Document what's there now
Note the location, when it started, and how conditions have changed. Photos and rough measurements help the first conversation.
Understand the Lowcountry factors
Charleston's peninsula core dates to colonial settlement in the 1670s and 80s, its masonry single houses and raised Lowcountry cottages built to answer heat and tidal flooding long before any building code existed; a magnitude-7 earthquake in 1886 cracked chimneys across downtown and left iron "earthquake bolts" still visible on historic facades today. Hurricane Hugo came ashore just north of the city on September 21, 1989, as a Category 4 storm, driving a 20-foot surge into the harbor and leaving the metro area without power for weeks -- still the benchmark storm locals measure every other one against.
Ask what disappears once it's finished
Connected load, fuel supply, transfer equipment, pad and drainage, required clearances, utility coordination, permits, startup testing, and maintenance access shape a dependable installation. A real written scope covers the prep and verification that will not be visible after the job is done.
Set the bids side by side
Look for site protection, access, materials, permits, testing, cleanup, restoration, exclusions, warranty terms, and change-order pricing.
What official local sources add
The city's Board of Architectural Review controls exterior changes across the historic district, and floodplain rules get revisited after nearly every major storm -- so elevation, drainage, and required clearances can differ block to block, let alone between the peninsula and West Ashley.
Sources were reviewed June 20, 2026. Confirm your parcel's flood zone, historic-district status, and current permit rules with the city before authorizing any work.