Pilings are the foundation of every marine structure, and when they fail, everything above them is at risk. Jordan Marine Construction repairs and replaces failing dock, pier, boat house, and bulkhead pilings across Greater Houston, Lake Conroe, Lake Livingston, and the Texas Gulf Coast.
Rotted timber, marine-borer damage, corrosion, and storm impact all compromise pilings. With our pile-driving capability — barge-mounted and land-based — we can replace pilings under existing structures and restore a solid foundation.
Request Your Free EstimateOur Piling Repair & Replacement Process
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Piling Inspection
We inspect pilings above and below the waterline for rot, borer damage, corrosion, and movement.
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Repair vs. Replace Plan
We determine which pilings can be reinforced and which must be driven new, with a clear scope.
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Driving & Reinforcement
We drive new marine-grade pilings to refusal and reinforce or splice where appropriate, working around the existing structure.
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Reconnection
We reconnect framing and structure to the restored pilings for a safe, solid foundation.
Materials & Capability
We replace pilings with marine-grade timber treated for the environment (2.5 CCA saltwater, .60 freshwater), or composite and steel where specified. Barge-mounted equipment lets us replace over-water pilings under existing docks, piers, and bulkheads.
Everything Above the Waterline Depends on What's Below It
Pilings fail quietly. The deterioration happens at and below the waterline — out of sight — while the dock above looks fine until the day it doesn't: a lean that wasn't there last season, a corner that dips underfoot, a boat house post gone soft at the splash zone. By the time symptoms show above deck, the piling has usually been losing section for years. That's why piling problems reward early inspection and punish deferral: one compromised pile is a repair; a foundation of them is a rebuild.
The enemies vary by water. In freshwater lakes like Conroe and Livingston, rot is the killer — especially in the wet-dry cycling zone at the waterline where fluctuating levels keep timber in the worst possible moisture range. In brackish and salt water, marine borers bore out timber from the inside, and under-treated wood can be structurally hollow while looking intact outside. Storm impact and scour finish the list: debris strikes snap piles, and surge washes out the soil that gave them grip.
Our inspections look where the problem lives — at and below the waterline — probing for softness, checking for borer entry, and reading the structure's geometry for the movement that betrays foundation trouble. What you get is a pile-by-pile verdict: sound, repairable, or replace.
Replacing Pilings Under a Structure You Keep
The skill in piling replacement isn't driving the new pile — it's doing it under a dock, boat house, or bulkhead that stays. We support the structure, work replacement piles in around the existing framing, drive them to refusal with equipment sized for the access, and reconnect the structure to its restored foundation. Barge-mounted capability is often the difference-maker: over-water piles with no land access are routine for us and impossible for contractors without a barge.
Not every compromised pile needs full replacement. Where damage is localized and the pile below is sound, reinforcement or splicing can restore capacity at lower cost — and where a pile is beyond saving, we say so. The repair-versus-replace call is made pile by pile, with the evidence in front of you, priced both ways where the choice is real.
Replacement piles match the environment: marine-grade timber at 2.5 CCA for saltwater and brackish exposure, .60 CCA for freshwater, or composite and steel where chemistry or loads warrant. Getting the treatment retention right is precisely what determines whether the new pile outlasts the structure or repeats the failure — under-treated timber in borer water is the single most common original sin we replace.
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Where We Build Piling Repair & Replacement
We build piling repair & replacement for waterfront communities across Greater Houston, Lake Conroe, Lake Livingston, and the Texas Gulf Coast. A few of the areas we serve:
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Piling Repair & Replacement FAQs
Can you replace pilings without tearing down my dock?
In many cases yes. We can drive replacement pilings and reconnect the structure, working around the existing dock or pier where the framing allows.
How do I know if my pilings are failing?
Signs include leaning or wobbling structures, soft or hollow-sounding timber, visible rot or borer holes, and movement underfoot. We can inspect and advise.
How much does it cost to replace dock pilings?
Pricing follows pile count, access (barge vs. land), water depth, and how much structure must be supported and reconnected during the work. Replacing two piles under an open pier is a small job; re-founding a boat house is not. Our free inspection produces a pile-by-pile scope so you're only replacing what's actually gone.
How long do dock pilings last?
Correctly treated timber (2.5 CCA salt, .60 fresh) driven to refusal serves for decades — the treatment-to-water match is the dominant variable. Under-treated timber in borer waters can fail in a fraction of that time. Storms, scour, and physical damage set the exceptions.
Can a rotted piling be repaired instead of replaced?
Sometimes — localized damage above sound wood can be reinforced or spliced, restoring capacity at meaningful savings. Rot or borer damage through the section, or at the mudline, means replacement. We make the call pile by pile and show you the evidence behind each verdict.
How can I tell if my pilings are failing before the dock leans?
Probe at the waterline with a screwdriver — sound treated timber resists; soft, punky wood or easy penetration is trouble. Look for borer holes, hourglass narrowing at the waterline, and hardware stains streaking from connections. Better: have us inspect below the waterline, where the story actually is.
Can you replace pilings under my boat house without removing the roof?
Usually yes. We support the structure, replace the compromised piles in sequence, and reconnect — the roof stays on and the boat house stays put. Access and framing condition set the approach, which we confirm during inspection.
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Get a Free Piling Repair & Replacement Estimate
Tell us about your project and we'll provide a detailed, no-obligation estimate. Serving Greater Houston, Lake Conroe, Lake Livingston, and the Texas Gulf Coast.