Seawall, Dock & Boat Ramp FAQ

Look for a wall leaning toward the lake, cracks or gaps, soil washing out at the base, sinkholes behind the wall, water seeping through joints, or damage after ice out. Several together usually mean fill is escaping behind the wall. Try our Seawall Health Check, then call us for a site visit. See seawall construction and replacement.

Ice shove and freeze-thaw push against the wall every winter. Over time that opens gaps, lets fill wash out from behind the wall, and settles the cap. See seawall construction and replacement.

Sometimes. A small crack or a loose cap may be repairable. But once a wall is leaning or losing fill, replacement is usually the more durable answer. See seawall construction and replacement.

Armor stone at the toe absorbs wave energy and stops the lakebed from scouring out from under the wall. See seawall construction and replacement.

A permanent pier stays in year round and has to survive ice. A seasonal pier comes out before the ice. The right choice depends on your lake and your exposure. See docks and piers.

Most piers that meet the state's standards do not need an individual permit, but the standards depend on the property and the lake. Some lakes and municipalities have their own rules. See our Wisconsin shoreline permits guide.

Depth and bottom conditions drive the support design. A soft bottom needs different support than firm sand. See docks and piers.

Slope, base and the underwater end. Too steep or too shallow, a soft base, or a poorly tied-in underwater end all cause problems. See boat ramp construction.

Boat ramps and grading on the bank typically need DNR approval. See our Wisconsin shoreline permits guide.

Ice shove and freeze-thaw work a ramp the same way they work a seawall. See boat ramp construction.

Work on navigable water is regulated by the Wisconsin DNR under Chapter 30. Seawalls and riprap fall under NR 328, piers under NR 326, and ramps typically need DNR approval. See our Wisconsin shoreline permits guide.

Shoreland zoning covers setbacks, vegetation and impervious surfaces. It is a separate layer handled by the county under NR 115. See our Wisconsin shoreline permits guide.

We plan, permit and schedule the work as part of the project. See our Wisconsin shoreline permits guide.

This is a scheduled construction business. Project timing depends on the season, shoreline conditions and our current schedule. We work with you to find a workable time.

We plan the timing so the work happens in the right window and you get your shoreline back for the season. See residential waterfront construction.

Call us or send your project details through the form. We follow up with a site visit and a shoreline assessment. See contact.

We are based in Elkhorn, WI, in Walworth County, and serve Southeast Wisconsin lake country within about a 50 mile radius. See service areas.