FAQ
Questions we get on the phone, answered here. If yours isn't below, call us at 585-266-7920 — we'd rather talk it through than have you order the wrong part.
Planning a dock
What size dock should I build?
Most residential builds start with a 4' x 16' section — big enough to tie up a boat and fish from, small enough that two people can handle it when it comes out in the fall. Go wider if you plan to put furniture on it or have several people out there at once.
Be honest about how you'll actually use it. People routinely build larger than they need, and every extra foot costs lumber, flotation, and freight.
How many floats do I need?
It depends on the weight of your dock plus what you'll put on it, and how high you want the deck to sit above the water. Most residential docks target 12 to 14 inches of freeboard.
The important thing to know: the buoyancy rating printed on a float is its capacity fully submerged. A dock loaded to that number sits at the waterline. Our guide to dock flotation sizing works through the math with an example.
Should I frame with 2x6 or 2x8?
Our brackets accommodate either. 2x6 is lighter and cheaper, easier to build with, and easier to pull out seasonally. 2x8 is stiffer underfoot and holds up better to heavy use or choppy water, at more weight and cost.
For a 4-foot span between stringers, 2x6 is adequate for most residential use. Note that 2x4 is generally too shallow — the bracket needs enough board face for the fasteners to bite into.
Do I need a permit?
Most waterfront jurisdictions require one. Requirements vary enormously — some lakes need nothing more than an association notification, while navigable waterways may involve state environmental agencies and the Army Corps of Engineers.
Check before you buy materials, not after. We can't advise on local requirements, but your municipality or lake association can.
What does a floating dock cost?
For a 4' x 16' section, our complete kit with hardware and floats is $1,259, plus freight. Lumber is priced locally and varies by region. Our full cost breakdown includes a cut list you can take to your lumber yard.
Materials
What's the difference between galvanized and 316 stainless?
It's a water chemistry question, not a budget one.
Hot-dip galvanized is the right choice for fresh water. Zinc corrodes preferentially to protect the steel underneath, and in typical fresh water a protective carbonate scale forms that slows the process dramatically.
316 stainless is what salt and brackish water require. Chlorides dissolve zinc coatings continuously, so no protective layer ever establishes. We specified 316 rather than 304 because molybdenum is what resists chloride pitting.
Full detail in our guide to galvanized vs. 316 stainless.
How long does the hardware last?
Longer than you'd think, and it depends heavily on your water:
| Exposure | Galvanized service life |
|---|---|
| Hard fresh water, immersed | 25–75 years |
| Soft or acidic fresh water | 5–20 years |
| Coastal atmosphere | 15–25 years |
| Seawater, submerged | 8–12 years |
In most fresh water the hardware outlasts the lumber it's bolted to, often several times over. Soft, acidic water with heavy wave exposure is the exception worth checking. In salt water, 316 stainless is what you want.
Can I mix galvanized and stainless parts?
No. Zinc and stainless steel sit far apart on the galvanic series, so putting them in contact in water creates a galvanic cell. The zinc becomes the anode and corrodes faster, concentrated at exactly the point where the connection needs to hold.
Stainless bolts through galvanized brackets is worse than all-galvanized, not better. Pick one system and use it for every metal part in contact.
What thickness is your hardware?
- Standard line — 1/4 inch hot-dip galvanized steel
- Heavy-duty line — 3/8 inch hot-dip galvanized steel
- Saltwater line — 316 stainless steel
Ordering and fit
Will your hardware work with my existing dock?
Usually. Our brackets bolt to standard dimensional lumber, so if your frame is built from 2x6 or 2x8, our parts will fit. Connector pins, corner brackets, and stringer angles are all common replacement items.
If you're replacing hardware from another manufacturer, send us a photo and measurements and we'll tell you what matches. Call 585-266-7920 or email dock@dockhardware.com.
Do your kits include everything?
Our complete dock kits include all the steel hardware plus the floats sized for that dock. You supply the lumber — framing and decking.
Our Dock-in-a-Box kit includes the steel hardware only, for builders sourcing their own flotation. Check each kit's description for exactly what's in the box.
Can I order custom parts?
Yes. We cut, punch, press, and weld in our own shop, so odd dimensions and one-off pieces are routine rather than exceptional. If your piling isn't a standard size or your project needs something we don't stock, call and describe it.
Lead times vary with what's in the shop. We'll give you a realistic date when you call.
Do you sell to contractors and dealers?
Yes. We work with marine contractors, dock builders, and marinas across the country. If you're buying regularly or in volume, call us at 585-266-7920 and ask for pricing — it's a different conversation than a single-dock order.
Manufacturing and sourcing
Do you really manufacture in the USA?
The steel hardware, yes. Every bracket, corner, connector, angle, plate, pile hoop, and roller assembly we sell is cut, punched, pressed, and welded in our Rochester, New York shop, then hot-dip galvanized at a local plant.
Not everything in our catalog is made here, and we'd rather say so. Flotation, cleats, ladders, rub rail, pile caps, and other accessories are sourced — some from American manufacturers, some from overseas. We stock them because our customers need them in one place, and we pick them on whether they hold up.
Shipping and pickup
How fast do orders ship?
Most orders leave our warehouse within 1–2 business days. Large kits and freight orders take longer to palletize and schedule.
How do dock kits ship?
Anything with floats in it ships LTL freight rather than parcel, because floats are bulky rather than heavy. We deliver direct to your location, residential addresses included. Freight runs roughly $299 to $659 depending on region.
Hardware-only orders ship parcel and cost considerably less to deliver.
Do you offer local pickup?
Yes. If you're near Rochester, select local pickup at checkout and we'll let you know when your order is ready at 24 Seneca Avenue.
Still have a question?
We'd rather spend ten minutes on the phone than have you order the wrong thing. Tell us about your build and we'll tell you what it takes.
Call 585-266-7920 Read our build guides