Properly Designing a Dock and Piling System in Florida

When considering building a new dock or replacing an old one on the Florida coastal waterways or inter-coastal canals for residential or commercial, the most important thing is:

performing the required engineering and design. The engineering and design include examining the subsurface conditions under the water to determine the lithology (Soils conditions) and ascertain if there are excessive amounts of organic sediments, the depth and type of sand, and the type and depth of the rock if present. Waterfront homeowners and commercial property owners often will not obtain this critical information in advance or before constructing a new dock or even repairing an existing one. All extended docks rely upon structural pilings, which may be wood, concrete, steel, or fiberglass composite. 

The depth that the pilings are placed into the subsurface and ground is critical in assuring there will not be a docking failure or a reduced dock lifespan. 

For example, if you find 4 ft of sand and a rock layer beneath it, an inexperienced company installs a piling through the sand and only places the piling on top of the rock ledge. The piling relies only on 4 ft of sand material to support it from the uplift and lateral moment forces during wave actions and storm events. And suppose the pilings are utilized to support additional dock attachments such as boat lifts. In that case, installing the piling becomes even more critical to support the extra load often suspended at a greater distance than the piling is in the ground.

The proper method to install the piling in the above example would be to penetrate the rock layer and place the piling into the rock. Either pinned or grouted, depending on the type of rock and its depth. Some rock layers are softer than other forms, and in Florida, we have coral and limestone-type rock layers and lenses. A good design marine contractor will also consider these critical factors and properly examine and design a dock system with its supporting piling structures to ensure a safe and long-lasting dock system that will last for years of enjoyment. At Precision Marine Construction (PMC), our trained staff and professionals are all residents of Florida. They have been designing and constructing docks, seawalls, boat lifts, and decks for over 35 years. PMC has also been performing dredge activities. PMC has internal professional Florida engineering support from licensed FL professional engineers with over 35 years of Geology experience with subsurface lithology. For every PMC project, field examinations are conducted, and structural engineering designs are prepared before submission for permitting with both State and local agencies. For your next project, contact the professionals at PMC at 941.924.6044.l