Five Things to Consider When Choosing New Dock Decking

SunWalk™ wants to know: Is it time to replace the old dock?

How many Midwesterners barely got their old dock out of the water without it falling apart… again? Perhaps this is the latest in a long line of fall dock removal and spring dock installations where you’ve thought, “We really should look at a new dock!”

Owning a waterfront or vacation property is a major investment, and your dock is the centerpiece of your waterfront living experience. It’s where you relax, unwind, and create lasting memories with family and friends. Your dock is the absolute best way to enjoy waterfront living, whether it’s watching the sun come up over a misty lake with a steaming cup of coffee, fishing with kids or grandkids on a lazy summer afternoon or sunset cocktails with friends. Let’s face it, your dock is your primary connection with your waterfront. So, how do you know when it’s time for a new dock? Perhaps it’s a good time to ask whether or not the old dock is still up to the task and if a new dock just might be able to renew that waterfront connection.

Signs Your Dock May Need Replacing

If your dock shows signs of wear, splintering, or structural damage, it may be time to consider a replacement. Some docks can be refreshed with new decking if the structure is still sound. Decking replacement is a simple, cost-effective way to extend your dock’s life, but sometimes investing in a completely new dock system provides the best long-term benefits.

How to Choose the Right Dock Decking

If you are choosing a whole new dock; decking is still a huge concern. When choosing new decking for your dock, here are a few things to consider:

1. Maintenance and Durability: How long will the new decking look good before requiring painting, sanding or staining? Look for materials that can withstand the environment and U/V damage. Regular maintenance can be a thing of the past with new maintenance free options like SunWalk™ 45, 90 Series, or Wood Series decking.
2. Slip Resistance: Docks are naturally wet environments. Choose decking with non-slip surfaces and proper surface drainage to prevent accidents while fishing, boating, or swimming.
3. Rot, fungus and Insect resistance: Damp wood is a great environment for all kinds decay, mold, and insect damage. Consider a non-wood product for your dock.
4. Storm Resistance: In areas where high-winds and waves can damage your dock look for an open or grated decking like our industry leading 45% open SunWalk™ 45 or 90 Series decking to minimize uplift.
5. Cool to Touch: Avoid getting your feet burned on hot decking that has roasted in the summer sun with decking options that dissipate heat by design and always let you sit on the surface and dangle your feet in the water.

Why Choose SunWalk™ Decking for Your Dock

SunWalk™ is the product of our best technology and manufacturing in the decking surfaces space. We’ve spent the research and development time to create the best possible decking products for your application. We’ve aimed to make the toughest, longest-lasting, most environmentally friendly, people-centered surface you can buy for your dock, walk or deck.

We design, engineer, manufacture and distribute in our wholly owned, class leading facility. We control the whole process, giving us unparalleled control over our product & processes translating into better quality and quicker response to our customers. Others outsource or distribute, but we do it all and we believe we do it better.

Don’t take our word alone for any of this, talk to a SunWalk™ customer, dealer or contractor and test our product for yourself. We’re confident our passion comes through in our product.

We know how you use your dock – boating, swimming, fishing, sunning and relaxing. We designed our surfaces to keep you doing more of those things and less maintenance and repair to your dock! Your leisure time is priceless, work less and enjoy more with SunWalk™!