In short
- Enter 2 or 3 written bids to see price per linear foot and price per warranty year side by side.
- It lists what each bid leaves out: permits, drawings, old wall removal, returns, cap, tiebacks, backfill, dock work, yard and turbidity screens.
- A lower total is not a lower price if the bid covers less work. The gap list shows where.
- No prices from us: it only does arithmetic on your own bids.
This seawall bid comparison calculator helps Cape Coral owners line up bids that rarely match. Enter each bid's price, linear feet, warranty and inclusions, and it divides the price and flags what one bid covers that another does not. It is a planning aid, not advice on which contractor to hire. Prefer paper? Use the printable bid comparison worksheet.
What each bid is missing compared with the others
Things to check next
How the numbers are worked out
| Result | Formula | What it can and cannot tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Price per linear foot | Total price divided by linear feet | Includes every item in the bid, so a bid with more work looks higher |
| Price per warranty year | Total price divided by warranty years | A term in years says nothing about what is covered or excluded |
| Gap list | Items one bid includes that another does not | Only as good as the written bids you typed in |
Watch out: a lower price per foot can mean a shorter scope, not a better deal. Our replacement cost guide lists the cap, tiebacks, backfill, permits and engineering, old wall removal and dock work as separate cost drivers, so ask each contractor to price them.
What the gap list is checking
- Permits and drawings. Ask who pulls the permit and who pays for sealed drawings. See seawall permits and design standards.
- Old wall, cap, tiebacks and backfill. These drive strength and cost. See the cost guide and materials.
- Returns and tie-ins. Side walls and neighbor connections add length. Read returns and tie-ins.
- Dock, lift and yard. Often priced apart from the wall. See the dock and lift permit checklist and landscaping near the wall.
- Turbidity screens. Ask whether the contractor installs them around the work site.
After you compare
- Ask for the missing items in writing.
If Bid A includes the cap and Bid B does not, ask Bid B to price it.
- Re-run the calculator.
Add each missing price to its bid so the totals cover the same work.
- Read the warranty.
- Choose with the full picture.
Use how to choose a seawall contractor for questions and red flags, and the seawall cost calculator to sanity-check totals. Those are estimates, not quotes.
Need more bids to compare? Use the form on this page to request quotes from independent local contractors. We are a referral service, not a contractor, and we do not do the work.
En español: calculadora para comparar presupuestos de muro de contención.
Frequently asked questions
How does the seawall bid comparison calculator work?
You enter each bid's total price, linear feet, warranty years and which items the written bid includes. It divides the price by feet and by warranty years, then lists items one bid includes that another does not. It uses no outside prices.
Is the lowest price per linear foot the best seawall bid?
Not necessarily. A bid that leaves out the cap, tiebacks, permits or dock work can look cheaper per foot while pushing costs onto you later. Compare bids only after each covers the same items, and ask for the missing pieces priced in writing.
Why does the calculator divide price by warranty years?
It gives a rough way to see what each year of written coverage costs. It says nothing about what the warranty covers or excludes, so read the full warranty text before leaning on it.
What if my bids cover different lengths of wall?
The calculator flags it. Ask each contractor to price the same linear feet, or to state which sections are left out, such as side returns.
Does this tell me what a fair seawall price is?
No. It only compares your bids with each other. For planning ranges, use our replacement cost guide and cost calculator, which are estimates, not quotes.