Dock maintenance is a substantial task, but one that should be carried out regularly. To begin, inspect your dock thoroughly. According to most marina owners, you should look for any corrosion, splintering, rotting, or deterioration in the fasteners, hardware, bolts, ladders, and stairs. These items are at the top of the list because if there is an issue, repairs need to be made immediately to prevent further damage.
The next common step is to clean and sand the deck surface. This process can be fairly extensive, and you must not take any shortcuts. Pressure washing the wood may lead to splintering. Instead, apply deck cleaner, wash down the deck surface, repair any damaged pieces of wood, sand the deck, and then finally apply a protective stain. This process can be time-consuming and costly.
The use of non-traditional decking materials, such as Glass Reinforced Plastics (GRP), can reduce the risk of splintering, corroding wood, and dramatically decrease your inspection and repair time. GRP is an ideal choice for decking material for a variety of reasons, including:
GRP grating or decking is available in a variety of depths and panel sizes. These products also come in various open area percentages that are ADA-compliant and meet the UK government requirements for light penetration beneath the deck surface. Several slip-resistant options are available, including a barefoot-friendly grit top.
Because GRP does not rust, rot, or corrode, the service life is much longer than that of substitute products. Fibergrate has received reports on decks and docks that sustained little or no damage during a hurricane.
Instead of investing time and money in keeping up with your continuous maintenance, invest in updating your decking material today!