pine island fred
Lieutenant Junior Grade
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2002
- Messages
- 1,144
4 or 5 yrs. ago had to have my seawall replaced. A small 8 x 8 dock came out during the construction so I had to replace the dock. Had the seawall people set 2 bonified pilings 8 ft. off the seawall and finished the job myself. Set 2 pilings close to the seawall using pressure treated 4x6s. Dock turned out real nice, dressed it up with solar lights and rope wrapped around the pilings.
This winter during the low tides I inspected the dock and found that my 4x6 pilings were just about gone, maby 1/3 of them left the rest rotted away. Come to find out that they were eaten away by small sea creatures, all below the normal water lines. Water temp rarely goes below 70 and can be 95 in the summer, must be an ideal enviroment for these creatures. Was able to pull the pilings out without them breaking off using my davits. Found that anything that was below the canal bottom was pristine, better than when I drove them in. Lots of other older docks around using the same type 4X4 or 4X6s and they still look pretty good. Figure for enviromental reasons this new lumber must have some of the good chemical eliminated.
I dont like doing jobs twice so I got me 2 new 4x6s 8 ft. long ( biggest I can handel at this time of ) and am attempting to do my own treatement. Got me some of this epoxy you make equal parts mix, MORE PRO, and coated those babys 3 time where they come into contact with the water. On top of that, got the wife some bottom paint and had her give them 2 coats. Set the pilings today so it will be awhile to see if I am successful.
At the same time, I had to disasembel the 2x8 stringers from the pilings. Had used 3/8 dia. lag bolts, galvenised. What a waste! They were all gone, corroded thru, dont know what was holding the dock up. There are occasions when the tide put these bolts underwater but its occasional. Did not matter they were gone. As a replacement, got me some 1/2 in. stainless bolts 3 ins. long and am using them as dowels since all the pressure is shear holding the dock on the pilings.
One other thing. Secured the 2x8 deck lumber with those exterior deck screws. They dont last eather. Had to spring for the stainless steel screws. They are not cheap, $20 for a pound of 3 in. screws but I figure I wont have to replace them in my lifetime. My recommendation, if you are doing dock work around salt water this summer, spend the extra $s and use stainless, galvenised just does not last. I learned the hard way. regards FRED
This winter during the low tides I inspected the dock and found that my 4x6 pilings were just about gone, maby 1/3 of them left the rest rotted away. Come to find out that they were eaten away by small sea creatures, all below the normal water lines. Water temp rarely goes below 70 and can be 95 in the summer, must be an ideal enviroment for these creatures. Was able to pull the pilings out without them breaking off using my davits. Found that anything that was below the canal bottom was pristine, better than when I drove them in. Lots of other older docks around using the same type 4X4 or 4X6s and they still look pretty good. Figure for enviromental reasons this new lumber must have some of the good chemical eliminated.
I dont like doing jobs twice so I got me 2 new 4x6s 8 ft. long ( biggest I can handel at this time of ) and am attempting to do my own treatement. Got me some of this epoxy you make equal parts mix, MORE PRO, and coated those babys 3 time where they come into contact with the water. On top of that, got the wife some bottom paint and had her give them 2 coats. Set the pilings today so it will be awhile to see if I am successful.
At the same time, I had to disasembel the 2x8 stringers from the pilings. Had used 3/8 dia. lag bolts, galvenised. What a waste! They were all gone, corroded thru, dont know what was holding the dock up. There are occasions when the tide put these bolts underwater but its occasional. Did not matter they were gone. As a replacement, got me some 1/2 in. stainless bolts 3 ins. long and am using them as dowels since all the pressure is shear holding the dock on the pilings.
One other thing. Secured the 2x8 deck lumber with those exterior deck screws. They dont last eather. Had to spring for the stainless steel screws. They are not cheap, $20 for a pound of 3 in. screws but I figure I wont have to replace them in my lifetime. My recommendation, if you are doing dock work around salt water this summer, spend the extra $s and use stainless, galvenised just does not last. I learned the hard way. regards FRED
