Jan 8, 2019
DOES A DOCK NEED AN ANCHOR?
Do I REALLY need to use a dock anchor or auger? First-time dock owners in Door County ask this question all the time. Their concerns are valid – no one wants the extra work or cost if it isn’t needed.
First, let me say that on most inland lakes on the Door County peninsula it is not necessary to install an auger or anchor. Except for Lake Winnebago, the inland lakes generally are not deep enough or wide enough to be of concern. Without an open expanse, the waves typically do not present a problem. That statement is contingent on you having the dock set at the proper height.
WHAT SHOULD FIRST-TIME DOCK OWNERS LOOK FOR?
For new dock owners, we recommend you look around your area. How high are the docks set? Experience is a great teacher.
If a majority of the piers are set “low” to the water, it’s probably safe for you to do the same.
Here’s a great way to meet your neighbors. Most people want to help. Don’t be surprised if the name – Pier & Waterfront Solutions comes up in the conversation as the place to go.
In general, if the summer storms reach a height of 36 inches, then the bottom of the frame should be at least 38-42 inches above the water. This height allows the vast majority of the waves in a storm to pass under the dock frames.
WHO NEEDS TO ANCHOR A DOCK?
Summer thunderstorms kick up 4-6 waves on the bay of Green Bay with little warning. It’s no wonder that people use augers to anchor their docks.
One method to secure your dock is to pound pipe legs into the gravel or sand. This takes a toll on your back (or your friend’s back if you were smart enough to recruit help).
Not the best idea. Besides, you have to figure out a way to get the pipes out in the fall. You can’t pound UP!
This method is ineffective in most cases. A wave pounding against the bottom of the decking will lift the dock straight up. Once the leg is pulled out, the dock usually will twist or roll-over due to the continuous pounding from the waves.
WHAT OTHER OPTIONS DO I HAVE?
The recommended option is to use augers in critical locations. One way to do this: the husband holds the dock frame up (he’s strong you know). Meanwhile, his wife uses a pipe wrench to screw the auger pipes into the bottom. This is hardly a recipe for marital harmony either. We DO NOT recommend this procedure.
auger pipe
On a calm day, the only part of the pier that is in the water is the support pipes (legs). The legs have a low surface area in comparison to the entire dock. Waves easily pass around the legs with little resistance.
Minimal resistance is the key to securing your dock.
WHAT TYPE OF DECKING YOU USE IS IMPORTANT?
Most decking has an almost solid surface. As a result, there is no place for the water to relieve the pressure when it hits the dock. In a vast majority of decking, there are only a few 1/2″ openings in the decking. Waves hitting the underside of your dock have no way to reduce the pressure on the pier. This will cause an upward movement.
Typical Plastic decking
What’s the best decking with the least resistance to waves?
Open decking
Flow Through decking provides the least resistance to the waves by reducing the surface area by 42%
Our advice is to assess the worst case scenario for wave conditions in your area. Then set your dock height higher based on those conditions.
Setting the dock height too low on the bay is a bad idea. You do so at your own risk.
Customers with steel framed docks and board decking have found their docks flipped over in storms. The dock usually sinks. or in some cases, get washed down the shoreline. The parts of some of these piers have never been located.
Others were damaged because they ran out of pipe length and did not want to replace the pipes with longer ones. With the higher water levels the past few years, pipes that are too short are getting common.
In some situations, even though the dock height is set correctly, a neighbors boat or other floating debris will hit your dock. You can’t prevent every situation.
WHAT ABOUT BEDROCK?
There are many places where dock augers do not work due to the limestone bedrock in Door County. There are three ways to handle this.
The first is to use angled leg pockets. The legs are angled out from the dock similar to spreading your legs to gain stability. This helps stabilize the dock more than standard vertical legs. However, this is no guarantee that the storms will not flip your dock. It does help though.
ANOTHER WAY
The second way to anchor a dock involves drilling in rock anchors. Once installed a chain is attached between the dock and the anchor. The problem is – how to locate the anchors after the ice goes out in Spring. In some cases, the ice and boulders that move in the Spring will destroy the anchors.
