What you shore is like
Choosing the appropriate bridge type always begins by getting to know the local circumstances and by ascertaining the purposes and needs for the use of the bridge. In addition to any requests, the selection is affected by the soil material on the shore, the depth of the body of water, the action of the weather conditions at the given location, and the legislation applicable in the region, that is, your shore. For construction with an optimum budget, all these factors should be taken into account, and the best choice should be determined on their basis.
Our objective is to provide you with the most appropriate bridge to be durable over time and meet the required objectives. We have established client consultation as one of our biggest competitive advantages and can come to check out a site and discuss ideas on the spot if you invite us to.
Purpose and needs for the use of the bridge
Would you like to use the bridge for swimming or bathing only? Would you like to attach a boat to the bridge? What types of boats would land at the bridge and how many are they? Or maybe you would like to have instead a floating sauna or a small cottage for overnighting on water? Perhaps you would simply like a floating raft on which a motor is mounted for travel by water? Perhaps you actually need a whole harbour with the service infrastructure? There are various options; however, before you proceed to any of the following stages, you should have the final objective in place more or less, so that the result will actually meet the need.
Shore soil
Since mostly no structures (e.g. terraces or berths) are constructed by the very water’s edge, the existing structures cannot be used for the construction of a boat bridge. This, in turn, means that, in order to build by the water, we need to know what kind of soil you have on your shore and in your water (soil, sand, clay, moraine, stones, peat, mud or something else). The soil may significantly affect the bridge type and also the construction budget. We have constructed solutions on both quaggy peat and rocky Swedish islands.
Water depth
Depending on the purpose and type of the boat bridge, at least 0.3 m of water has to be guaranteed under the boat bridge regardless of the water level. To function normally, a boat bridge has to float, and if floats are left high and dry, they may be also damaged by underwater objects (stones, poles etc.). In addition to the minimum water depth, the maximum water depth is also an important indicator in the bridge area. The latter needs to be known, for example, for mooring. In addition, we always need to find out what the water depth is at the distance which the bridge should reach.
Weather conditions
In choosing the type of the bridge, we take into account the wind, waves, annual water level fluctuation, the ice and its movement. Did you know that there are rivers in Estonia whose water lever fluctuation ranges over 4 m and that it is possible on small lakes for the combined action of the wind and an ice mass to shift bridges weighing up to 30 tonnes? Insofar as construction on the boundary between land and water is sensitive to the laws of nature, please make sure to take into account all and any factors resulting from nature and share these with us as well.
Legislation
Since a boat bridge is a building (structure), it is also subject to legislation that has to be adhered to. In order to find out what legislation and constraints apply to your shore, you are advised to first contact your local government to obtain detailed information. The local government will provide you with instructions on how to proceed. Usually, smaller bridges require only the local government’s written consent, whereas bigger bridges almost always require building permits. In particular, please pay attention to the interpretation of law when it comes to the involvement of EU funding, insofar as interest in documents and proper administration is detailed and warranted in case of various co-financiers.