Skip to content

Custom Dock Installation
in Broward County
Engineered for the Intracoastal,
Built to Last Decades

Ipe, Cumaru & Composite Docks Built for South Florida Waterfront Living

Luxury Ipe hardwood dock with covered boat lift, finger pier, and electrical pedestal on Broward County Intracoastal canal

Extreme Decks is a certified dock installation contractor serving Broward County, FL — including Fort Lauderdale, Lighthouse Point, Pompano Beach, and Hollywood. Specializing in Brazilian Ipe, Cumaru, and marine-grade composite dock systems, Extreme Decks manages structural engineering, permitting, and installation with in-house crews. Every dock is engineered for South Florida’s salt air, tidal movement, and hurricane-force wind conditions — not assembled from a prefab kit. 

Your Broward Waterfront Deserves More Than a Prefab Dock Kit

You’ve invested in one of South Florida’s most valuable waterfront properties. When it’s time to build or replace your dock, the last thing you need is a contractor who shows up with modular plastic sections and a catalog.


The problem with prefab kits in Broward: Tidal movement along the Intracoastal, relentless salt air, and the real threat of named storms mean your dock needs to be engineered with intention. Prefab float systems are designed for calm lakes and mild climates — not for the conditions your canal produces daily.


At Extreme Decks, we don’t sell dock kits. We engineer waterfront structures. Every project starts with a technical site evaluation: water depth, bottom composition, tidal variance, and structural load requirements — before a single pile is driven.

Get a FREE Consultation
Custom Dock Projects Completed
Across Broward County Waterfront Communities
Certified Trex composite deck installers completing a project in South Florida.
TimberTech PVC decking contractors installing high-performance boards in Broward.
Professional Ipe hardwood deck maintenance service being performed in Palm Beach.
Skilled Cumaru wood deck builders constructing a custom terrace in Fort Lauderdale.
Deckotech composite decking installation showing precision hidden fasteners in Miami.
Thermally modified Ash deck construction for a modern sustainable backyard in Florida.
Luxury outdoor living space featuring a custom-engineered deck design.
Pool deck contractors installing premium Ipe wood around a luxury pool in Boca Raton.
Hurricane-rated deck framing and structural support in South Florida.
Close-up of a hidden fastener deck installation system for a clean surface.
Marine-grade PVC deck builders installing salt-resistant decking in Jupiter.
Ipe deck refinishing experts restoring the natural beauty of a Coral Gables deck.
Get a FREE Consultation

From Harbor Beach to Lighthouse Point A Dock That Extends Your Living Space to the Water

The best waterfront homes in Broward share one characteristic: the transition from inside to outside to the water feels seamless. The dock isn’t an afterthought bolted onto the seawall — it’s a natural extension of the property.

What that looks like in practice:

  • Entertainment platforms with built-in cleats, rod holders, and lighting — engineered for families who use the water daily
  • Deep-water vessel slips with reinforced pilings and marine-grade hardware rated for Broward’s tidal range
  • Dual-purpose systems that accommodate a 40-foot cruiser on one side and a jet ski lift on the other
  • Kayak and paddleboard launches integrated into the original engineering plan — not added on as an afterthought

Because our clients in Las Olas Isles and Lighthouse Point aren’t on-site managing a crew every day, we run a single point of contact model: your project manager handles everything and keeps you updated throughout the entire build.

Composite PVC dock with white post cable railing and marine electric pedestal on Broward County Intracoastal waterfront
Luxury Ipe dock with curved glass panel railing, stainless bollard, and yacht slip at Broward County waterfront estate

The 3 Reasons Most Broward Docks
Fail Before Year Five

Broward County has thousands of waterfront properties — and a long history of docks that looked great in a contractor’s photo and were structurally compromised within 48 months. After building and repairing docks across Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and Dania Beach, we’ve identified the three failure points that appear on virtually every job we’re called in to fix.

Failure #1 — Wrong fasteners for a marine environment. Standard 304 stainless or coated deck screws corrode visibly within 18 months of salt air exposure. We specify 316 stainless steel throughout, with hot-dip galvanized structural connectors where direct water contact is involved.


Failure #2 — Pilings not driven deep enough. A piling driven to an inadequate depth will shift under boat wake and storm surge. We drive every piling to refusal — meaning we go until the load-bearing stratum is reached, regardless of whether that’s 8 or 14 feet down.


