What we build
- New docks. Walkway, pierhead, gangway and float, laid out to fit your lot and your creek. Dock Construction →
- Dock repair and rebuilds. Decking, handrails, pilings and storm damage, put back to the size your permit covers. Dock Repair →
- Floating docks. The float rides the tide, so you're not climbing way down to the boat when the water's out. Floating Docks →
- Seawalls and bulkheads. On the marsh and creek side, where the state allows them. Seawalls & Bulkheads →
- Boat lifts. 4-pile and 6-pile lifts, with a catwalk if you want one. Boat Lifts →
- Residential docks. Private docks and shared docks for homeowners. Residential Docks →
- Commercial marine work. Community docks and bigger jobs for HOAs and businesses. Commercial Marine Work →
How a dock job goes
- Call or send the form. Give us the address and the creek, and tell us if there's a dock there now.
- We look at the lot. How wide the creek is, how much frontage you've got at the marsh edge, and where the critical line falls on your plat. Those decide what can go in.
- Permits. Most docks here need a state critical area permit. A lot of them need Army Corps sign-off and HOA or ARB approval too. Nothing goes in the mud until the approvals are in hand. Dock Permits →
- Build. Pilings, walkway, pierhead, then whatever float, lift or roof the permit allows.
What drives the cost of a dock
No two docks here cost the same. If somebody gives you a price before they've seen the lot, they're guessing. Here's what moves it:
- how far the walkway has to run over the marsh to reach the creek
- how wide the creek is, since that caps how big the pierhead can be
- a fixed pierhead only, or a floating dock and gangway too
- a boat lift, and how many pilings it sits on
- a roof, handrails, power or water
- bottom conditions, and how materials get to the site
- the stamped drawings, notices and approvals the permit needs
More on that on the dock construction page.
Where we work
We build docks in Charleston, SC and out to Mount Pleasant, James Island, Johns Island, Daniel Island, Isle of Palms and Folly Beach. The local rules change from one to the next, so each one has its own page. Service Areas →
Questions people ask
Do I need a permit for a dock?
Almost always. Docks, pierheads, floating docks, boat lifts and bulkheads in the marsh or the water need a critical area permit from SCDES (formerly DHEC-OCRM). The Army Corps and your HOA can have a say too. Dock Permits →
Can every waterfront lot have a dock?
No. The state allows one dock per lot. It has to reach the first navigable creek, and newer lots need enough frontage at the marsh edge. If we don't think your lot qualifies, we'll say so before you pay for drawings.
A storm tore up my dock. Do I need a new permit?
Maybe not. If the dock was permitted and it's still standing, it can often be repaired back to its original size. SCDES wants photos and a repair request first. Dock Repair →
Can you add a boat lift to my dock?
Often, yes. But a lift adds square footage, and that usually means a permit amendment or a new permit. We don't add anything the permit doesn't cover. Boat Lifts →
What are your hours?
Mon–Sat 7am–6pm. Call (854) 205-2740.
Ready to talk about your dock?
Call (854) 205-2740 or send the form. Give us the address and tell us what you've got in mind.