Completing Your Next Construction Job

How to choose the right marine contractors

Whether you are planning a new dock, jetty, sea wall or any other marine construction project you will need to employ the services of properly qualified marine contractors to get the job done. Choosing the right marine contractors can sometimes seem like a struggle, especially if you haven't employed anyone similar before, or don't have a clear idea of exactly what you need. Here are two sets of questions you will need to ask to find the perfect contractor for your project.

Prepare an outline of your project

If you are going to start talking to marine contractors then you will need a clear idea of what you want them to do. If you simply approach different contractors with a vague idea you will get a lot of different plans that will make it impossible to accurately compare them with each other. It is far better to take the time to research your project, find out which types and styles are available and the advantages and disadvantages of each one before you start.

Set out clearly the answers to the following questions, and then you will know what to ask the contractors when they make a site visit.

  • What goal will this structure fulfil for you?
  • What will be the physical appearance of the completed structure?
  • When must the project be completed?
  • How much can the project cost?

The answers to these four questions will set the parameters for the quotes you will receive from your marine contractors.

Examine the solutions

Obviously, you will want an experienced contractor who has completed plenty of similar marine-based projects but when the marine contractors provide you with quotations for the work you should never simply accept what they say. It is always worth going through the proposal with them in detail and asking them about their ideas. Every contractor will have a slightly different approach, and when one is more expensive than the other, you will want to know why. It could be that one contractor is proposing a superior solution that will actually save you money over time. To make sure you are comparing like with like ask questions such as:

  • Why did you select those building materials?
  • Can you itemise your estimate for me?
  • How many staff will you have on site to carry out the work?
  • What is your intended completion date?

By having a clear understanding of what your project involves and knowing the right questions to ask the marine contractors you will be able to select the most appropriate contractor for your project.

For more information, contact local professionals like those found at The Jetty Specialist.


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