Docks, lifts, and slabs that sink near the water in Clearwater are usually fixed by driving helical piers down to firm soil, or by filling the washed-out voids under them.
866-398-9323Licensed seawall specialists — FL · GA · SC
Seawall Repairs by Solid Foundations provides marine foundation repair in Clearwater, FL for waterfront homeowners, HOAs, and marinas. Typical projects include helical piers under sagging Island Estates docks, re-leveling boat lifts on Clearwater Beach canals, and lifting patios that settled behind seawalls after the 2024 flooding. Call 866-398-9323 or use the quote form to book a free on-site inspection.
Nearly always, the ground under the structure is too soft, or soil is draining out through the seawall. Catching it early matters, because a dock landing or slab that drops even an inch can start pulling on the seawall cap it's attached to, spreading the damage to a second structure. A quick look at how the dock attaches to the wall is part of every foundation visit for that reason.
Much of it was placed by machine. The city's Island Estates plan describes the island as the product of dredge and fill in the 1950s and 1960s (City of Clearwater). On lots like these, expect:
Helene made it worse. The storm flooded Clearwater Beach, Island Estates, and Sand Key badly enough that the city restricted access and warned that buildings hadn't been inspected for structural integrity. Fill that sat underwater for hours doesn't settle evenly as it drains.
Steel shafts with helical plates are advanced until installation torque confirms they've reached bearing soil. We bracket them to the structure and raise it toward level. Learn more about helical pier installation.
Where soil has washed from beneath a pool deck or patio, we inject polyurethane foam to fill the void and firm the ground, often lifting the slab without tearing it out.
Pilings weakened by rot, borers, or storm debris can be wrapped, jacketed, or supported with new members.
If soil is escaping through the wall, we combine the work with bulkhead repair in Clearwater.
Marine foundation repair in Clearwater typically costs $700–$2,000 per helical pier and $8–$25 per board foot for void fill. Most residential marine foundation repairs run $5,000–$25,000, depending on the number of piers, depth to firm soil, and access.
The city spells out a two-step process. Dock permits fall under Pinellas County's Water and Navigation Control Authority, but the City of Clearwater's Planning and Development Department has to pre-approve the project before you apply to the county (City of Clearwater). Boat lifts are handled separately: the city's marine and dock permit doesn't cover them, so a lift repair or replacement needs its own building permit. If a repair grows into a rebuild, see marine construction in Clearwater.
We also handle foundation work in St. Petersburg and Tampa. Our Clearwater seawall repair page covers our other services.
In Clearwater, yes. The city's marine and dock permit doesn't cover boat lifts; those require a building permit.
Often the soil under the landing has settled or washed out through the wall. We check both the dock support and the wall.
Usually. Sound pilings that have settled can be supported and re-leveled; damaged ones can be replaced individually.
As deep as it takes to reach firm soil, which varies by lot. We verify capacity on each pier as it goes in.
Licensed, insured, NCFI-certified. Serving Florida, Georgia & South Carolina since 1996.
866-398-9323