A lot of folks think pier contractors just show up, drive a few posts, lay some boards, and call it a day. That’s not even close. A real pier job starts long before the first piece of lumber hits the shoreline. There’s site checking, water depth readings, soil testing, permit headaches, and design choices that depend on how the water behaves through the year. Flood levels matter. Boat traffic matters. Wave action matters more than people expect. Good pier contractors look at all of it before they talk materials or price. If they don’t, that’s usually your first red flag. A pier isn’t a patio — it’s a structure fighting water, motion, and time every single day. Treat it casual and you’ll rebuild it sooner than you planned.