If you’re in the market for a lakeside property, you’re likely a boating or water sports enthusiast. As such, you’re going to need a place to store your boat or watercraft.
Thankfully for boaters, many lakeside properties on the market come pre-equipped with boat docks. However, wood docks require occasional care and maintenance to maintain their functionality. Of course, some contractors and repairmen can tend to these needs for you, but you can also take care of a great deal of your dock’s maintenance needs on your own.
To keep your dock in great shape, follow these simple steps.
Pressure Clean The Dock
Pressure-treated wood on a dock or deck needs to be cleaned periodically of dirt, grime algae, etc that builds up on it. The best way to do that is by using a pressure washer. Don’t use chemicals. Just plain water. Use a pressure of 600 psi or less to keep from damaging the wood. Also, use a fan tip nozzle and keep it a few inches from the wood.
Always Use Treated Lumber
For any repairs, you may need to execute on your dock, be sure to use only treated lumber materials. Treated lumber will resist rot and degradation better than any other type of wood.
Sealants or Treatment Products
New docks or decks need to dry for several weeks before they can be sealed. Use a stain or sealer to help protect the wood. One or the other, both are not needed. The stain or sealer should be water-repelling and have UV blockers in it. This will make the wood last longer and help keep it from cracking and splintering. Below are some links that offer good tips on what I have mentioned here…
https://www.decks-docks.com/dock-maintenance-guide-how-to-extend-the-life-of-your-boat-dock
http://www.vwdocks.com/blog/72/spring-cleaning-what-boat-dock-owners-should-know.php
https://www.yellawood.com/resources/product-education/sealing-painting-staining-pressure-treated-wood/
Replace Old Flotation Barrels
For those whose docks make use of flotation barrels, one of your dock’s most important facets is also one of the easiest to replace.
Flotation barrels can be replaced with a few simple tools and a little elbow grease. Replacing old, leaky barrels can have a huge impact on dock stability.
Mend and Treat Chains
If your dock makes use of chains, take care to treat them with lubricant regularly. Regular lubricant application will deter rust and keep everything running smoothly.
Check Fasteners
In harsh waterside conditions, fasteners are one of the first things to deteriorate. Screws, nails, and other specialty fasteners can loosen, even fall out, after years of wear.
Take a few hours to look over your dock’s fasteners, tighten where necessary, and make note of needed replacements.
Sand Down Split Boards and Large Splinters
Split lumber can cause a multitude of problems, the foremost of which is injury from splinters.
Luckily, getting rid of splinters is a pretty easy task. All you’ll need is a pair of gloves and a belt sander. Just sand down any splinter that’s underfoot, and run your hand over the newly sanded patch with a gloved hand to ensure optimal safety.
When sanding treated lumber, it’s always best to wear a utility mask and safety glasses.
Photo Credits:
1. Photo via Flickr
2. Photo via Flickr
3. Photo by Martin Kenny
Comments 16
I really like what was said in this article about how you need to use treated lumber in order to avoid rotting of the boat dock. The boat dock by my house has had this problem many times before. I am definitely going to let the owners know!
I like what you recommend about keeping the chains maintained. It makes sense that if a dock uses chains, keeping them clean and maintained to ensure the structural integrity of the dock. I’ll have to remember this for when I get a dock just so I don’t have to worry about quick and preventable erosion.
It’s good to know all of this about dock repairs and maintenance. What kinds of docks would use chains? I’ve only ever seen the ones that are just planks of wood, so what would the chains be used for?
The chains were once used on old-style docks to hold together floating sections. They are are not commonly used for that any more.
My friend got a new sports boat and he is looking to get a private dock. Making sure that you have an insured company for maintenance of a dock is wise. I think that finding a dock construction service that is covered will also help boat owners so there are no surprises.
Thanks for pointing out that unsealed lumber can actually handle wet conditions just fine. My boat is starting to get a little leak in the bottom of it. I don’t know if it’s the lumber part, so I think that I’ll find somewhere that I can get it maintained.
Amanda you are very welcome. We are glad to know the articles we post have practical benefits to our readers.
Thanks for visiting!
I think a lot of people forget to mend and treat their chains on their dock. I think that it’s really important to make sure maintenance is good so that no major problems happen. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks Joy for reading our blog posts. We appreciate your comments.
I like what you said about replacing flotation barrels and how this can be fairly easy. Jetties and floating docks are great because they make boat access significantly easier. If I were to buy such a piece of equipment, I would work with a reliable service to aid me with the installation process.
Very informative article. Thanks a lot for sharing.
Nice piece on maintenance that could be useful to a lot of boat dock owners.
Thanks for talking about how sealing wood needs to be done every six months. It is important to know how to care for your dock in order to make it last. We want to find the best dock builder to help us with our project. so I’m glad I found your page.
So, you’re saying to leave the wood natural? No staining, painting, or anything? Why does everyone tell you to let wood age a year, power wash, and then seal/stain/paint it for optimal wear? I’m confused! Hubby past away and now this is up to me to maintain and I want to make it easy for myself and be the best way for dock to age. I don’t need costly repairs or an unsightly dock. Thanks for your help!
Hey Jan, this article was written some time ago and some of the information needs updating. I will do that today. Pressure treated wood on a dock or deck needs to be cleaned periodically of dirt, grime algae, etc that builds up on it. The best way to do that is using a pressure washer. Don’t use chemicals. Just plain water. Use pressure of 600 psi or less to keep from damaging the wood. Also use a fan tip nozzle and keep it a few inches from the wood. New docks or decks need to dry for several weeks before they can be sealed. Use a stain or sealer to help protect the wood. One or the other, both are not needed. The stain or sealer should be water repelling and have uv blockers in it. This will make the wood last longer and help keep it from cracking and splintering. Below are some links that offer good tips on what I have mentioned here…
https://www.decks-docks.com/dock-maintenance-guide-how-to-extend-the-life-of-your-boat-dock
http://www.vwdocks.com/blog/72/spring-cleaning-what-boat-dock-owners-should-know.php
https://www.yellawood.com/resources/product-education/sealing-painting-staining-pressure-treated-wood/
Appreciate you mentioning the need to seal wood every six months. Understanding how to maintain your dock is crucial for its longevity.