Put both proposals on the same page
| Decision | Repair proposal | Replacement proposal |
|---|---|---|
Existing components | Name what stays and why it is serviceable. | Name what is removed, retained or incorporated. |
Hidden conditions | State what has not been inspected. | Explain investigation and changed-condition allowances. |
Waterfront layout | Show the repaired joints and connections. | Show alignment, returns, docks and adjoining caps. |
Final cost | Include structural, drainage and restoration work. | Include demolition, access, approvals and restoration. |
A lower price can be useful, but only after the missing scope has been made visible.
What if two contractors recommend different work?
Find the disagreement
Have each proposal name the observation behind its recommendation. One may be addressing the cap while the other is pricing panels, anchors and soil support. Those are different offers.
Resolve the missing evidence
Ask the assessor which additional observation or investigation could settle the difference. Agree on the deliverable and price before paying for another broad inspection.
Reprice the same brief
Give both bidders the same findings and drawing. Ask what remains excluded and whether a new finding changes the method, allowance or schedule. Keep their responses with the proposals.
If neither proposal explains why the existing support can remain, the next purchase may be a focused assessment rather than a repair contract. Use the assessment checklist to define it.
When is a repair case convincing?
Look for a documented defect, a cause that the scope addresses and evidence supporting the components left in place. Ask how the professional reached that conclusion and what additional investigation could change it. Repeated surface repairs without a clear cause deserve a fresh assessment.
When should replacement be priced?
Request a replacement alternative when retaining the system cannot be justified, when several components need substantial work, or when a different layout is being designed. Do not use another city’s height standard or a generic wall age as the deciding rule. Have the relevant authority and designer establish the requirements for this parcel.
Monroe County Building and Permitting · Islamorada Building Services
How does the decision change with the evidence?
A local defect with a supported repair
A report locates an open joint, explains the soil-loss path and supports retaining the surrounding wall. Compare a repair that addresses both the opening and the affected ground, with a way to check the result.
A surface quote with unanswered movement
A proposal patches the cap, but the report records movement and leaves the support system untested. Resolve that gap before treating patching as an alternative to a designed structural scope.
These are decision examples, not findings about your property. Neither a small visible crack nor an attractive replacement brochure decides the answer.
Compare the approval route as well as construction
A repair may still involve sanctuary resources; replacement may change alignment, access or the seabed footprint. Ask for the same complete drawings to be used in county or Village, DEP, Corps and NOAA discussions. A Corps permit alone does not establish that sanctuary review is complete.
Corps permits and sanctuary review · Florida Keys sanctuary nearshore construction
What would change your choice?
- An underwater finding that alters the condition assessment.
- A survey showing a difficult transition to an adjoining structure.
- A habitat constraint affecting the proposed footprint.
- An access plan that requires another owner’s permission.
- A written cost allowance that materially changes the total.
Record those conditions before accepting a proposal. The cost guide helps separate known prices from unresolved items.
Show sourcesHide sources
- Monroe County Building and PermittingSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Islamorada Building ServicesSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Corps permits and sanctuary reviewSource reviewed 2026-10-25