Thank you for taking care of the dock removal. Please also proceed with the work you describe in order to get the dock ready for installation next spring….Thank you again for saving us this summer. Look forward to working with you in the years ahead.
Lizzie G. Door County
Hi Jerry,
Thanks for getting the piers out in a timely fashion.
Also, Thanks for re-Hoisting up the cable!
Take Care Wayne from Wisconsin
Dock decking is a critical choice. With all the decking choices – it’s the most important choice you make.
Frames for docks were covered in Part 1 of this series. Part 2 will cover the many choices of decking you have.
Wood decking was the first and only choice for decking. It required yearly cleaning. As simple as cleaning a deck may sound, it takes time each year.
Cedar Wood Decking from ShoreMaster
The costs and inconvenience mount up.
In addition, a wood deck gets uncomfortably hot on sunny days. It also traps the dirt on its flat surface. This dirt needs to be washed off to prevent mold from forming. People started to look for other choices.
Then, along came a better choice!
Aluminum decking cuts down on maintenance. It solves the problem of painting or staining and sealing the wood. It only requires minimal washing to keep its appearance. No pressure washing or cleaners needed.
Aluminum Decking by ShoreMaster- Natural Woodgrain
Aluminum Decking by ShoreMaster – White
Tan Aluminum Decking by ShoreMaster
Plus, it does not get hot in the prolonged heat of the summer. The heat rapidly dissipates, so it stays cool to the touch.
There are many colors, and they look great.
Despite the advantages, aluminum does make noise when walked on. This issue is corrected by applying a cushion tape to the top of the frame.
Additionally, like wood, it comes in a “board” form. Why is that important?
Initially, plastic decking came in a board form. The board was bolted to the frame so it would not wash away. This worked great except the plastic shrinks and swells in the weather. It also gets dirty from rain and sand.
Typical Plastic boards
Most importantly, when the waves reached the decking, the 1/2″ opening between the boards was too small to relieve the pressure. This caused some docks (even heavy steel docks) to flip over.
People also mixed it with wood fibers which swelled over time. Still not a solution. Yet, plastic was a great idea, just not in a board form.
So what is the answer?
But not just any plastic. Flow-Through decking from ShoreMaster turned out to be the solution.
Glacier Flow Through Plastic Decking
There are many reasons that plastic Flow-Through decking is the best choice including:
• It’s lightweight;
• Available in many colors and patterns;
• Eliminates the need to clean the decking;
• Can be mounted to the frame with a breakaway clip (recommended) or screwed down);
• It’s cool in the summer heat; and
• Most importantly, it has a 42% open surface which means 42% less pressure.
The open surface allows the water to pass through the decking. These openings relieve the pressure on the dock when a wave hits it. Solid boards do not do this.
In addition to eliminating the pressure of the water, it “self-drains” due to its curved surface. The decking does not allow moisture buildup on the panels. You have now removed one of (3) ingredients for mold and mildew to form. See related article: https://wisconsinpws.com/cleaning-wood-decking/
In conclusion, if you want the BEST decking for your money – look for Flow-Through decking from ShoreMaster at PIER & WATERFRONT SOLUTIONS.
For more information about additional types of decking follow this link: https://wisconsinpws.com/best-dock-decking/
At Pier and Waterfront Solutions, of course.
Part 1 – What does a Dock cost?
2 – What type of decking is available?
3 – Which dock configuration should I choose?
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.
In a previous article, the discussion was about some of the less widely known projects that Pier & Waterfront Solutions has undertaken. We do much more than most people realize. We have completed everything from decks, wood or metal stairways down cliffs, rip-rap and more. It all falls under the “Solutions” portion of our name.
This article further expands that article.
Before
In the “Before” photo above, you can see the condition of the railings, the broken walking surface, and rotted and missing timbers around the perimeter. The owners were concerned that someone would trip and injure themselves. They really wanted to enjoy this area again.
