Building a deck is an excellent way of spending part of the year in preparation for a long, glorious summer. It’s also a great way to save money on hiring a professional to carry out the work for you.
When building a deck for your personal dock, you need to be prepared for the unique challenges it will bring. These include deciding on the type of wood, safety considerations, and working in a manner that will ensure your deck lasts for the long-term.
Stationary or Floating Dock?
The first major decision you’ll need to make is whether you want a stationary or floating dock.
A stationary dock uses either concrete pylons or wooden posts sunk into the water. These are far more permanent. They’re also more stable and won’t rise or fall with the level of the water.
Alternatively, a floating dock is a more versatile option. Due to the fact it rises and falls with the water level, there’s no big drop between the deck and the water. It can also be removed from the water during the winter months and placed into the water.
Generally, whether you choose stationary or floating is a matter of personal choice.
What Material Will You Be Using?
Not every type of wood is suitable for a dock. Using the wrong type of wood will reduce the lifespan of your dock by years.
Your main priority is a type of weather-resistant wood, such as redwood. You also need to look into treated lumber, as these will serve as the posts for your dock.
The primary enemy of any wooden deck is moisture. Wood begins to swell when the moisture content reaches 28%. Humidity and liquid water are the main factors to take into consideration.
What are You Building On?
When building a DIY deck, you must make sure you know what you’re building on.
This is particularly the case if you’re building on sand or silt. Once the posts are sunk into a depth of around two feet, you need to use an industrial standard power washer to remove the sand and silt. As you perform this process, the posts will sink to the depth necessary to build your particular deck.
Consider Dock Accessories
You also need to take into account dockaccessories. Consider what you’ll use this part of your property for and what your future needs may be.
For example, you can choose from dock boxes, fish cleaning tables, stylish lighting, ladders for climbing down to the boat, and other dock accessories.
Make sure you take into account your preferred dock accessoriesbefore planning your project.
Is it Worth the Cost of Not Hiring a Professional?
The average cost of building your own deck is around $12,000. But the cost can range from as low as $2,000 to as much as $22,000.
Compare the cost and hassle of building your own deck with spending a little extra money and hiring a professional. The financial impact of making a mistake when building your own deck is high, so you must be confident in your own DIY skills.
Do you have any experience in building your own deck?
