Residential & Commercial · Planning
Professional Evaluations & Assessments
A standardized marine-contractor condition evaluation of piers, docks, bulkheads, piling and shoreline — for homeowners, buyers, marinas, property managers, municipalities and public agencies.
Before you buy a waterfront property, set a repair budget or decide between repair and replacement, it helps to know what is actually there — including the parts below the waterline.
An evaluation gives you that in a consistent, documented form: individual scores, grouped condition scores, specific problem areas, and an overall grade.
What we evaluate
- Piers and docks
- Bulkheads
- Piling
- Shoreline conditions
- Underwater observations
- Water depth and access
- Related waterfront assets
The tools
Depending on the site and the asset, tools can include underwater cameras, ROV, side-scan sonar, sounding and depth equipment, laser measurement and drone imagery.
Who it’s for
Two audiences, one standard.
Residential
The emphasis is the condition and intended use of a waterfront property.
- Owners deciding between repair and replacement
- Purchasers who want to know what they are buying
- Planning a new use — a bigger boat, a lift, a floating dock
Commercial & public
The emphasis is recurring asset-condition monitoring and repair planning.
- Marinas and commercial waterfront owners
- Property managers and HOAs
- Municipalities and public agencies
How it’s scored
Scored where it matters most.
- Individual piling are each scored from 1 to 10.
- Framing, decking or sheeting, and other systems receive grouped condition scores, with specific problem areas documented.
- A total weighted assessment produces the overall A–F grade.
Not every material carries the same weight
Primary support — the piling — carries the greatest weight, then framing, then decking or sheeting. That reflects what each costs to fix and what each means for the structure. Sound piling and framing with deteriorated decking may warrant a C-range overall grade rather than an F: the surface needs work, but the structure under it is serviceable.
Primary support / piling
What everything else stands on.
Framing
Caps, stringers and the connections between them.
Decking / sheeting
The surface you walk on, or the face of the wall.
The overall grade
| Grade | Overall result |
|---|---|
| A | 90–100% |
| B | 80 to <90% |
| C | 70 to <80% |
| D | 60 to <70% |
| F | Below 60% |
A standardized marine-contractor condition evaluation — not a sealed engineering certification.
FAQs
Questions we get about this.
Is this an engineering inspection?
No. It is a standardized marine-contractor condition evaluation, not a sealed engineering certification. It documents the condition of the structure and its components in a consistent, graded form.
How is the overall grade worked out?
Individual piling are scored 1–10; framing, decking or sheeting and other systems receive grouped condition scores; and a total weighted assessment produces an A–F grade. Piling carries the greatest weight, then framing, then decking or sheeting.
Why could a dock with bad decking still get a C?
Because decking carries less weight than the structure beneath it. Sound piling and framing with deteriorated decking may warrant a C-range grade rather than an F — the surface needs work, but the structure is serviceable.
Can you see what’s underwater?
Yes. Depending on the site, tools can include underwater cameras, ROV, side-scan sonar and sounding and depth equipment, along with laser measurement and drone imagery above the water.
Related
Related services.
Consulting & Permitting
Feasibility, planning and marine permitting — in house in Delaware and Maryland, with assistance and coordination in Virginia.
Read morePiers & Docks
Fixed piers, docks and floating docks across Delmarva’s waterways — built from CCA-treated piling and framing, with a choice of decking.
Read moreBulkheads & Retaining Walls
Timber and vinyl walls that retain soil at the water’s edge, and retaining walls that hold grade further back.
Read moreInfrastructure
Navigation-related structures, public piers, dolphins and specialty piling, rehabilitation and underwater evaluation.
Read moreGet started
Send us a photo of your waterfront.
Tell us what the water is doing and what you want out of the property. We’ll evaluate the site, give you a detailed estimate covering scope, materials, timeline and price, and handle the permitting. Commercial, municipal and agency inquiries reach the same phone.
Or send a photo straight from the inquiry form — it takes file uploads.
- Call(888) 519-2253
- Emailadmin@hastingsmarineconstruction.com
- Shop10372 Old Furnace Rd
Seaford, DE 19973 - Office hoursMonday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed Saturday & Sunday