Construction & Contractors Blog
It's important to arrange for dock repairs promptly when they're needed. A damaged dock can create hazards and challenges when it comes to docking watercraft. There are numerous possible repair needs and causes of damage you may have to deal with when caring for a dock.
The following are six common dock repair needs you need to keep up on to keep your dock in safe and operable condition.
1. Rotting wood
Docks are largely composed of wooden components that are constantly exposed to water. This makes many parts of a dock subject to rot growth over time. If the beams and platforms of a dock start to develop rot growth, their structural integrity is compromised. Dock components may need to be completely replaced if rot growth is severe.
When rotted wooden dock components are replaced, they must be replaced with wood that is properly sealed and treated to resist rot growth. This helps to prevent future repair needs.
2. Rusted hardware
Dock hardware is constantly exposed to water and in some cases salt. This makes it likely that hardware will eventually start to rust over time. Rusted hardware can lose its strength and allow dock parts to come loose.
3. Missing or loosening hardware
Hardware in a dock can become loose over time. Water and waves constantly putting pressure on dock components can loosen screws. This could eventually cause planks to come loose. Replacing missed screws and tightening screws and other hardware are key tasks for both dock repair and maintenance.
4. Storm damage repair
Storms can cause severe damage to docks. It's important to inspect a dock after a severe weather event to make sure the structure is still sound. A storm can cause dock parts like planks to come loose. Storms can also cause the surface of the body of water underneath the dock to shift so that it is no longer safe for watercraft traffic. All these issues need to be repaired promptly to prevent injury and watercraft damage.
5. Impact damage from boats
Boats can cause damage to a dock if they strike the sides of the dock. In this case, the wood components will likely need to be replaced to restore the dock to its previous condition.
6. Ice damage
Ice damage is a common cause of dock repair needs in areas where freezing temperatures are frequent or possible. Freezing water can cause the dock to heave or warp. If this happens, the dock could be moved away from moorings.
If you're worried about potential ice damage, you should inspect dock components after the spring thaw occurs or after any cold weather. If you notice any damage, contact local dock repair companies.
Share13 May 2021
My name is Debbie Greenberg. I’m a single woman who owns her home, and like most homeowners I dread home repairs. I’m not very handy with do-it-yourself projects around the house. I can do a few minor repairs when necessary, but for the most part I have to call in a professional. Last year I had a leak in my roof. When it rained, water would leak into my kitchen. What appeared to be a simple fix turned out to be anything but simple. It took over four months to finally identify the problem, and double the money I was initially quoted to fix it. The problem ended up being that the flat part of my roof didn't have shingles, but a sheeting material. I learned a bit about home roofs along the way, and that is what I want to share with you.
