Piling Installation

There are three common ways to install a piling. The method you choose will depend on bottom conditions and contours, water conditions and depth, the type of structure and it's intended use, and your budget. A $700 piling may appear the same as a $200 piling, but there are substantial differences in their strength. Gulfside Docks Corporation has four barges equipped to jet pilings, one barge equipped to drill pilings, and two driving hammers which can go on any of our barges.

Jetting uses a high pressure water pump to blow a deep hole in the bottom. The piling is set into the hole and sand packs back around the piling. Standard marine construction calls for six feet of penetration into sandy bottoms for dock pilings and eight to ten feet for boat lift pilings. If the bottom is sand, small rocks or shell, this is the preferred and least expensive method. This works effectively in almost all of Pinellas County except for areas of Indian Rocks Beach, Tarpon Springs, Crystal Beach, and Dunedin. Jetting is not effective in areas of rock or hard clay bottom.

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Hammering will force small and medium rocks to the side and will break through a thin layer of clay. It will not break through large rocks because most rocks are harder and stronger than wood pilings. Hammering tends to be most successful in areas of smaller and softer rock such as Hudson, North Pinellas County, and Citrus County, but it varies from "street to street" and "lot to lot" or even within one lot. A typical situation, (especially in New Port Richey's Gulf Harbors), is being able to jet about two feet deep, then pound another two feet. This total of four feet is not ideal, but it is common practice in Pasco and Hernando Counties and usually adequate for most small boat docks. Four feet of penetration is common practice, although not recommended, for boatlifts. Since penetration depth can only be estimated before the piling is actually installed, the customer should understand that no one can guarantee a specific depth of penetration when hammering in rocky conditions. Gulfside Docks is equipped with a 650# pneumatic hammer delivering more than one stroke per second. We believe it is the most effective barge mounted hammer in the area. It can be transported to, and used on, any of our barges. Our second hammer is a 450# drop hammer that usually remains on one specific barge and is similar to the hammers used by other Pasco County marine contractors. The additional charge for hammering is $50/piling with a $100 minimum.

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Drilling is the only method to guarantee proper penetration in conditions with large rocks. Drilled pilings are normally installed at least 6 feet if a hard bottom is encountered. This is obviously substantially stronger than a piling that is only hammered 3 to 4' into the bottom. Also, when jetting or hammering on top of a rock, the bottom of the piling has a tendency to "walk". Drilling results in straighter and more accurate installations. Gulfside Docks is equipped with a barge mounted, diesel powered, hydraulic drill that bores a 11 1/2" diameter hole into the bottom. The cost for drilling is an additional $500/hole. The drilling charge will be reversed if we are able to jet the piling when we are on the job. Drilling is not always necessary, but there is a big advantage getting the proper penetration versus accepting only 4' of penetration for a boatlift piling. Drilling is the best choice for customers who want the certainty of a guaranteed penetration depth in rocky areas with a 10 year limited warranty from sinking, slipping, or leaning.

Gulfside Docks Corp. offers all three installation options to our customers. We will be glad to further discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each method for your specific site.

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