Stock photo (Unsplash), not a job photo.
The cheapest wall to build isn’t always the cheapest wall to own. Here’s how the three common bulkhead materials compare on Long Island, using published 2026 ranges.
Price vs life
| Material | Typical LI price (2026) | Typical life | Rough cost per foot per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timber (in kind) | $350–$550 / ft | 25–30 years | about $12–$22 |
| Vinyl sheet pile | $450–$700 / ft | about 40 years (one LI contractor’s figure) | about $11–$18 |
| Steel sheet pile | $600–$900 / ft | long, with coating and maintenance | depends on exposure |
Cost per year = price ÷ life, using the ends of each range. It’s a planning comparison, not a quote.
Timber
- Pros: lowest first cost, traditional look, easy to repair in sections.
- Cons: rot and shipworm at the waterline. Pilings and deadmen typically start failing at 25–30 years.
- Local catch: the Town of Southampton bans chemically treated wood in docks, bulkheads and pilings, so standard pressure-treated timber is out there.
Vinyl
- Pros: doesn’t rot or feed shipworm. One Long Island marine contractor calls vinyl its preferred material for most replacements and quotes about 40 years of life.
- Cons: needs proper anchoring and a good timber or composite cap and wales. Very exposed sites may need heavier profiles or steel.
Steel
- Pros: the strongest option, for deep water, high loads and wave-exposed bayfronts.
- Cons: the highest cost per foot of the three, and it needs corrosion protection in salt water.
Which one for your site?
- Sheltered South Shore canal: usually vinyl.
- Open bay or Long Island Sound frontage: heavier vinyl or steel, sometimes with armor stone.
- Southampton: vinyl, steel or untreated alternatives, because treated timber is banned.
Plug your length into the cost calculator to compare materials for your wall.
Need it done? See bulkhead replacement on Long Island.