You walk across your dock, have your boat bobbing alongside it, and host parties on it, yet it goes ignored! Why do we neglect the multi-purpose dock?
When you neglect your boat dock, it splinters and requires more maintenance. Dock repairs are expensive, so you need to clean your dock regularly. Regardless of the dock’s material, you need to inspect your dock every time you step foot on it to ensure that it’s not damaged from an undetectable angle. Even the smallest crack in the structure can weaken it from all points.
Protect the Wood
Nowadays, docks are available in different materials such as composite wood, vinyl, PVC, and aluminum. If you have a softwood or hardwood dock, you need to ensure it is suitable for marine use. Depending on how often the weather changes in your area, your dock might be exposed to harsh sunlight and wet conditions, which can lead to fading and mold.
Hence, wood needs to be treated and sealed regularly to prevent the wood from rotting. If you notice a damaged plank, call a professional dock contractor immediately to repair or replace it. A crack in the dock can cause untold damage due to heavy foot traffic.
Dock Maintenance Tips
Keep a Schedule
You probably clean your AC’s filters and change the smoke detector batteries periodically. Include dock maintenance on the list, and set aside at least 2 to 3 hours for inspection and cleaning.
Take Pictures Periodically
Have your mobile phone in hand while taking a leisure walk on your dock. Take pictures of the structure from every angle, and save them in a separate folder. Next month, take another set of pictures and compare them with the old ones to spot any damages.
Check the Hardware
Inspect everything from the bolts to the cleats, anchors, fasteners, ladders, and storage bins, for rust.
Power Wash the Dock
Power washing the dock is a great way to clean it without extra effort. In fact, you won’t need any marine cleaners because this powerful cleaning option will do the job perfectly.
Make sure to use the proper nozzle and pressure, or you risk damaging the dock. Use the fan tip nozzle and a pressure of less than 600 PSI.
Sand the Dock
If you have ever sanded a wood floor, you know how difficult it is to handle the machine. You can remove any splinters and smoothen the surface with sanding. The procedure prevents any trips due to the wood sticking out in certain areas. We suggest calling a professional for this job if you have never used a sander.
And there you have it – everything you need to do to maintain your wood dock. If you are looking for quality floating docks for boats or do-it-yourself docks, visit the EZ Dock Texas website. They offer different types of boat docks for residential, commercial, and industrial use. For more information, call (800) 654-8168.
