A dock is an important investment to take seriously, and that means making choices about how your dock is going to be designed and built. Just like any major construction project, or even renovations, you should consider the longevity and properties of the material you’re using into account. Aluminum docks, for example, have high longevity.
We’ve broken down why aluminum, in particular, is an outstanding choice as a dock construction material.
Aluminum – Why It’s Chosen for Docks
You can maximize your versatility for your dock by choosing aluminum as your main material. Lightweight, three times stronger than wood, and like PVC, will never decay. You’ll also never have to deal with warping or twisting either with aluminum, and it often comes with the ability to reconfigure due to the way aluminum docks are manufactured.
In addition, aluminum docks have a unique, aesthetically-pleasing look to them, which adds to their value.
How Aluminum’s Natural Properties Benefit Your Dock
Because of its natural heat dissipation properties, aluminum is actually a great choice for a dock since it heats up very little. This means that you’ll never have to worry about burning yourself on the metal, and you won’t have to worry about dock accessories getting damaged from the heat either.
Aluminum docks can last between thirty and fifty years. This is based on aluminum’s naturally corrosion-resistant properties—you don’t have to worry about rust eating the metal. However, they can get become dull and encrusted so cleaning is important to maintain the dock’s structural integrity.
Shoreline Pile Driving actually uses locally-manufactured aluminum dock sections when building them. As such, you’re supporting multiple local businesses when choosing us to build your dock.
Do Aluminum Docks Often Need Repairs?
Since aluminum decking doesn’t rot, grow mold, or attract pests or insects that damage the dock, you can expect repairs to be far and few between. Although any boat with sufficient mass and speed a damage a dock, aluminum docks are strong enough to resist damage from small impacts with boats.
Aluminum, unlike wood, is scratch and weather-resistant which makes it highly durable as well.
An Important Note About Water Table Depth
Before you dive in on making your own tiny harbour, you should investigate the water table depth for your dock. This is important to know because it determines whether you’ll be constructing a floating or stationary dock.
Each has its own requirements and benefits when built out of particular materials, although aluminum is a great choice for either.
Ultimately, it comes down to how you want your dock to look, the time you can afford to maintain it, and how long you’d like it to last when choosing materials.
Our personal recommendation is to use aluminum for stationary docks because of its few drawbacks and numerous benefits, but it depends on your project and budget.
