Have you recently been considering either building a new dock or revamping your current dock? Carefully selecting a skilled and knowledgeable contractor for the job is extremely important! You want to be sure that the contractor will respect your property and provide a beautiful addition to your home. You will want to start by doing some research on the contractors available in your area by searching the web or even asking neighbors, friends, and local marinas who they may have contracted. Choosing what your project will consist of prior to choosing a contractor is also important, as what you are looking for may not be in one contractor’s expertise while another may specialize in it.
The first step in choosing a contractor will be to educate yourself on the materials and types of docks. In today’s world, there are countless options as far as what your dock can be from the materials used to the extra specifications it will include. Knowing what you want ahead of time will eliminate costly additions in the future. Some of the specifications of your dock will depend on where the dock will be located and in what kind of body of water. Others will be solely based on personal preference such as adding a boat lift or installing lights to the dock. All of these things are important prior to choosing a contractor so that you can be sure the contractor can do all that you want them to.
Once you have decided what you want to incorporate into your dock, it’s time to look for a contractor. There are many resources online that allow you to find lists of current contractors with contact information such as International Marine Contractors Association, the Marine Contracting Network, and there are also state marine contractor associations that you can find. You will want to inspect a few of the contractor’s existing/previous jobs to be sure that their work has been successful and complete. After you have researched several companies, you will want to get a quote from each for the job you want done. This will give you an idea of what the cost of your dock will be, but remember cheaper is not necessarily better. Asking the contractor questions about the rationale behind a price is a great way to decipher whether a cost is reasonable. When you find the contractor that fits your needs, get started and enjoy your new boat dock and lift sooner rather than later!
