Maintenance Tips to Extend the Life of Your Dock and Wraps
As a dock owner, if you want your dock to last, the general idea is to protect it with dock piling wraps. This is because docks are exposed to the natural elements (water, salt and sun) and they need regular care to help them stay strong, safe and in the best shape.
Fortunately, maintaining your dock and piling wraps doesn’t have to be such a challenge. Paying more attention goes a long way in preventing damage and saving you from expensive repairs. In this article, we’ll consider some simple maintenance tips that can extend the life of your dock and pilings wraps.
4 Useful Tips to Maintain Your Dock and Piling Wraps
- Do Regular Inspections
At least twice a year, take a walk around your dock. Check the surface boards, railings, pilings and especially the piling wraps. Look for cracks, loose boards or any signs of marine pests like shipworms or barnacles.
Also, whenever there’s been a storm, hurricanes, or period of high water, do a quick inspection just to be safe. When you catch these small issues early, it can prevent them from turning into big problems later.
- Keep it clean
Cleaning your dock and piling wraps sounds like the normal thing to do, but regular underwater cleaning can make a significant difference. Algae, barnacles, bird droppings and salt build up can cause your dock to deteriorate fast.
Use a stiff brush or pressure washer (on a low setting) to clean the surface of the dock, and scrub the pilings and wraps if you see grime starting to build up. Use eco-friendly cleaners to avoid harming the water around you, especially if you’re on a lake, river or saltwater canal.
- Address Minor Damage Early
When you see a small tear in a piling wrap or loose nail on the dock, fix it immediately, because these little issues can turn into bigger problems faster than you think, especially around water.
You can patch small wrap tears and replace missing fasteners by getting the required equipment from your local marine supply store. If you encounter any situation that seems too big for you to handle, don’t hesitate to call a professional before the damage escalates.
- Prepare for the seasons
Each season comes with its own set of challenges. Before winter or hurricane season, make sure your dock and piling wraps are ready. Remove portable items, secure loose boards, and ensure that all wraps are sealed tightly.
During the off-season, observe an inspection during the early winter and spring and look for damage caused by ice or heavy winds.
Conclusion
The best part about maintaining your dock and piling wraps is that you don’t have to spend so much time doing it. However, the little time you spend can save you a fortune over the years.
All you need to do is carry out regular inspection, a little cleaning and addressing small issues before they grow and you have a dock that lasts longer.
