We’re nearing that time of year where snow and ice become commonplace for many parts of the country. Depending on where you live, you might have already seen some significant winter weather in your neck of the woods. When the cold temperatures start rolling in, so does the threat of snow, ice, and other seasonal weather that can mean trouble for your dock.
Maintaining your dock in the winter during ice and snow is easy if you follow these five crucial steps for preparation. Keep these tips handy during the winter and you should be ready to roll again in the spring.
Check Your Dock’s Condition
Ahead of the first big ice or snowfall, make sure to do a quick checkup on your dock’s condition. This means checking for things like rotting, warping, damage, and other signs of wear and tear. If you spot something in need of repair, consider getting it done, or at least handled to the point of somewhat repair, ahead of the snow. A warped or damaged dock come snow season could mean the added pressure of the snow could send your dock crumbling into the water.
Watch the Lake Levels
When you’re gearing up for the winter, make sure to keep an eye on lake levels. As winter rolls around, the water in your lake, river, or pond can vary greatly. Most dock systems are built to sustain these changes, but older setups could have trouble when the water gets too shallow during colder months as often happens. When this occurs, you might need to take extra care, so watching for the levels before disaster strikes can help save you from a bigger headache down the road.
Remove Everything from the Dock Ahead of Storms
When you see a winter storm coming up in the forecast, you want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to prepare your deck for what’s on the way. That means removing everything from the surface of your dock ahead of these winter storms.
This isn’t just to protect your dock accessories and other waterfront belongings; the added weight of snow on top of other things that might be frozen to your deck for a period of time can cause added pressure to build up and stress the surface and foundation of your dock. Avoid this and you should be safe and sound this winter.
Consider Another Round of Waterproofing
When you originally put your dock into place, you likely waterproofed it. Well, it might be time to do it again. If you haven’t gotten snow yet and you’re noticing that water doesn’t roll off your dock surface as well as it used to, consider adding an extra coat ahead of winter weather. It can save you some damage incurred by the snow and ice to come.
Remove Snow and Ice When Safe to Do So
Lastly, as snow and ice accumulate, make sure to remove them from your dock when it’s safe to do so. Be extra cautious with ice; falling on your dock can cause an injury or lead you to the icy water, which presents its own list of dangers.
Already eyeing an upgrade to accessories or your entire dock system come springtime? Browse the full TommyDocks catalog to eye your next project for your waterfront property.
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