Since human society developed, we have needed and wanted to live near water. Not only do we need water to live, but even today, it’s our main way to navigate trade across the world. Now, we even live as close to it as possible and conduct multiple business activities there.
Of course, we’re most familiar with land construction and how it can vary from city to city, country to country. Some land construction projects are commercial, others are residential, and some are for free public use.
Marine construction is similar to land construction in many regards. However, there are a couple of notable differences between the two. If you’re going to be starting a sea-based business or simply living close to the water, it might be a good idea for you to learn about marine construction.
In this guide to nautical construction, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to get started. Without further ado, let’s get right in!
What is Marine Construction?
Marine construction, as the name implies, refers to any piece of architecture set up along a shoreline. These construction works could serve many purposes. However, they help mitigate or stop any damages that could happen to houses or properties close to the sea. Some of the most common pieces of marine construction include seawalls, revetments, bulkheads, and retaining walls.
What Are Marine Contractors Used For, and Where Are They Used?
Remember when we said that land construction has a few things in common with marine construction? Well, this is one of them. For context, land contractors are often individuals or groups of individuals who possess specific skills and resources. These two things are integral to the success of a construction project.
Similarly, marine contractors are people/companies that play specific roles in the process of marine construction. Among others, the marine contractor is responsible for providing materials for construction and the labor and equipment they need.
Considering the size of any marine construction, one person can’t do it all by themselves. As such, a general marine contractor is also responsible for hiring subcontractors who have specific skills that can help to perform a particular task in marine construction.
If you’re looking to undergo any form of marine construction project whatsoever, you’re going to need a marine contractor. Note that we mentioned “any form of marine construction.” That’s how important a marine contractor is to your project. Without them, it would be rather tricky for you to find the right hands to work on your marine project. If you fail to get high-quality workers, as you can imagine, this would be a bit of a problem for several reasons.
For starters, your marine construction project might end up falling short of specific safety and regulatory standards. This would be particularly bad if the project in question is for commercial purposes. Even if it isn’t, you would still be putting your properties at risk.
Besides, not finding the right workers means you’d be lost in a maze of materials. Unless you’re a marine contractor yourself, it will be adequately confusing to hear nautical lingo for marine construction. This could lead to one or two of two things. The first is getting ripped off. The second is buying low-quality materials that might hardly serve their purpose.
There is no time you should exclude a marine contractor from your project. Doing so would be the medical equivalent of going into surgery without a professional, qualified surgeon.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Marine Construction
There are many advantages of marine construction. While they don’t have as many disadvantages, they are still noteworthy.
Advantages of Marine Construction
The primary benefits that come alongside marine construction are tied to the functions you intended it for. Among other things:
- They offer a safe spot for you to keep your boats docked without fear of losing them to the sea. Think of it as a parking space of sorts.
- They help ensure that you do not lose your land to water in a constant process of erosion caused by waves from the sea.
- They protect your property from damage that might come up as a result of heavy tides/waves.
Disadvantages of Marine Construction
While dock and marine construction can be rewarding in more ways than one, there are still a few challenges with this sector. For example:
- Any given project could lead to environmental issues if you do not pick suitable materials and really research the quality of your company of choice beforehand.
- Marine construction companies may find their projects are expensive, depending on the scope and scale of their works.
What to Know About Marine Construction
Marine construction has its own specific approaches that differ from construction on the land.
How to Get Started With Marine Construction
The process of getting started with marine construction fits into a few broad steps.
- The first involves recognizing your need for a marine project in the first place. As a quick hint, you’ll likely need coastal marine construction if you live near the sea and need to protect your properties. On the other hand, you might also need one if you’re exploring the business side of it.
- The second step is planning your budget correctly. This is important because you want to meet a contractor with a plan and a goal in mind. Granted, you might not be able to have everything figured out. But, do as much research as possible so that conversations can move along faster.
- Contact and hire a marine contractor.
- Discuss the possibilities, including the specifics of your budget and where adjustments need to be made. Your marine contractor should be very well-versed in the field. In that case, they’ll likely give you most of the information you need to know.
- Execute your plans.
The types of materials you’ll use are those your contractor will recommend to you. It is, however, best that you conduct your research before making financial commitments.
For example, you could use sheet metal or concrete for retainer walls. However, you might need something more complicated for a docking area. While a contractor can provide you with key information, the specifics of your project will influence what you choose to do.
How to Choose a Marine Construction Contractor
When you’re trying to decide which contractor to use for a project, you need to do so carefully. Remember that your final choice can either make or mar your project. So, you should ask specific questions and consider certain things. Among others, here are a few tips to help you pick the right marine construction contractor:
- The cheapest isn’t always the best: this cannot be emphasized enough. Just because they’re offering the lowest prices doesn’t mean you should go for them. There are chances that their service quality is as low as their price.
- They should have a license: Construction is a delicate business that’s pretty well regulated. If you want to hire a contractor, you should ensure that they have the appropriate license and standing to operate in your area. Otherwise, you might be setting yourself up for some trouble.
- They should have specific knowledge of your project: Depending on the importance of your project, it wouldn’t be the best idea to hire a generalist or a newbie. You want a marine project that will last for multiple years without needing replacement or bank-breaking repairs. Pick someone with experience and sufficient knowledge of your project. That way, you’ll know that you’re in good hands.
- Check their previous work samples: Past work helps to show their level of expertise and how good they are at their jobs. You should look at this properly before picking a contractor. If you want to go the extra mile, you could also check for their reviews across the web.