Bulkhead Guide

Bulkhead and seawall contractors

Find seawall, bulkhead and dock contractors by state and city, then use the checklist below before you hire. Hiring the right marine contractor matters more than any single repair method.

Browse 1,263 contractors by state

What to verify before you hire

  • Waterfront work, specifically. Ask for photos and addresses of seawall or bulkhead jobs like yours. General contractors and landscapers who build retaining walls are not automatically equipped for work in the water.
  • Where they actually work. Confirm your waterbody and town are in the area they serve, and whether they work from land, from a barge, or both.
  • Insurance. Ask for current general liability and workers' compensation certificates sent to you directly by the insurer or agent.
  • Licenses. Ask which licenses apply to your job and verify each one with the agency that issued it. If an engineer is involved, confirm their license with the state board; NCEES lists every state's licensing board.
  • Permits. Ask who prepares and submits applications to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, your state's coastal or submerged-lands agency and your city, and whether that is in the price.
  • References. Call recent customers, and if you can, ones whose work is a few years old.

What a written proposal should include

  • The contractor's diagnosis: what is wrong and what is causing it
  • Linear feet of work, method and materials
  • Anchors, toe protection, cap, drainage and backfill, or a statement that they are excluded
  • Engineering: who designs it and whether you receive drawings
  • Permits, surveys and who is responsible for them
  • Removal and restoration of docks, lifts, landscaping and hardscape
  • How the work ties into your neighbors' walls
  • Schedule, payment terms tied to completed work, and warranty in writing

Our cost guide explains how to line up proposals side by side.

Red flags

  • A firm diagnosis or price from photos alone, without seeing the wall
  • Pressure to sign the same day, or a large deposit before work starts
  • No interest in the toe or the anchors
  • "No permit needed" on work in or over the water, without explanation
  • Claims of being "certified" or "licensed" that the contractor cannot document
  • Door-to-door offers after a storm from crews you cannot trace to a local business

Bulkhead contractor or seawall contractor?

On canals and bays, the same companies do both and the words are used interchangeably. What matters is whether they work on waterfront walls like yours, in water like yours. If you also need dock work, ask separately — see choosing a dock builder.