Failure #3 — Wood never treated for marine exposure. Every on-site cut on hardwood decking receives an immediate application of penetrating end-grain sealer before the board is fastened. It’s a step most crews skip — and every homeowner eventually pays for.

Explore Our Materials
“In Broward County, the variables that determine a dock’s long-term performance — piling depth, hardware specification, cut-end treatment, permit completeness — are all decided before construction begins. By the time a crew is on the water driving pilings, every critical engineering decision should already be locked in. That’s why our site evaluation isn’t a sales visit. It’s the first phase of the build.
RELATED SERVICES
Top Rated Decking Services Providers

Ipe & Hardwood Deck Installation

Transform your backyard into a seamless extension of your waterfront. We build hardwood decks using the same Ipe and Cumaru materials and installation crew as your dock — zero coordination gap, perfect finish continuity.

Composite Decking Installation

One material, zero maintenance, from your back door to the water’s edge. We install capped composite systems rated for South Florida’s UV load and salt-air humidity across your full outdoor living footprint.

Boardwalks & Waterfront Walkways

Connect your main deck to your dock with a purpose-engineered boardwalk. We design and install hardwood and composite boardwalk systems that meet Broward County structural requirements while maintaining design continuity throughout your property.

Pergolas & Waterfront Shade Structures

Engineered for coastal wind exposure, our pergola systems bring shade and architecture to your waterfront. The same structural principles that govern our dock framing apply to every overhead structure we build near the water.
GO TO ALL SERVICES

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a custom dock installation cost in Broward County?
Custom dock installations in Broward County typically range from $25,000 to $120,000+ depending on dock length, material selection, piling depth, vessel slip configuration, and permit complexity. An Ipe hardwood dock with a deep-water slip on a Las Olas Isles canal will cost significantly more than a composite day dock on an interior freshwater canal in Davie. We provide itemized proposals after a technical site evaluation — we don't quote from photos.
Do I need a permit to build a dock in Broward County?
Yes, without exception. Dock installations require permits through Broward County's Environmental Protection and Growth Management Division. Depending on your waterway, you may also need a South Florida Water Management District right-of-way permit and Army Corps of Engineers notification. An unpermitted dock creates insurance liability and title complications at resale. Extreme Decks manages the complete permit process in-house — from initial survey to final inspection sign-off.
How long does a dock installation take in Broward County from permit to completion?
From permit submission to final inspection, a standard residential dock installation typically takes 10 to 16 weeks — with permit review accounting for most of that timeline. Physical construction, once permits are approved, generally runs 2 to 4 weeks depending on dock size and material. Because we submit complete engineered packages on the first attempt, our projects move through the review process without correction-letter delays.
What's the best decking material for a dock on the Intracoastal in Fort Lauderdale?
For direct Intracoastal exposure in neighborhoods like Harbor Beach or Nurmi Isles, we typically recommend Brazilian Ipe or capped composite. Ipe delivers unmatched structural density and a 25+ year performance lifespan — ideal for clients willing to oil the surface annually. Capped composite eliminates maintenance entirely while providing a genuinely barefoot-friendly surface in South Florida's heat. Pressure-treated pine is not a material we specify for salt-air waterfront applications.
How deep do dock pilings need to be in Broward County?
Piling depth is determined by bottom composition, tidal load, vessel weight, and Florida Building Code wind speed requirements — not by a standard number. In most of Broward's Intracoastal-adjacent canals, properly engineered pilings are driven between 10 and 14 feet to achieve adequate lateral load resistance. We conduct a bottom probe during our site evaluation and calculate piling depth from actual soil resistance data — not from a contractor's rule of thumb.
Will a new dock increase my property value in Broward County?
A fully permitted and inspected dock installation adds measurable value to waterfront property — particularly in neighborhoods like Las Olas Isles, Seven Isles, and Lighthouse Point where deep-water dock access is a primary driver of property premium. Conversely, an unpermitted dock can complicate your insurance coverage and create title issues that surface at closing. Every Extreme Decks installation is permitted, inspected, and documented — supporting your home's appraised value rather than creating a liability.
Can my existing dock be repaired or does it need to be fully replaced?
That depends on what's failing and why. Surface-level issues — cupped decking boards, corroded fasteners, weathered finish — are typically repairable at a fraction of replacement cost. Structural failures — compromised pilings, deteriorated framing, inadequate connection hardware — usually indicate that full replacement is the more cost-effective long-term solution. We provide honest structural assessments and will tell you directly whether repair or replacement serves your investment better.
Do you build docks for large vessels — 40 feet and above — in Broward County?
Yes — and this is an area where engineering specificity matters considerably. Docks accommodating vessels of 40 feet and above require structural calculations for vessel displacement load, surge loading on dock lines, and cleat mounting reinforcement that standard residential dock specifications don't address. We've built deep-water slip installations in Lighthouse Point and Harbor Beach for vessels up to 65 feet, with stamped engineering drawings that reflect the actual load requirements of each vessel.
What's the difference between a fixed dock and a floating dock — and which is right for my Broward property?
Fixed docks are pile-supported structures anchored to the canal bottom — the appropriate solution for most Broward residential properties with standard tidal ranges. They provide superior stability for large vessels and high-load applications. Floating docks rise and fall with the tide, useful where extreme tidal variance or bottom conditions make pile driving
Does Extreme Decks handle dock removal and full replacement as a complete project?
Yes. We manage the complete replacement cycle: structural assessment of the existing dock, permit application for demolition and new construction, removal and off-site disposal of the existing structure, and full installation of the replacement dock. Many of our Broward clients are replacing docks built without permits or with undersized structural components — we've navigated the retroactive permitting and replacement process across multiple neighborhoods and can guide you through every step
New dock under construction with marine-grade cleats and workers completing installation over Broward County waterway

