Thanks so much. Jeanine J – Wisconsin
Thanks so much.
The pier placement was great this year and we enjoyed it!
Jeanine J – Wisconsin
WHICH DOCK CONFIGURATION SHOULD I CHOOSE? Part 3
WHICH DOCK CONFIGURATION SHOULD I CHOOSE?
The dock configuration is the next thing to consider when figuring your total dock cost. Your decision should be made after reading part one of this series (What does a Dock cost?). After reading that, you probably have an idea of the frame style you would like to use.
Next, you should read part 2 – What type of decking is available? Select the decking that caught your eye. Part three discusses the dock configurations you may want to use. We also include some of the accessories you’ll want to consider.
Let’s start the process
So you’ve measured water depths, surveyed the neighbor’s dock, and determined how far out you need to go. Maybe not! Don’t want to walk in the cold springtime water? Remember, we confirm the water depth for you as part of our site surveys.
At this point, you may be looking at a straight dock – (boring)!
What you add from here on transforms your dock from a strictly functional piece of equipment to a relaxing area, and so much more. The configuration you choose in the end should reflect the way you want to use the dock.
Everyone has different ways to use their dock. Some people want to be able to fish off the end of the pier. Maybe even have a bench or seating available. Others want access to their boat. Still, others will use their dock as a primary entertaining and relaxing area. These are all great reasons.
ShoreMaster docks are versatile so you can change your dock layout from season-to-season. Remember, the Infinity dock system allows you to do this easily. See also-https://wisconsinpws.com/infinity-track-system/
We have included configurations as well as actual photos of our docks in the photo array below. Get started on the layout that fits your needs. Then give Pier & Waterfront Solutions a call.
Common Dock Configurations
More Configurations
RS4 dock with Dock Steps
ShoreMaster Dock Configuration
Dock Configurations 2
Dock Configuration 3
Dock Configuration 4
OR
Design your dock configuration on the ShoreMaster Website
ShoreMaster has a simple dock-builder available online. Its very simple to use. (drag and drop) It handles MOST configurations. Are you having difficulty? We can do it for you. In most cases, we give you a rendition (sometimes hand-drawn), so you can be sure the layout is what you envisioned.
What will I be able to do on a dock?
Fishing – Consider an extra-wide dock section at the end to give you more room to cast and lay out your fishing equipment. Install a bench for more comfort.
Docks are an excellent place for kids to learn from Grandpa. They can relax on the dock and exchange fishing stories and learn a little bit about life.
Try to extend the dock far enough into the water, so you’re next to a weed bed. A dock helps lure fish. Fish like to congregate and seek out cover and protection.
Sports – How about Kayak or paddleboard racks? Why keep carrying your equipment up to the house? Keep it handy and ready for use.
Entertaining – If you regularly party on your dock, you’ll want a dock that is wide enough to accommodate your guests. It must offer plenty of space for moving around. For extra space around a serving table or a bench, consider an additional 4-foot wide dock section. We can add it on to the standard 4-foot wide sections. Consider an inside corner section. It’s great for adding space – and peace of mind. A 90-degree corner can seem precarious.
For more pizazz, ShoreMaster offers a curved design on their truss and rail dock systems. Consider adding a curve to your dock. Go around obstacles like trees and rocks and make a unique dock at the same time. It definitely won’t look like your neighbors.
A rounded dock near the end, at the shoreline or even at the midpoint adds a unique design that only you have. The style is distinctly yours.
Patios
Ninety- five percent of the time the dock layout will include a “patio” area. The patio area requires a section of dock placed parallel or perpendicular to the main dock. Adding one patio dock essentially creates an 8 ft x 8 ft activity area over the water.
What if you add another patio area to the side to make a 12 ft wide x 8 ft long area? This additional “patio” section could be placed alongside the first section OR on the opposite side of the dock. The layout also helps protect your dock in a storm by making it broader and more stable. However, the REAL advantage of these layouts is that you have more working or entertaining area available.
Put a bench or patio set on the patio area to stay dry. Use it to get away from people entering or exiting the water – if they let you.
By the way, who said the patio section of a dock has to be at the far end of the pier? Would it be more functional at the midpoint or even at the shore end?
Watercraft Access:
- Do you launch a boat or jet skis? These functions may need different layouts depending on the depth of water and the draft of your boat or jet ski. They reflect what the owner needs for launching and storing the watercraft.
- A typical layout would likely be the finger dock. The finger dock consists of lengths of pier placed perpendicular to the side of the main dock. The arrangement creates a place for your jet skis or boat.
- The use of a “T,” or “Y” shape can add a distinctive look to your dock. After all, your pier is the focal point of your shoreline. Every visitor will want to go out on your dock.
What accessories will you need for your dock configuration?
- Seating– In the form of furniture sets, chairs or benches.
- Utilities– Water and electricity run under the dock frame.
- Lighting– A.C. power is available, but the preferred method is solar powered lighting. They are typically placed in recessed “dots” in the decking.
- Ladders– On the bay of Green Bay most docks are set high out of the water to protect them from waves. A pivoting ladder will get you out of, or into, the water safely.
- Railing- A railing makes it safe for people having difficulty getting around or those who are unsteady on their feet to access your dock.
- Storage boxes– Skiers, kayakers and paddleboard enthusiasts may want to invest in a dock box to store their equipment. (life jackets, paddles, and beach towels). The storage boxes come in many shapes and sizes – (square, rectangular and triangular to name a few).
To summarize this series – What does a dock cost? It depends!
Missed a part of this series?
