Dock repair at this lake runs from a soft deck board to a frame that twisted in a storm. The request is more useful when you say which one it is.
Describe the failure
- Deck: soft boards, loose screws, a section that moves when you step on it.
- Frame: a bent member, a separated corner, a ramp that no longer meets the seawall.
- Roof or cover: a leak, a lifted panel, or a post that leans. A roof is weight. If the dock sits lower than it used to, say that too.
- Hardware: hinges, stiff arms, cables, and winches.
- Flotation: the dock lists, sits low, or you can see cracked or crumbling foam. That may be a refoam rather than a frame repair. The refoam or rebuild guide is the decision page.
- Storm: what broke, and when. If you already did a temporary repair, note the time. The 48-hour report is real. Details are in the storm guide.
Photos are optional. A wide shot of the whole dock plus a close shot of the bad spot is enough. Do not send someone under a damaged dock to photograph foam.
Repair and the permit
Ameren’s rule is blunt: construction may not proceed until a permit has been issued, and Ameren can require removal and charge enforcement fees if work starts without one. Failure to obtain a permit is listed at $2,000, separate from the permit fee itself. A modification, which is how Ameren prices a change to an existing dock, is $550.
Owners sometimes hope a repair slips through because the dock was permitted years ago. The old permit covers the dock that was approved. It does not automatically cover a larger roof, another well, or a new footprint. If the repair keeps the same dock and the builder believes it is not a modification, they can say so. If you already know you want it bigger, start from the permit guide and say “modification” on the form.
Work has to be done by an Ameren-certified dock builder or by the property owner. Hiring a general contractor who is not on Ameren’s current list, or a handyman who is handy with a welder, does not meet that rule. The certification guide shows what Ameren requires of a builder: a permit before work, at least $1,000,000 of liability insurance with Ameren named as an additional insured, workers’ compensation and employer’s liability of at least $500,000, and proof of how waste foam is disposed of.
Electrical damage
If the repair involves the wiring, the local fire district or the Village of Four Seasons may have to inspect it. Ameren can revoke a dock permit when a dock’s electrical installation is not safe. Say “electrical” in the notes if breakers trip, lights flickered before the failure, or you felt a tingle. Stay out of the water until a qualified electrician has cleared it. More on that is in the electrical inspection guide.