After the appropriate DNR permits were obtained, the work began. EVERYTHING was removed. Permit restrictions required that the general outline be followed.
In this “After” photo, the perimeter was replaced with concrete and decorative rails were added. A new concrete surface was installed as part of the renovations. Solar operated lights were placed on the top of the posts.
After
The decorative rails were provided in-house as part of the “Solutions” name.
We are always looking for “winter” work. Call Jerry with your ideas.
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.
Dock and boat lift damage was severe in the wake of the Aug 4th, 2017 storm. We were reminded of how important it is to choose the right dock and boat lift for your boat. So many homeowners were reeling thinking about having to replace their entire dock and lift system.
Even ShoreMaster owners had some issue with their dock and boat lift. Fortunately for most of the ShoreMaster owners, the damage looked severe in the early morning hours. Within a day things had settled down and they had minimal damage like missing deck panels. In most cases, these were later recovered downwind of the dock…
Shoremaster prides itself on premium quality docks and boat lifts. They can stand up to some of the harshest conditions Mother Nature throws at their systems. Their design team considers severe storms like these to provide you with a dock and boat lift system that can last a lifetime. That’s why ShoreMaster has the largest market share on the Bay of Green Bay – they work.
Some dealers screw solid decking down firmly and count on the sheer weight of the system to keep everything in place. ShoreMaster doesn’t do this for a reason. They want the decking to get blown out in a storm as severe as this one.
Yes, you read that correctly – They WANT the decking to get blown out. Why?
Over the years, our experience has shown that when a deck is attached permanently to the frame, the structure takes the brunt of the pressure. All too often, the whole dock becomes a twisted mess as a result. In fact, we have seen ShoreMaster aluminum docks left standing after a storm. At the same time, the steel dock with rigid decking is a twisted mess on both sides of the ShoreMaster dock.
ShoreMaster solves this problem in two ways:
Glacier Flow Through decking has 42% of the surface open. The open surface allows most of the pressure from a wave to pass thru the deck panels harmlessly.
Glacier Flow through PlasticDecking by ShoreMaster
The use of a plastic clip to hold the decking in place means that the decking will stay in place for the average wave or strong winds. With repetitive large waves, the clip is purposely allowed to break-off. The clips will break long before your dock frames become a tangled roller coaster mess like other dock brands.
Speaking of which – Have you tried the roller coaster ride at Bay Beach in Green Bay? While you are there, remember your dock would look like that roller coaster if the clips had not broken.
The decking is plastic, has a low surface area, and it will sink to the bottom quickly. During this storm, we were able to recover 99% of the panels downwind. The decking is usually less than 50 feet away at the bottom. We found the panels intact with only broken clips. Isn’t it cheaper to replace some clips than to replace an entire dock frame?
ShoreMaster lifts are built to hold up too. ShoreMaster’s all aluminum welded frame, and the premium components protect your watercraft investment under the harshest conditions.
The bolts that hold screw-together boat lifts together can wear out over time, especially with strong wind and wave action. They can give out when you need the protection the most. Welded frames offer durable stability.
Recently, customers have come in and told us they couldn’t find a lift with a better-constructed frame. They know that a Square or rectangular frame is much stronger than a round tube anytime. Plus the round tubes are thinner. They look at the wall thickness of the uprights and racks and find that ShoreMaster has the thickest construction in the area.
The other guys
ShoreMaster Heavy wall construction & brass pulleys
Notice the brass pulleys on the ShoreMaster lift versus the plastic pulley on the competitors lift.
These are a few of the design features that ShoreMaster implements to provide their customers with the very best in waterfront equipment. These elements mean that we keep you on the water all summer long.
If you were affected by storm damage on the Bay – or are looking for a premium dock and lift system – Contact your authorized ShoreMaster dealer – Pier & Waterfront Solutions. We will be able to assist you with:
We even service “those other brands.” Ask us about it.
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 ready to assist the year round.
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.