Hurricane-Resistant Dock Construction What "Wind-Rated" Really Means on the Intracoastal

Every dock contractor in South Florida claims their work is hurricane resistant. Real hurricane resistance is an engineering outcome — the result of specific decisions made at the design stage that either hold under wind load or don’t.


What those decisions look like on an Extreme Decks installation:


Piling depth and lateral load resistance is the single most important variable. Pilings driven to refusal — typically 10 to 14 feet in Broward’s Intracoastal canals — achieve the lateral resistance required to keep the structure in place when storm-driven wake loads the framing.


Hurricane-rated structural connectors — the same category required by Florida Building Code for roof-to-wall connections — are used at every critical framing junction. These are not standard joist hangers. They are uplift-rated connectors with documented load capacities that appear in our engineering drawings.


Fastener withdrawal resistance is calculated based on decking material and wind speed zone — not left as a field decision for the crew. The difference in construction cost between a code-minimum dock and a properly engineered one is typically 8 to 12% of total project cost. The difference in outcome during a storm is categorical.

Ipe, Cumaru, or Composite Choosing the Right Decking for Your Broward Dock

Material selection is where most dock conversations go wrong. At Extreme Decks, we match the material to your specific canal conditions, usage pattern, and maintenance tolerance — not to whatever a supplier has available.

Brazilian Ipe is the benchmark for high-end residential docks in Broward. With a Janka hardness of 3,680 lbf and natural resistance to marine borers and moisture, it delivers 25+ years of structural performance in a salt-air environment. It does require annual oiling to maintain its rich brown tone — homeowners who want zero maintenance should consider an alternative.


Capped composite — TimberTech or Deckotech — eliminates maintenance entirely while providing a genuinely barefoot-friendly surface in July’s direct Florida sun. The polymer shell on all four sides prevents moisture absorption and mold growth that standard composite cannot resist.


Cumaru performs within 10% of Ipe on every structural metric at a price point that delivers real value on large-footprint dock platforms. ThruFlow grating rounds out the toolkit for wet-zone applications, PWC platforms, and launch areas where drainage and anti-slip performance are the priority.

Skilled Cumaru wood deck builders constructing a custom terrace in Fort Lauderdale.

Your Broward Waterfront
Has Been Waiting Long Enough

The difference between a dock that performs for three years and one that performs for thirty isn’t luck — it’s the engineering decisions made before the first pile is driven. We start every Broward dock project with a technical site evaluation that gives you real information before you commit to anything. No pressure. No sales rep reading from a template. Just honest answers from the team that will build your dock.
Request Your Free Site Evaluation