At some point in the past year or so, you might have made a huge decision. For a long time, a waterfront property might have been on the wishlist, or even more likely, a dream you didn’t know could happen. Now, it’s all yours! When it comes to becoming a waterfront property owner, there are some things to consider in terms of maximizing the new space you own.
One such area is making sure your connection to the water is secure, safe, and in the best condition possible. If you inherited a dock that could use a little love, then you might want to review these best dock maintenance strategies for new waterfront property owners.
Make the First Inspection Count
At first glance, your dock might be looking more or less okay. When you become a new property owner, however, you want to do your due diligence and make the first inspection of your dock count. Failing to notice some flaws in the construction or condition of the dock could result in serious issues and even harmful accidents.
Note everything you can about the dock and see what might need your attention first. The other strategies we have in this blog will be fine to do in any order you see fit. That said, start with whatever needs the most attention. If boards aren’t rotting and the foundation of the dock seems fine, it’s usually smart to start next with a complete clean.
Clean the Dock Completely
When we talk about cleaning a dock, we aren’t simply suggesting that you wash it off with water and call it a day. New waterfront property owners will be happier with their dock maintenance effectiveness if they begin by scrubbing the dock down with a brush.
Make sure to use something along the lines of a baking soda solution to ensure you’re not doing harm to the dock while you’re trying to clean it. Avoid chemicals and use a simple cleaning brush with soft strokes so as to not upset the wood.
Seal It Up!
When your dock is all clean, you’ll be happy it looks better; but how is it performing? Did you notice that water wasn’t sliding off the dock as it should? You might want to reseal the dock for optimum waterproofing and protection.
Sand the dock down softly and then apply a waterproof sealant to seal the dock for its best possible performance. By this point, you’ve inspected, cleaned, and sealed the dock. If you noticed anything of concern, be sure to not look past it.
Avoid Ignoring Any Glaring Issues
If you notice that a few boards are warping or that the dock seems unsteady in certain places, it’s tempting for new waterfront property owners to look past this and move on to other projects around the home and yard.
Don’t overlook the harmful effect that some issues with dock maintenance can cause. There are a lot of things that you don’t want to see happen: injury, collapse, and damage to watercraft vehicles just to name a few. Ensure that you note any critical problems with the dock and address them as soon as possible. If your list is too long to know where to start, you might want to consider a fresh start.
Consider Starting Fresh
Exploring options for brand new docks on Tommy Docks is easy. From pre-designed docks to DIY projects that give you the tools to build the dock of your dreams, Tommy Docks makes it easy to get a brand new dock on your waterfront property.
Now that you’re an owner of a waterfront property, your dock is on full display for neighbors to see how you like to run things. Make sure your dock is in tip-top shape and if you have questions about dock maintenance and new dock designs, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Explore Tommy Docks for boat dock systems, boat dock hardware, and boat dock accessories.