A final option involves using a large, heavy mass in the water to secure the dock. This serves as a dock anchor during a storm. Depending on the depth of the water this may have to be removed from the water each year. The ice may move it away if the dock anchor gets trapped in it. A submerged weight may not be the easiest way to secure a dock.
In summary, after everything is said and done, the simplest method is to keep the dock set higher than the waves.
Need Help Planning a Dock System For Your Home or Cottage?
Do you have a friend that may be interested in this information? Please share a link to this page with them.
PWS is located at 7325 St. Hwy 57. That’s 1 mile North of County MM (Hwy 42) and 3 miles South of Sturgeon Bay at the Idlewild Road intersection.
Our staff is here year-round to assist you.
Sep 18, 2018
Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
SOLUTIONS – What does that word mean in the name – Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
Ok, The name implies that we sell, service, install and remove Piers (docks) and boat lifts. But a lot of people do that. Don’t they?
Yes, they do. But it means a whole lot more when you talk about Pier & Waterfront Solutions. Why? Because we are more than Piers (Docks) and Boat Lifts. What else do we do?
Want to enjoy the outdoors more?
If the answer is YES – Pier & Waterfront Solutions is the right place to be. Just pick up the phone and call us.
Did you know, we also build Decks – attached or freestanding by the water.
We also create some very unusual Stairs to access the shoreline and those Piers and Boat Lifts we talked about.
Stairs looking down the cliff
How about this one? Looks simple enough – Right!? A nice straight set of stairs- what’s the big deal?
Stairs and deck built over a cliff
Truthfully, anyone can create a set of stairs. But can they do it while suspended over a cliff? How about a deck suspended in the air? Not too shabby. Wait a minute – it’s getting a little more complicated now.
New Stairs down a cliff
The stairs are so long, we had to include platforms on the way down so you can rest. Do those stairs ever quit?
Makes you wonder how they get the docks and lifts down there. But we do!
Now, do you understand why we use “Solutions” in our name?
Where is Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
PWS is located at 7325 St. Hwy 42/57. That’s 1 mile North of County MM (Hwy 42) and 3 miles South of Sturgeon Bay. Look for the Idlewild Road intersection.
Our staff is here year-round to assist you. Don’t forget – Give us a call If you want to see an issue discussed on our site.
Call Jerry at 920-493-4404 or Email Jerry@wisconsinpws.com with any questions.
Feb 5, 2018
A COMPLETE GUIDE TO DECKING OPTIONS – (Part 1)
Written by ShoreMaster Marketing Updated by Pier & Waterfront Solutions LLC
Wood decking is one of the many ShoreMaster options available for docks. In fact, they offer so many decking choices that it can be hard to grasp which option best fits your needs.
This first of three articles discusses the types of wood decking available from ShoreMaster – namely Cedar and IPE wood decking.
In Part 2 of the series, the topic will be the types of aluminum decking available. Finally, in the third part of the series, the topic will be the latest plastic and composite decking types.
How to choose the Right Wood Decking for your dock?
Some dock manufacturers are very limited in their decking options. This is a blessing to a dealer because it limits their on-hand inventory. At the same time, limited decking choices affect your ability to get the best choice for your needs.
With ShoreMaster decking you are not limited to one or two choices. or the few choices the dealer chooses to tell you about. Remember, Pier Waterfront Solutions LLC has access to the widest range of decking choices anywhere. This is a major positive for you as a dock owner.
Decking represents 25% – 50% of the total cost of a dock system
With this realization in mind, initial decking cost is obviously an important aspect when choosing decking for a dock system.
Plus, no element on any dock system connects closer to the dock user than the decking. The number of deck choices available to you remains the most important factor when purchasing that new dock.
You may be surprised to learn that initial cost is only a small factor in the total cost over the lifespan of the deck.
Considering Wood Decking For Your Dock System?
For traditionalists (or people on a budget), wood decking is the only way to go. It usually is the least expensive and natural looking product available.
Wood contains natural oils and tannins to resist rot, decay, and insects. As a result, natural wood does not need dangerous or harmful chemicals to prevent rotting.
Many dock owners like the look and feel of natural wood decking on their dock. At the same time, it’s important to note that wood decking requires more maintenance than aluminum, composite or plastic decking.
How much maintenance does natural wood require?
