a replacement faster than most owners expect.
What adds the most cost to a dock project?
Length first, by a wide margin. Then anything that concentrates load — a boat lift, a roof, a large terminal platform — because those drive piling size, piling count and embedment depth. Difficult access comes next: where equipment cannot reach the water by land, the work goes by barge, which changes the method and the price.
Will you give me options at different price points?
Usually, yes. On most projects there are two or three legitimate routes — a shorter fixed structure with a float on the end, a full-length dock, or building in phases. We would rather show you the trade-offs than present one number and let you guess what the alternatives were.
03
Permitting
Do I need a permit to build a dock in Florida?
In nearly all cases, yes. Waterfront work can involve a local building permit, state environmental review through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection or the relevant water management district, and federal authorisation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District. Some small private residential docks qualify for streamlined exemptions, but whether yours does depends on size, waterway classification and what is on the bottom.
How long does permitting take?
It is the longest part of most projects and it varies considerably with the waterway, the parcel and the agencies involved. A structure that qualifies for a streamlined path moves much faster than one requiring full environmental review. We give you a realistic range once we know what your project will require, and we will not quote a schedule we cannot stand behind.
Do you handle the permitting, or do I?
We prepare and track the submittals your project needs as part of the job. You will be involved — some applications require the property owner’s signature and information only you have — but managing the process is our responsibility, not yours.
Can a permit be refused?
Yes. Nothing on this site is a guarantee of approval. Agencies consider navigation, resource impacts, seagrass, oyster beds, neighbouring riparian rights and more. Our job is to design something that has a realistic chance and to tell you early if what you have in mind does not.
Does replacing an existing dock still need a permit?
Generally yes, and the path can differ from a repair. Like-for-like replacement within the existing footprint is usually the most straightforward case. Changing size, length or configuration typically brings more review.
04
Construction
How long does construction take?
On-site work for a typical residential dock is often one to three weeks, depending on length, access and weather. Larger structures, covered docks and commercial work take longer. Permitting beforehand is usually the larger part of the overall calendar.
What time of year is best to build?
We build year-round. Summer brings afternoon storms that cost working days, and hurricane season runs through November. Winter generally offers the most reliable run of workable days. None of this changes the quality of the result, only the predictability of the schedule.
Will you damage my bank or landscaping?
We protect the bank and surrounding vegetation during construction, and where land access is restricted we work from the water instead. On sites with mature landscaping or soft ground we establish the access route on the site visit so it is planned rather than improvised.
What happens to my old dock?
It is removed and disposed of properly. In most cases pilings must be pulled rather than cut off at the mud line, and nothing may be left in the water. Removal is part of the quoted scope, not a surprise.
Do you offer a warranty?
Ask us about the warranty terms that apply to your specific project. Materials carry manufacturer warranties of their own — particularly composite decking and lift equipment — and those are separate from workmanship. We will set out both in writing rather than make a general claim here.
05
Maintenance & storms
How often should I inspect my dock?
Once a year as a habit, and after any named storm. The useful inspection happens at low tide, from below. Probe the pilings at and just below the waterline, look for corroding hardware, check whether the bottom around the piles has scoured out, and press on joists to see if any give.
How do I maintain a treated timber dock?
Keep it clean and reseal it on a regular cycle — more often in this climate than the product label suggests, and sooner on surfaces in full afternoon sun. Replace fasteners that are corroding rather than ignoring them, because the hardware is the structural system.
What should I do before a hurricane?
Follow official guidance first. In general: remove everything loose from the structure, take the boat off the lift and move it rather than raising it higher, and secure or remove furniture and accessories. Afterwards, check whether decking has lifted, whether the structure is still square and whether the bottom around the pilings has changed.
My dock feels bouncy. Is that serious?
It is worth investigating promptly. Bounce usually means a joist has lost strength or connections have loosened. The connection cases in particular can fail suddenly. Have someone look underneath before loading the structure heavily.
More detail
Service-specific questions
Start your project
Still have a question?
Ask it before the project starts rather than halfway through. We would rather spend ten minutes on the phone now.
Every enquiry goes straight to the contractor who would build the project — not to a lead-sharing network.