Pilings

[GGF]

It's time for new pilings and a rebuild of my dock in JB. Anyone had any luck with extending the life of existing pilings by encasing them in concrete sleaves?

Any recommendations on the various piling companies?

[THE TIKI KID]

don't know about old pilings but my new ones have the concrete around them and they look great. the same old man that does all the work in tiki did mine. can't remember his name though but he's been around for years. (maybe his name was mabes?)

let me do some research and i'll post it for you.

peace!

[Texxan1]

TPA in hitchcock can do them. Call Freddy over at TPA.. I can get you a number if you cant find it

What everyone is doing these days is putting the pilings in. Then sleeving them with corrugated poly sleeves and then filling with concrete.... It works quite well from what ive heard from the local guys who did it years ago.

We have the ones at the bulkhead done this way, but not the ones out in the water.

Also, There is a coating they can put on them that will last 25 years according to Freddy at TPA

Thomas

[coachlaw]

I have the PVC sleeved ones at Blockade Runners. They're 6X6's, 20 feet long. I got them used for $120 each.

[JT]

George Olson is the guy I'd use

[Swells]

Coach is right. My dad was in the Bahamas and got hit by three hurricanes and "sistered" all them dock poles BY HIMSELF - and he's 78 years old. Levelled the dock somehow, too! He bought some 6-inch round poles but square would work. It does help to get a man with a small tug & barge to do the job, but they're booked up pretty good and cost $$$. If ya need any help with the engineering, we can help!
sammie

[GGF]

Thanks for the input gents. It's definitely not a do-it-yourself job since the existing 10x10 pilings support the boat and a 16x28 deck connected to the house. I don't want all that coming down on my head. LOL. I know it won't be cheap, but quality is most important in this job.

I know of Olson and was going to call him. I haven't heard of TPA, but will give them an opportunity.

[WestEndAngler]

Billy Matlock I think does some good work not sure if he's the bulkhead & piling guy but I'm sure someone has his #

[Wading mark]

LG Boyd put boat tie-up pilings on my dock covered with truck bed liner. He did an awesome job.

[Gater]

Pilings

There is a right way and a wrong way to doing this....if it is done wrong you have wasted your money. The concrete is there for one reason and that is to keep the worms from eating your pilings. Nolan Haslip is who I use and he has done many houses at Tiki, Harborwalk and Bayou Vista.
His number is 409-996-3213. If you ever do new pilings the only way to go is the poly treatment from Houston Pole and Timber. You can order them through Ideal Lumber in Galveston

[Robalo]

Matlock Marine or Olson for JB. As far as deck/boat house rebuild (carpentry and such)-that is a problem in Galveston since IMO and based on my experiences as well as my family's (we have 4 houses on canals), the Gen. Contractors sux in Galveston-most take waaayyy too long, leave when weather is fishing weather and are rather costly. Matlock did my place in 2005 and did a good job. My boathouse, which is a fully enclosed boathouse (like a garage) is one of the last full boathouses in Jam Beach and was $37k to fully rebuild using cedar boards for sides, SS nails, treated lumber for docking. I put 8 main pilings and believe 10 small pilings to support dock area-the support pilings are critical-neighbor to east used a crook (same one ripped off many folks, including my brother and brother filed criminal and civil charges and bastage was found guilty and reimbursed as plea deal) and he got 2 or 3 supports for docking area and they are already rotten and dock is warped. I strongly suggest extra dock supports. The concrete/plastic sheathing is good for woodworms only and my understanding is although they do extend the life somewhat, the added 150 to 200 each is a personal choice and may npot aid in rotting above and below the sheath. BTW, the bulkead and cap (which I added some concrete beyond "normal") was about 11,500.

Whatever you do, I wish you find a great GC, the job is done right and timely. Best to you.

[GGF]

Matlock Marine or Olson for JB. As far as deck/boat house rebuild (carpentry and such)-that is a problem in Galveston since IMO and based on my experiences as well as my family's (we have 4 houses on canals), the Gen. Contractors sux in Galveston-most take waaayyy too long, leave when weather is fishing weather and are rather costly. Matlock did my place in 2005 and did a good job. My boathouse, which is a fully enclosed boathouse (like a garage) is one of the last full boathouses in Jam Beach and was $37k to fully rebuild using cedar boards for sides, SS nails, treated lumber for docking. I put 8 main pilings and believe 10 small pilings to support dock area-the support pilings are critical-neighbor to east used a crook (same one ripped off many folks, including my brother and brother filed criminal and civil charges and bastage was found guilty and reimbursed as plea deal) and he got 2 or 3 supports for docking area and they are already rotten and dock is warped. I strongly suggest extra dock supports. The concrete/plastic sheathing is good for woodworms only and my understanding is although they do extend the life somewhat, the added 150 to 200 each is a personal choice and may npot aid in rotting above and below the sheath. BTW, the bulkead and cap (which I added some concrete beyond "normal") was about 11,500.

Whatever you do, I wish you find a great GC, the job is done right and timely. Best to you.

I've had my share of good and bad experiences the local contractors. I'll probably sub it out myself as that seems to have worked best for me on the island. I've got a good reliable deck guy in Clear Lake who will come down to JB to do the dock work once the pilings are in.

I had a structural engineer look at everything and draw up the engineering plans as I am putting in a second lift for the skiff. He said upper joists supporting the deck were overengineered so I have plenty of support structure that is all in good shape. I have four 8x8 pilings supporting the boat and upper deck and we are going to change to 10x10 to be safe.

[Gater]

GGF

Are your pilings eaten up.....8x8's are plenty and 10x10 are overkill. If you plan on replacing the pilings that means you are going to replace the upper deck as well.

I have built plenty of docks but only one in Galveston. I would have to be starving to do that in Galveston again, LOL. A couple things if you are subing it out yourself. Make sure they use the correct lumber and size, make sure they through bolt everything with galvanized bolts, and make sure they use stainless screw or ring shank nails.

Gater

[GGF]

Are your pilings eaten up.....8x8's are plenty and 10x10 are overkill. If you plan on replacing the pilings that means you are going to replace the upper deck as well.

I have built plenty of docks but only one in Galveston. I would have to be starving to do that in Galveston again, LOL. A couple things if you are subing it out yourself. Make sure they use the correct lumber and size, make sure they through bolt everything with galvanized bolts, and make sure they use stainless screw or ring shank nails.

Gater

Thanks Gater. One of the pilings is about 1/2 eaten. The others are not as bad, but Since I need to reconfigure the dock for two boats, I might as well do everything at once and not have to redo it in two or three years.

Yep. I have learned all the lessons about stainless, galvenized, etc. Going with stainless screws. Even the galv ringshanks rust and work loose over time. Still trying to decide between trex or wood for the decking. I'm leaning toward trex.

[TTU Wader]

That is going to be an awesome set up with 2 slips. Can't wait to see it.