How Do I Maintain a Private Dock?
Dock maintenance will depend significantly on the type of materials you use for your dock construction. Even the most durable materials will need some level of maintenance, though certain materials will require more maintenance than others.
In this post, we’ll discuss the best ways to maintain your dock so you can keep it looking its best for years to come.
What to Know About Dock Maintenance
Typically, the dock component requiring the most maintenance is wood decking. Though it’s a classic decking material, wood is susceptible to sun and moisture damage and needs hands-on maintenance at least once a year. Yes, this means it should be re-stained regularly.
Regardless of the type of dock, however, there are several steps you should take annually to keep your dock in tip-top shape.
Your Dock Maintenance Checklist
- Clean your dock regularly – By this, we mean more than doing just a sweep. At least once a year, you should take a pressure washer to your boat dock to clear out dirt, sand, debris, and any other buildup that’s accumulated on the dock. If you see signs of mold or mildew starting to grow, clean that away too.
- Repair damaged or broken parts – If you have any rotting boards or rusted-out dock hardware, replace it with stainless steel dock fasteners and hardware components that resist corrosion. Likewise, if your dock feels unstable or wobbly, fix it by adding cross braces.
- Protect your dock with accessories – If you don’t already have bumper brackets on your dock, install them now to protect your watercraft and dock from the impact of shoreline wake.
- Winterize as needed – Depending on your location and climate, you may need to take steps to winterize your floating dock. This is also a good time to run through your dock maintenance checklist.
Maintaining your dock is the best way to prolong the life of your dock and keep it looking its best. To ask your questions about dock maintenance or custom dock design, please contact us at RDS Dock Hardware.
