Importance of Boat Slip Maintenance

Gulf Coast Docks and Pilings take a beating over time thereby making them structurally weak. Also, because of the underwater conditions, dock bracing may be destroyed and eaten away by wood boring worms. In some circumstances, docks may be poorly designed or made with inferior materials, and this is a major contributor for the wasting away of this useful resources. 

The solution to the above problems is to have the docks and pilings strengthened and firmly supported. Various techniques are frequently used which can extend the lifespan and longevity of your boat slip. The following are possible solutions along with brief descriptions of what each method entails. 

Dock Piling Wraps

Years of wood boring by worms can significantly damage your dock pilings. When you identify the damage made by the wood borers, there are two options you can choose from to fix the problem. The first is pier replacement and the second is dock piling repair. Because of the costs involved and the implications of the first option, in most cases, it is advisable to settle for the second solution. 
During the pile wrapping process, the piles are thoroughly and completely cleaned. Any and all debris is scraped off. After that, an internal barrier is carefully wrapped around the pile and covered with a PVC jacket which stops water from accessing and penetrating the wood piling. These methods starve off any existing or remaining worms thereby preventing further damage to your piles. ​

Concrete Restores Old Pilings

When you are dealing with old or damaged pilings, concrete encapsulation is the best solution to implement due to its ability to restore and refurbish the pilings to a more serviceable state. It is a renovation process involving a complete feeling of the outer PVC jacket using a specially formulated concrete mix. The mixture then gradually slips into and fills out the cracks and empty spaces left by the boring worms. This process strengthens the piles thereby giving them another lease on life. 

Dock Cross Brace Protection

Cross bracing gives your boat slip superior rigidity and durability. With this method, a cross brace refers to a bar that goes from one pile to another while rising at an angle. On one side, it may be down close to the mud foot while on the other end it may rise to an approximately 30 to 45-degree angle. The beauty with cross bracing is that it provides accountability and structural integrity side to side between the piles on a section of the boat slip. It is a nice, sturdy solution that has been a trusted staple for many years.

Boat Slip Dredging

When making an attempt to pull up to the dock, you may find yourself limited by water depth and tides. To sort out this problem, you will require boat slip dredging service. This service will give you deep water access by removing the sediment that has buildup. 
Most boat slip maintenance companies have modern dredging equipment which can easily be deployed from a location that minimizes damage to seawalls, docks, and the waterfront. 
During dredging, the material removed is pumped into containers which are usually sealed. Inside these containers, the sediments are allowed enough time to settle and separate from the water. Finally, the water is directed back to the dredged area and the sediments carried away for disposal. ​

Bulkhead Repair

Bulkheads and seawalls play a strategic role in protecting your waterfront property from destruction and land erosion. When the structural rigidity of bulkheads becomes compromised, they need to be repaired. Replacing them is also another option, but it is quite an expensive process. 
Bulkheads are made of wood planks and are such vulnerable to wood borers. When repairing bulkheads that have a few holes, the work is a bit lighter because all you need is to dig down the plank to expose the hole and screw in a pressure treated board to cover the hole. 

In cases where the bulkhead has lots of holes, a technique known as capping is used. In this process, pressure treated planks are overlaid on the old planks. The last type of bulkhead repair is usually done in a scenario where a number of pilings have decayed. When this happens, the tie rods which hold the pilings together may rip through the wood. The best way out is to install a new bulkhead or seawall for protection.
​ 
When doing bulkhead repairs, your contractor should use a variety of materials to bring out not just the protective aspect, but the aesthetic one as well. ​