If you’re already dreaming about next year’s summer fun in the sun, it might be time to start planning your perfect dock and lift. Whether you’re eyeing up an aluminum dock with all the bells and whistles or a simple, functional wooden dock, you’ll want to make sure you’re picking the dock best suited to your lakefront home and lifestyle.
To help you make the best choice for you and your family, we’ve compiled a list of questions to ask yourself and consider.
1. Which summertime activities do you enjoy most?
If you’re more of a deck-chair lounger than a watersport enthusiast, you’ll want to consider that when building a dock. If you and your family enjoy barbecuing on the dock, swimming around it, or even fishing over the side, you’ll want something spacious enough to accommodate those activities.
Alternatively, those that spend most of their time behind the wheel of their boat will likely want to consider a dock that’s outfitted with at least one boat lift.
2. How are you going to power your dock or lift?
There are two options to consider if your dock has a boat lift or lighting: electricity and solar power.
If you’d rather not run electric power down to your dock, you should consider installing a solar-power station. These can be used for powering speakers and lights or even boat lifts, if there’s a need for it.
3. Do you have an aesthetic preference?
There are so many dock options available, and it can sometimes feel like the choices are endless. However, you may find your eye is drawn to a particular style.
Some of the more popular styles available include:
- Aluminum – This is easily one of the most popular framing materials we supply. These docks are beautiful, durable, and dependable. For a deeper dive into the world of aluminum docks, check out our previous blog article: Why Aluminum is a Great Dock Building Material.
- Wood – Though this type of material requires the most amount of upkeep, it’s popular for its appearance. At Shoreline, we use hand-selected treated Douglas Fir planks for our wood dock installations.
- Composite – This option is popular for those that love the natural look of wood decking but prefer the luxury of less maintenance.
4. What’s the shoreline like?
Depending on how your shoreline looks, the type of dock available to you may vary. For example, a gently sloping sandy shoreline can accommodate a larger range of docks as opposed to a shoreline that’s made up of rock with a steep grade.
For a better idea on which dock is best suited to the shoreline outside your home, we recommend speaking to a dock-building professional. They can assess your property and make the most appropriate recommendation.
5. What’s your budget?
This is a really important consideration. Docks and boat lifts range greatly in price. If you’ve got a limited budget, your options will also be limited. If you’d like to know how far your budget could take you, it’s best to request a free quote from a reputable dock builder.
6. Have you applied for a permit?
If you plan on building your dock before the summer season gets underway, you’ll need to apply for a permit as soon as possible. It’s a relatively easy step, but it can be a lengthy process. In some cases, a permit can take anywhere from 45 to 140 days to process. It’s really important to consider this stage since work cannot begin until the permits are approved.
For a more detailed look at permitting, please read our previous blog article: Dock Permits 101 – What you need to know.