Pressure Washing to clean wood decking
In general, the recommendation for maintaining natural. unfinished wood decking is to power wash your decking annually. With a finish applied to wood, expect to clean and apply a fresh coat of finish every three to four years to keep it looking good. Now the cost is starting to add up.
Other Considerations
When choosing wood decking, it’s important to remember that wood decking will absorb the sun’s rays and become very warm to the touch on hot days. At times it may actually get uncomfortable to walk on it. On the flip side, wood decking will generally feel nice and warm on cooler days with any amount of sunshine.
Keep in mind that wood decking retains that heat longer than any aluminum or plastic decking.
Deciding between Hardwood Decking and Softwood Decking For Your Dock
Wood is a great natural looking and durable decking material for your dock system. Pier & Waterfront Solutions LLC offers two types of wood decking for your dock – IPE, which is a tropical hardwood, and Red Cedar, a softwood.
IPE Decking by ShoreMaster
The first thing that you are likely to notice the difference between hardwoods and softwoods is the price.
Hardwoods take longer to grow than softwoods, and as a result, it costs more for the hardwood materials. Another difference – is the density or the hardness of each material. Because hardwoods take longer to grow, the wood is denser. This makes hardwoods heavier than softwoods.
Softwoods grow quicker than hardwoods, so the wood becomes less dense and lighter. This makes it easier to cut and drill than hardwoods. Softwoods such as red cedar have varying levels of hardness and resistance to insects and decay.
What does this mean for the durability of the softwoods?
Durability is related to the amount of heartwood on the boards. Heartwood grows near the center of the tree, which makes it harder, and more resistant to insects and decay based on the amount of Sapwood in the section.
Sapwood grows near the outer part of the tree which means it is a bit softer and more susceptible to decay due to its lack of density. Red Cedar decking from ShoreMaster is carefully selected to contain less sapwood to prolong the life of the wood. This results in your decking becoming less susceptible to early weatherization and insects.
Whether you choose a hardwood or a softwood deck for your dock, you’ll be glad to know that each type of wood contains natural oils and tannins to help protect it from insects and decay. Both kinds of wood require about the same amount of maintenance each year to keep their natural appearance.
With no stain or finish applied, you still need to power wash your wood decking annually to keep it looking beautiful. Both IPE hardwoods and red cedar softwoods will weather to a silver-gray color with no stain or finish applied to the wood. Eventually, some areas of the decking will turn darker colors, even a gray-black with no yearly maintenance. See this article to see why this is true: https://wisconsinpws.com/cleaning-wood-decking/
Cedar Wood Decking
Cedar Wood Decking from ShoreMaster
When ShoreMaster sources cedar decking from its suppliers, they search for boards that contain more heartwood than sapwood. This makes your cedar decking less susceptible to insects and decay. This way you can be confident that your cedar decking will resist decay and remain safe. It also looks great on your shoreline.
To most dock owners, nothing feels better on your bare feet than the soft, warm, natural beauty of red cedar decking.
IPE Wood Decking
IPE Hardwood Decking from ShoreMaster
When it comes to Hardwood decking, nothing beats ShoreMaster’s IPE hardwood decking. ShoreMaster’s IPE hardwood adds a sense of stability to your dock. It feels incredibly firm underfoot because of its natural hardness and density. It looks great and provides a gentle, natural wood feel on your bare feet.
IPE, being a hardwood, is denser than and heavier than Cedar decking. It has the added benefit of resistance to being blown out of the dock by wind or waves due to it’s added weight.
All wood decking can be a problem on large bodies of water when waves beat against the bottom of the decking. With few open areas to relieve the pressure, it becomes prone to being washed out of the frames.
For natural beauty, nothing beats natural wood.
Reminder
Pier & Waterfront Solutions specializes in ShoreMaster docks, lifts, and accessories both residential and commercial. We service the rest.
PWS is located in the center of Door County at 7325 St Hwy 57. Located 1 mile North of County MM (Hwy 42) and South of Sturgeon Bay at the intersection of Idlewild Road. Our staff is ready to help you anytime.
Want us to address a dock or boat lift topic for you? Feel free to give us a call.
Call Jerry at 920-493-4404 or email him at Jerry@wisconsinpws.com for more information.
