Our Pricing: How Much Does a Quality Riprap Shoreline Cost?

If you like to skim, let us save you some reading: a durable riprap shoreline that doesn’t erode or collapse isn’t cheap, and our on-site consultations are not free.

We know your goals: you want a shoreline that’s built to last, functional, easy to maintain, and looks crisp and clean.  You’ve come to the right place.

You don’t need to wear a monocle and top-hat to afford the toughest riprap shoreline money can buy.  Most customers of Lakeshore Guys® are not related to Rich Uncle Pennybags (the “Monopoly guy”).  But you will need to pay for the engineering and craftsmanship that a properly restored shoreline requires, which may seem expensive short-term.  A Lakeshore Guys® shoreline protects what you love about your lakefront property.  It’s an investment.

Whether you just need a swift end to shoreline damage, or you also want to become the envy of the lake, we’ll create a plan of action that fits your specific needs.  Read on for more details.

You just want a shoreline that doesn’t crumble – due to erosion or ice damage or muskrats or a landscapers’ shoddy workmanship – and at the very least you want it to look crisp and clean.  How difficult can that be, and how much can that cost?

You’d be surprised at how complex a rock-solid riprap shoreline is.  Even a straightforward shoreline isn’t cheap, if you want it built to last.  It requires specialized materials, large and heavy equipment, an enormous amount of old-fashion labor, and a crew of experienced specialists – for starters.  Whether you want a basic shoreline or a shoreline that’s over-the-top, doing it right has a baseline cost.  But the number of variables may also surprise you – like how many factors make one riprap shoreline cost more than another.  To figure the cost, we must take into account many factors, including:

• length of the shoreline to be restored
• overall size of the body of water you’re located on, as well as the distance across to the furthest opposing shoreline (e.g., wave energy calculation)
• river, pond, small inland lake, large inland lake, or one of the Great Lakes
• amount of fill (if any) necessary to repair erosion and/or create the “heel to toe” proper slope
• natural or man-made materials in the shoreline that must first be removed (and perhaps disposed of)
• angle of the slope
• overall width of riprap needed (heel to toe)
• distance to cover between your shoreline and the street
• type of soil on the landward side
• type of lake-bottom
• trees located near the waters-edge (that may or may not require removal, additional fill, etc.)
• any aquatic weeds that may require removal
• the difference in elevation between your yard and the water’s edge
• water depth near the shoreline
• muskrats or other furry critters
• vulnerability to ice-heaving
• ease of access to the water for transporting our equipment and materials (perpendicular access from end to end is preferred)
• any amenities you may want
• your distance from us

And much more.  No two properties are the same, and no two shorelines are the same.  The variables are endless, and so is the engineering required for your shoreline to last.

Proper shoreline work (done right) isn’t cheap, but it’s cheaper than the alternatives.

A durable shoreline takes more engineering than you might have assumed, so it also may cost more than you might have assumed.

If you think you can get your shoreline restored (and have it last) for $10-12K, you’re in for a brief feeling of triumph, followed by disappointment.  If you hire a landscaper you’re in for a brief honeymoon period, followed by a sinking feeling pantomimed by your shoreline as it slides into the water.

The landscaper’s work may have been cheap, but it still costs you many thousands of dollars, only soon to crumble, heave, wash away, or otherwise fall into disrepair.  It will cost you even more to have it all removed and done right.

Everyone loves “Do it once, do it right” craftsmanship, but not everyone budgets for it.  If you’re not prepared to invest an absolute minimum of $375 per linear foot of shoreline, we are not your guys.  A shoreline cannot be properly riprapped and built to last for anything less than that, and we absolutely refuse to do shoddy (or average) work.

Do we know what your shoreline will cost?  Not yet.  Many factors swirl around each shoreline, and we haven’t seen yours yet.  You may have an “ordinary” shoreline, or you may have a shoreline that seems unique and uniquely difficult to you, but that for us isn’t too tough to fix.  We’ll need to see it (more on that in a minute).

You don’t need to be rich to afford the best shoreline built by humans.  Not even close.

It may surprise you to know that most of our customers don’t live in castles surrounded by moats.  People from many walks of life (retirees, business owners, teachers, contractors, nurses, etc.) pick our shorelines because they’re the toughest made.  Most people understand the value of quality, and many people who don’t consider themselves “rich” want it and get it.  That’s because quality pays for itself – over time.

There is only one unavoidable up-front cost, which brings us to the next point:

The consultation is your only (very small) leap of faith.

Our consultations are not free.  That’s because we don’t just walk around for a few minutes, kick the rocks, and grunt out a quote.  When that’s all a company does we’d agree that consultations should be free.

Our consultations are different.  Each requires a good chunk of time and work on our part.  We study the photos you send us, often drive a good distance to meet with you, assess your shoreline and property with trained eyes (often taking aerial photos on-site), and give you recommendations that can make your shoreline stronger and better-looking even if you don’t choose us.  The consultation is equivalent to a master class in shoreline restoration, and instantly you know more about your shoreline than anyone else who’s seen it.  If nothing else, that allows you to make an informed decision about what you need or want, so you can avoid wasting time and money.

Within a day or two we send you with a meticulously detailed written quote.  Of course, if you choose  Lakeshore Guys^® we count the cost of your consultation toward the total for completing your project.

To build a riprap shoreline right at least seems expensive.  That’s the bad news.

Everything’s a trade-off.  With us the trade-off is clear.

If we haven’t scared you off, we’ve got some good news for you: With us and our toughest-made shorelines the price is the only “catch.”  Every coin has two sides, and everything in life is a trade-off.  With a Lakeshore Guys^® shoreline, the cost is the only flipside to what you get: a shoreline that resists erosion and ice damage, that makes your shoreline property look the way you always wanted, and that holds up over time.  The price only seems high.   For the unequaled quality you’re getting, the price is low.  It’s an investment in your property, and crosses several big items off your to-do list.

Your other options – the other trade-offs – are worse.  You can hire a landscaper or general contractor (or a series of them) for nice and cheap and have your shoreline look like a manure truck wreck before it falls into the water.  Or you can do nothing and hope that Mother Nature doesn’t wash away too much more shoreline that you’ll still have to pay taxes on (even when it’s underwater and has become government property).

The other good news is the cost only seems bigger before you see your new shoreline.  If past experience is any indicator, your only gripe will be that you didn’t get your Lakeshore Guys^® shoreline sooner.

Contact Lakeshore Guys^® today to get the only shoreline that makes the cost small.