Everything we get asked about
boat docks.

Yes — we install lifts on new and existing docks regularly. The site-visit question we answer is whether your existing dock's framing and pilings can take the added load.

On wood-framed docks 10+ years old, we often need to sister-up framing or add a piling on the slip side. On metal-framed or newer wood docks, retrofit is usually straightforward.

Fixed docks are anchored to pilings driven to the lake bottom. They stay at a constant elevation — great for lakes with stable water levels.

Floating docks ride on flotation pods anchored by spuds or cables. They rise and fall with the water — essential on lakes with significant level swings (Travis, drought-affected impoundments).

Texas dock permits depend on which body of water you're on:

• Cedar Creek Lake — Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD). Typical cycle: 3–6 weeks.
• Lake Athens — Athens Municipal Water Authority (AMWA). 2–4 weeks; strict cap-elevation rules.
• Lake Palestine — Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority (UNRMWA). 3–5 weeks.
• Lake Tyler — City of Tyler shoreline office. Pre-clearance required before fabrication.
• Richland-Chambers — TRWD (same as Cedar Creek, different shoreline plan). 3–6 weeks.
• Private impoundments — Usually no agency permit, but HOA architectural review still applies.

We pull every permit as part of the contract — you sign once and we run the agency loop. Full breakdown in our permits article.

Three serious options:

• Pressure-treated pine — cheapest upfront. Requires annual sealing. Most common.
• Composite — mid-tier price, no sealing, color-stable for 10–15 years.
• Marine-grade aluminum — premium. Stays cooler underfoot, lasts 40+ years, splinter-free.

Families who walk their dock barefoot in July almost always upgrade to composite or aluminum on the second dock. If you'll only own the house for 3–5 years, pressure-treated is the right call.

Yes. We build covered single-slip docks, double-slip boat houses, and open T-head docks. Covered structures need additional permitting on most lake authorities (TRWD on Cedar Creek and Richland-Chambers regulates roof height and cap elevation tightly) — we package that into the application.

If you're considering adding a roof later, tell us at the design stage. Adding a roof to an existing dock often requires structural retrofit of the pilings, which is more expensive than building it covered from day one.

Standard residential dock build, on-site work:

• Piling driving — 2–4 days depending on bottom conditions
• Framing — 2–3 days
• Decking and hardware — 2–4 days
• Electrical and final — 1–2 days

So 1–2 weeks of on-site work for most residential dock builds. The real timeline driver is permitting — see the permits question above. We schedule construction to start the week the permit clears.

Honest ballparks for East Texas lakes:

• Basic 12×16 ft fixed dock — $14,000–$22,000
• Add a covered roof — $24,000–$38,000
• Add a single boat lift and slip cover — $40,000–$65,000 all-in
• Floating dock systems (lakes with major level swings) — $35,000+ to start

Full pricing breakdown by piling type, decking, and lake authority is in our cost article. Or skip to a real number with a free on-site estimate.