Publication dates:
Part 1 – What does a Dock cost?
2 – What type of decking is available?
3 – Which dock configuration should I choose?
Need Help Planning a Dock Configuration For Your Home or Cottage?
Contact Pier & Waterfront Solutions TODAY!
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.
Plastic & Composite Decking – (Revised) (Part 3) – Pier & Waterfront Solutions
Plastic decking – A GUIDE TO COMPOSITE & PLASTIC DECKING – (Part 3)
Written by ShoreMaster Marketing Updated by Pier & Waterfront Solutions LLC
ShoreMaster offers so many decking choices that it is hard to grasp which option best fits your individual needs.
In this third of three series, we discuss the types of composite and Glacier Flow-Through plastic decking available from ShoreMaster.
Part 1 of this series covered two types of wood decking available. Part 2 covered the latest in aluminum decking and its many options.
How to choose The Right Decking?
Some dock manufacturers are very limited in their decking options. This is a blessing to a dock dealer who wants to limit 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 offer you.
Pier Waterfront Solutions LLC has the widest range of decking choices anywhere. This is a major plus for you as a dock owner.
Decking represents 25% – 50% of the total cost of a dock system
Obviously, the initial cost is an important aspect when choosing decking. No element on any dock system is as important to the user than the decking. Yet, the initial cost is not the only factor you should consider when choosing a long-term dock.
You might be surprised to learn that other factors are important also:
- How you will use your dock;
- How much maintenance are you willing to do yourself versus hiring it out; and
- How long you expect your deck to last.
These answers contribute to the total cost of the decking over the life of the product.
Choosing a Composite or Plastic Decking For Your Dock
Plastic materials are a great decking option for docks. This type of decking may be chosen as a lower maintenance alternative to wood decking despite its initial cost.
One advantage that composite decking has over wood is that there is no need to sand, stain, or refinish it. However, Composite decking is not maintenance free. Many composite decking contains wood fibers.
Mold and mildew may grow in damp or shady areas of the decking which will then begin to show signs of decay if not cleaned regularly. This is due to moisture wicking into the boards along the wood fibers.
Composite decking is NOT the same as plastic decking
It is important to note that people may lump plastic decking into the composite decking category. True plastic decking is composed of 100% recycled and/or virgin plastic.
Plastic decking eliminates the potential for decay caused by mold or mildew, but can sometimes be prone to expansion in the frames. Manufacturers have adjusted the deck size or mounting requirements to handle this problem.
ShoreMaster does not have Composite Decking which is usually used on home decks for obvious reasons.
The Difference between Composite Decking and Plastic Decking
Plastic decking contains NO organic materials. This type of decking is made out of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, or some combination of the three.
Plastic deck boards can be injection molded, rotationally molded or extruded. The panels are lighter than composite boards, and they usually have a shinier appearance. They contain openings of up to 42% of the deck surface to allow water to pass through or run off to avoid “pooling”.
Plastic decking will weather better and require less maintenance than natural woods.
Special attention is required for composite decking manufactured with organic materials as they are more susceptible to decay than true plastic decking. Internal expansion from “wicking” of organic fibers in composite decking results in deck expansion also.
How much maintenance is required?
Composite decking should be washed annually to remove mold or mildew. Do NOT use a power washer to avoid damaging the boards. Hand scrub only. Be sure to use a biodegradable cleaner to prevent damage to the environment.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
With composite decking, it’s important to remember that the decking absorbs the sun’s rays and may become warm to the touch on hot days. At times it may actually get uncomfortable to walk on it. The darker the color the hotter it gets. On the flip side, composite decking will generally feel warm on cooler days if the sun is out.
Composite decking can also be a problem on large bodies of water much like a wood deck. When waves beat against the bottom of the decking the dock is more likely to flip over if the decking is bolted to the frames. It needs a way to relieve the pressure.
Plastic decking has a major advantage over all the other types of decking. Because 42% of the decking is “open”, it reduces the pressure when waves hit it versus any other type of decking. Additionally, plastic decking has “clips” to secure it to the frame to prevent wash out.
If the “pressure is so great that the “clips” break, it’s better to lose the panel than damage the frames. Usually, the panels settle to the bottom within 100 feet of the dock and are recoverable. They never float completely away.
Glacier Decking by ShoreMaster – Grey
Glacier Decking by ShoreMaster – Tan
On the Bay of Green Bay, we have witnessed this happen. An entire steel dock with bolt down decking could not relieve the wave pressure and flipped over in a storm.
Vertex Decking by ShoreMaster
Next door, a lighter weight, aluminum dock with plastic decking withstood the waves with only an initial loss of a few panels. The next day 95% of the panels were recovered.
Another advantage is that plastic decking does NOT get hot to the touch.
Summary
In general, Glacier Plastic decking from ShoreMaster is really your best option for decking. Plastic decking provides low maintenance and presents long-term durability for your dock application.
Plastic decking advantages include:
- Virtually maintenance free
- Repels the water
- Slip-resistant
- Less pressure on the decking and frames
- Cool to the touch
Remember
ShoreMaster is Your Best Choice for all dock decking choices – no matter what you choose. With eight different decking choices to choose from, you can see why ShoreMaster leads the industry in high-quality decking options.
Now that you have more information on the types of decking options available for your dock system, you’re ready to head to Pier & Waterfront Solutions to see all the ShoreMaster decking options for yourself.
Where are we?
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.
WOOD DECKING – A Complete Guide to Dock Decking- (Part 1) – Pier & Waterfront Solutions
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.
