My Experience with "The Dock Experts"

Dear Person Considering using "The Dock Experts":

I was going to wait until my job was finished with the "Experts" - but I simply can not wait any longer. As you read, you will see why.

First, the purpose of this page: To share with you the experience I have had and continue to have building the following with "The Dock Experts":

The Project Scope:

Truline Seawall (80')
Two "returns" (10' each)
Concrete Cap
Concrete Dock
Re-installation of a four-post boat lift

This journey started in February of 2020 and... as of March 15, 2023 is still not over, the job is still not done.

I can not tell you who to use for your marine construction project – because I do not know the answer. But, what I can do is share an accurate account of what it was like for me and my family to work with "The Dock Experts".

I will be developing this site with everything from photographs, videos, and documentation from both the company and their lawyer's office trying to intimidate me into not sharing my experiences - A right that is soundly protected by The First Amendment of The United States Constitution.

Crucial Things You Must Know

Until this page is completed, there are some things you must know! I wish someone told me!

                1. They are expert salespeople.

                They are extremely good salespeople!! I believed everything they said. That was my first mistake.

                2. Put EVERYTHING in writing. I mean EVERYTHING.

                If you opt to discount what you see and learn from this site, make very certain that EVERYTHING is in writing. For example, if you are having a four-post boat lift installed, you need to make sure that you explicitly state that all four pilings need to be the same finished height. Otherwise, they use the same pile lengths in the deeper water that they used in the shallower water and then your outside piles are shorter than your inside piles.

                3. Review plans meticulously.

                Look very carefully at the plans they give you. They don't actually have the engineer come to your house. In my case, they made plans that didn't even include the storm drain that came out of the seawall – so that was a problem. (I'm reminded the subcontractor didn't even know how to install Truline—never did it before—even though I was told they didn't use subs).

                4. Account for clean up.

                Make sure to put in writing that if they cover your lawn with concrete and stone they will clean it up. EVERYTHING, down to the smallest thing MUST be in writing!

Management and Accountability

Even with everything in writing, I would never wish my experience with "The Dock Experts" on anyone. You'll forget something in writing and it will come back to haunt you. I lived it and continue to live it.

There are some good people working there—one of the reasons I hesitated to make this page sooner. But if you opt to ignore this page, make very certain that you are aware of the "General Manager" Andrew Ockerman. He is one of the biggest problems. He starts out very nice – but after the sale - becomes extremely aggressive. Frankly, I believe I will have to get some kind of legal protection from him for me and my family after seeing how he acts and as a result of this page. If that's not enough of a reason to find another contractor, I don't know what is.

If you opt to still go with them, you are going to want to make sure you can take a lot of time off from work and get pictures and video of everything. If you don't know what you are seeing them do, I would highly recommend you hire someone who can manage the project to add a layer of protection.

If you still continue to feel compelled to deal with this company, try to maintain a majority of your interaction with Mr. John Piotrowski (the "main" owner), but also make VERY certain that you get everything in writing. The hard part here is that Piotrowski's primary occupation is as a Financial Planner with Ameriprise – so he has to delegate a majority of daily operations to Mr. Ockerman. Another key player, Ryan Rodosta, has a primary job with Spirit Airlines. This is not their main employment.

A Catalog of Errors

I haven't even discussed how the property has been left all this time, or how they try to get paid before the work "Phases" are completed. Here is just a sample of the issues:

From the moment they didn't know how to handle the storm drain...
To when they tried to drive the Truline dock down incorrectly...
To not knowing the right way to fill the Truline material (and getting the hose stuck! LOL)...
To placing the dock pilings in the wrong place...
To the broken boat lift guide...
To the broken GEM boat lift control box...
To the lost dock bumpers that they were to save...
To the uneven boat lift piles...
To the terrible wooden stairs they are trying to build.

                The Wooden Stairs Debacle

                Originally we were going to have concrete steps, but the City didn't allow it. The "Experts" told us to select composite decking for the stairs. My wife said a gray color that matches the concrete is fine. Fast forward to the construction? They come with pressure treated wood and the stairs are so steep it's terrible. When I asked about the composite stairs, Mr. Ockerman sent me a change order. Three steps, 5' wide. How much do you think the change order was for?!? $3,500.00. You read that right.

Final Thoughts

And that's STILL not all of it!! As I look through the pictures and video, I'm astounded that I allowed to go this long. I trusted these people. I watched the marketing video that the owner made. I can't even begin to tell you how many things in that video are NOT what I experienced.

Just realize this: A person (me) is writing this before the contractor got off the job! The ramifications and retaliation that I am certain these people are going to put me through is likely going to be horrific. I am now at the point where I can't sleep at night with worry.

Let's be clear, for a majority of the job, I believe, they didn't know what they were doing. But had they at least owned the mistakes they made and made it right, it would have been fine. Those mistakes are met with anger, hostility, and agressiveness. Don't do it. There are many other companies to use. Just. Don't.

Photographic Evidence

Below are just a few images documenting the poor workmanship and ongoing issues - I'll be adding more pictures soon:

I HAVE THREE YEARS WORTH OF EXPERIENCE AS A "THE DOCK EXPERTS" CUSTOMER TO SHARE!!

If you need to contact me for more information about my experience, please do so text/call:
954-822-0619

Sincerely,
Peter M. Turso

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This website is an expression of personal opinion and experience protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.