FAQ | Top Dog Marine Construction

Frequently Asked Questions

Find quick, clear answers to some of the most common questions about our marine construction services — and if you don’t see what you’re looking for, contact us directly for a fast, friendly response.

Yes, anyone planning to install or construct a new dock (including any docking structure such as a boathouse) within or on the banks of surface waters of Florida must first obtain a permit. Top Dog Marine can handle all of the permitting process, making the project flow as smooth as possible from beginning to end.
Installing a dock essentially disturbs lands that are subject to Florida regulations. Applying for a permit and going through the appropriate channels allows Top Dog to work with you to minimize any adverse impact on the environment.
If you have an existing, legally built dock, a permit could still potentially be required prior to making any change to the size, location, or configuration of the docking structure(s). Changing construction materials, such as replacing wood decking with composite decking or replacing a wood dock with an aluminum dock, does not require additional permits…but it’s still best to check with us first.
Yes, a permit is required to install all boat lifts and jet ski lifts. One boat lift or jet ski lift is equivalent to a single boat slip.
Structurally, there is very little difference between a deck and a dock. Top Dog uses the same materials and construction principles. The main difference is that a deck is over land while a dock is over water.
This is a difficult question to answer without knowing more about your project. Essentially, the answer is as custom as your project. There are, however, three main factors which affect completion dates:

Permitting – Depending on the project, permitting may only be 1 week, or it could be over 1–2 months. Regardless, Top Dog stays on top of the process each step of the way and makes sure that we do all we can to minimize the permit process.

Weather – Florida’s unique weather doesn’t always cooperate with projects. For the safety of our staff, we take inclement weather seriously. We want to finish your project on time, but not at the risk of injury to one of our staff.

Crew Availability – We are a relatively small company and book our projects a ways out. Once your construction permit is issued, we will immediately allocate a crew to your project, and once we get on-site, we don’t leave until your job is complete.

As you can see, there is no solid answer. For some projects, we can have everything wrapped up in less than 2 weeks. For a client whose dock/marine project has unique variances, it may be 8–12 months from contract signing to completion of the project. When we meet with you, we will be able to provide a bit more specific timeline.
Great question! Top Dog will work with most dock, bulkhead, boathouse, and boat lift projects, no matter the size. The only limiting factor we sometimes come across with regard to our services is your location in regard to our schedule. With that said, we’re always happy to discuss any/all projects…so give us a call!
Yes! We do accept all major credit cards!
Not unless you plan on getting your hands dirty! No, you do not have to be present as long as we have access to the project site and access to an electrical power source (usually an outlet on the exterior of the property).
Yes, and we have quickly become the go-to source for many area contractors in North-East Florida. Give us a call to find out how we can help on your marine build project: 904-579-2264