New piling installation, piling replacement, and sister-pile repair for docks and seawalls throughout Southwest Florida. Wood, composite, concrete, and steel. 2 free estimates.
Not all pilings hold up equally in Naples' warm, marine-borer-active saltwater. Your choice of piling material is one of the most important decisions in any dock or seawall project.
CCA or ACQ pressure-treated pine. Most affordable option. Lifespan 15–25 years in SW Florida saltwater. Vulnerable to marine borer (Teredo worm) attack below the waterline. Requires regular inspection.
Plastic or fiberglass composite pilings. Completely marine-borer resistant. Lifespan 40–50+ years. Increasingly the preferred material for new dock construction in SW Florida. Higher upfront cost, lower lifetime cost.
Pre-stressed or cast-in-place concrete pilings. Excellent compressive strength and corrosion resistance. Lifespan 40–60 years. Best for heavy-load applications and high-traffic commercial docks.
Steel pilings used in applications requiring deep penetration or heavy load capacity. Requires sacrificial anode cathodic protection in saltwater. Lifespan 30–50 years with proper protection.
Naturally dense tropical hardwoods with some resistance to marine borers. Lifespan 20–35 years. Less commonly used in Naples; better options typically available for comparable cost.
Driving a new piling directly alongside a weakened or failing piling to share the load. Cost-effective alternative to full piling removal when removal is difficult or the surrounding structure is sound.
The Teredo worm (marine borer) is the primary threat to wood pilings in Southwest Florida. These saltwater mollusks bore into submerged wood, creating tunnel networks that can hollow out a piling internally while leaving the outside looking intact. By the time external damage is visible, structural failure may be imminent.
Small holes at or below the waterline, soft or hollow spots when tapped, unexplained structural weakness in the dock, visible channels in piling cross-sections. A licensed inspector can probe pilings to assess internal damage.
Composite and fiberglass pilings are completely immune to marine borers. For wood pilings, encapsulation wraps and antifouling coatings can extend life. Annual inspection by a licensed contractor is recommended for wood pilings in SW Florida waters.
Piling costs depend on material, diameter, depth required, water access, and quantity. These are typical installed costs for Naples-area projects.
→ Full guide: how long do pilings last & when to replace them
Piling lifespan varies by material. Pressure-treated wood: 15–25 years in SW Florida (vulnerable to Teredo worm damage). Composite/fiberglass: 40–50+ years (borer-resistant). Concrete: 40–60 years. Saltwater, wave action, and boat wakes all accelerate deterioration. Annual professional inspection is recommended for wood pilings. See our full Florida piling lifespan guide.
Marine piling installation in Naples typically costs $500–$1,600 per piling depending on material and depth. Full dock re-piling projects (10–16 pilings) run $10,000–$28,000. Composite pilings cost more upfront but last 2–3x longer than wood, making them more economical over time.
Composite (fiberglass or plastic) pilings are the best long-term choice for Florida's saltwater environment. They are completely immune to marine borers, don't rot, and last 40–50+ years. Concrete pilings are also excellent for heavy-load applications. Pressure-treated wood is most affordable upfront but requires more frequent inspection and replacement in SW Florida's warm waters.
Yes — piling installation and replacement in Naples requires permits from Collier County and possibly Florida DEP. Sister piling installations (adding alongside an existing piling) may have an expedited permit path. Licensed contractors handle all permits as part of the project. In-kind piling replacement at the same location is typically faster to permit than new piling installation in a new footprint.
Tell us about your dock or seawall. A licensed Naples marine contractor will assess your pilings in person and recommend the best repair or replacement approach.
Thank you! A licensed marine contractor will contact you within 24 hours to schedule your free piling assessment.