Wood decking is the traditional route, offering a natural look and often times an environmentally-friendly advantage.The Plus is conceived as a radial array of four main production halls – a warehouse, color factory, wood factory, and the assembly – that connect at the center and generate the ‘plus’ shape at its intersection. Both materials have their own pros and cons. The two main materials you will decide between are wood and composite decking. Choosing the Perfect Dock DeckingĬhoosing the right dock decking isn’t a process to be taken lightly. With the foundation constructed, you can begin the final and most exciting step of adding the dock decking. Once the basic frame is constructed you may also choose to install shoreline support posts. Even the most expensive decking will fail if you have weak dock structure. The frame of your dock is going to determine how long your dock deck is going to last. Regardless of what material you are using for your footer you will want to sink it a minimum of 3ft into the bed.Īfter getting your footers firmly into place you can then start the framing. Often time this pipe will extend above the maximum water level to help protect exposed wood from direct water contact. If the dock is to be on a body of water in a region with extreme weather, concrete-filled PVC pipe is ideal for use as dock footers. The use of wooden posts can work well for smaller docks, but consider the use of PVC pipe. Traditional all wood boat dock construction sometimes included the practice of sinking wood posts directly into the bed to function as a footer. If all else fails checking the height on other docks in the same body of water or checking with a professional is preferable. Even marks left on stone outcroppings in and around the water can help. Checking runoff height or going through records will help you determine the ideal height. It is important to determine your maximum water line before any construction begins. The solution is to determine the maximum waterline in the spot where you want your dock and plan for your beams to be just a couple inches above this. Similarly, a deck too high out of the water makes it difficult and possibly dangerous to get in and out of your boat. When a dock is placed excessively high out of the water it makes it difficult for swimmers to safely get out of the water. Too high of a dock can pose just as much frustration as too low of a dock. Constant contact with water, especially salt water, and the weather patterns associated with big bodies of water can make a big difference on the durability of your dock. Common sense dictates that the less material you have submerged, the longer your dock will last. Selecting the Right Boat Dock HeightĪs a general rule you will want to keep as much of your dock out of the water as possible. For many private docks it’s important to consider the range of functionality you’ll need your dock to sustain, since it often becomes a place not only to house your boat but also to support a wealth of fun activities. Any local town or municipal coding requirements or permits for docksĪll of these factors will affect the end design for your dock so be sure to answer them honestly and always err on the side of caution.Will any part of your dock need to be submerged in water?.Depth of water around dock (railing may be necessary).Location of dock (will the dock be in shade, partial sun or full sun).Activities involving the dock (will you fish and dive off the dock or use it for entertaining).Furniture placement on dock (you’ll want to add 2′ to 3’ of extra space around furnishings).Average number of boats that will be anchored to the dock.Some other factors you should keep in mind when planning your boat dock include: Getting the size of your dock incorrect can be a frustrating problem, so it’s worth it to build a dock slightly bigger than you think you need rather than one that is too compact. Whether made of wood or composite, the structure and size of your dock will remain the same so be sure to get your plan on paper first. Planning Your Boat Dockīefore you get around to shopping for materials you should first get an idea of what design you’d like your dock to have. The only considerable difference between a dock and a deck is that you will need to account for submersion and water-resistance. Many of the same factors you’d need to consider when building a residential deck, such as weight distribution, apply to boat docks of all sizes.
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