F.A.Q.

Is there a fee for having someone come out for a site visit and evaluation?

A site visit comprises of about 2 hrs of research prior to visiting the site. The actual pond evaluation can take anywhere from 2 to 5 hrs, depending on your needs. Once all the on site information is gathered and brought back to the office, it takes a minimum of 6 to 8 working hrs to put together an official proposal. It actually costs us about $650 in man hrs to create a proposal and should we decide to our charge is $300 to $500 for a site evaluation depending on the scope of the project. If we should end up being the successful contractor for your project, we will credit that fee back toward your first payment. This may help to eliminate spending many hours preparing this information for people who weren’t serious about their project in the first place.

Once we decide to go forward with our project, how long will the permit process take?

Every project is unique in its permit requirements. The standard timeframe is between 45 and 90 days. There are a limited number of projects that have very complicated issues and these projects can take up to a year.

Who are the agencies that will be contacted for permits and approvals?

Local Conservation District, PA DEP Dams & Waterways Division, PA Fish Commission, US Army Corps of Engineers, local townships and PA One Call. This is a standard list, depending on the project there may be more or less.

What does a permit cost?

Every project is different, however an average for acquiring the necessary permits and approvals normally has a range of between $1,000 to $5,000. There are a few projects that have a cost over $15,000, but these are very complicated and unique and you would be made well aware of the cost prior to any money being spent.

What does dredged material look like and where will it go?

The silt removed from your pond looks like mud soup. There are several options of what to do with this material. If fill material is needed elsewhere on your site, we can create a “silt containment area” where this material can be contained and left to dry out for use later. If there is no need or room to keep the material on site we will haul it off site. Off-site can mean to our recycling facility in Sellersville, PA or it may mean to an alternate site that is in need of this material. In some cases hauling off site means it is taken to a pay dump, not the most cost effective situation, but sometimes there are limited options. In any case, you will be aware of the plan, the location and if any additional costs factor in.

What if I want to make changes to our original design or plan during the course of the project?

During the course of the project, due to a variety of factors, there are several times that changes could or should be made. Because we are personally on site, you will have access to us to address these changes, offer opinions and ask questions. Our personalized approach is what has generated our long list of satisfied customers. Any and all changes and the costs involved, will be clearly defined before any decisions are made.

Will there be much damage to my property?

We are a “hands on” contractor that takes pride in the quality and integrity of our work. We will work hard to preserve the condition of your grounds even when it means an additional expense to us. If necessary, we will use our lumber truck mats to create a single roadway to your pond site. All truck traffic is kept well within legal weight limits and by using our mats we only disturb a 12′ section of land. Once the project is finished, the mats are removed and the lawn area is completely restored.