Boathouses are one of the most common structures you’re likely to encounter in any marine area, especially here in St. Augustine, where native residents and visitors alike flock to the sand and water to get their preferred fix of nautical recreation. But if you’re new to the region of Northeastern Florida, or a similar coastal community, and you’re considering building your own boathouse, what should you know?
In this blog from Yelton Construction, our highly experienced marine contractors weigh in and provide industry insight. Read on to learn more as we break down the benefits, project elements, and construction processes involved in building your own boathouse. If you’d like more information or would like to request a free estimate on your marine construction project, please contact us today for details about our professional services in St. Augustine!
What Is A Boathouse? What Can It Be Used For?
Just as the name suggests, boathouses are used primarily for storing and protecting a wide variety of watercraft, including motorboats, jet skis, fishing dinghies, catamarans, and more. Depending on the size and design of a boathouse, these structures may house one, two, or more than a dozen marine vessels. In certain cases, boathouses may also be part of a larger marina construction, such as those connected to a residential home unit or a commercial property and beachside business. The applications, financial returns, and storage capabilities of boathouses are far too numerous to list, but the basics of building one — and the extremely enticing reasons why one may wish to do so — are delineated in the sections below.
Benefits of Building Your Own Boathouse
Whether you’re a resident or a marine contractor for the military, there are tons of benefits that go along with building your own boathouse, rather than buying a previously constructed unit. Just a few of the many personal and commercial advantages associated with managing your own boathouse build include:
- No recurring property taxes
- Very low maintenance
- Eliminates landscaping and lawn care upkeep
- Beautiful location next to ocean, lake, or other waterfront
- Considerable real estate value
- Ensures your boat or other watercraft are sheltered and secure
- And more
Boathouse Construction: What To Expect
The majority of boathouses are built directly on waterfront terrain or directly next to a similar marine environment. The processes of construction involve dozens of stages and specialized procedures, but these can generally be broken down and visualized on a high level by the points in the project at which they are executed, as well as the structural role they serve. All of this ensures a final boathouse build that is guaranteed to remain durable, cost-effective, and functional.
The stages of building a boathouse may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Excavation and site terrain leveling
- Dock or platform construction
- Pile driving of support beams, girders, and/or joists
- Decking and floor board installation
- Connection of floor boards and joists
- Screw-fastening of deck
- Boat house post installation
- Roofing
- Enclosures, walls, or other personal preferences
How Much Does A Boathouse Cost?
It’s difficult to estimate a single price point for any given marine construction project, and because boathouses may hold a wide variety of vessels, ranging from one small motorboat to a full fleet of naval ships, the estimates for a particular build cannot always be guaranteed to reflect the final costs of the undertaking. However, the majority of boathouses are, to the surprise of many, built by typical homeowners and professionals. The median price for these residential or non-professional boathouse builds is estimated to range in price from $15-20K.
Yelton Construction provides marine construction services in St. Augustine and surrounding areas of Northeastern Florida. To learn more about how we may be able to help you with building your commercial or residential boathouse, or to request a free estimate on your project, please contact our contractors today!