![]() ![]() Of course, aluminum is typically more expensive than galvanized steel as it is a superior product. With its superior strength and weight characteristics, aluminum is the preferred material for dock hardware. This is no big deal if there is a ready and willing group of able-bodied workers willing to get the job done, but for homeowners not wanting to burden themselves or their families, other solutions should be considered. Because of this threat, many lakefront owners are forced to remove their docks in the fall and put them back in every spring. In the northern states of the US, ice formation on lakes and rivers can pose a serious threat to docks left in the water during the winter. At roughly 1/3 the weight of a comparable section of steel, but with similar strength characteristics, aluminum is the clear choice for dock products. So galvanized steel won’t rust (just like aluminum won’t), but what about the weight? That is where aluminum steps in and really shines. It is important to remember that paint is not a sufficient substitute for galvanizing, as it only provides a barrier to corrosion, not a chemical conversion. Because the zinc takes on a sacrificial status – meaning it actually corrodes in place of the base metal – galvanized products can easily last 20 years or more before troublesome rust begins to take over. The resultant product is a very bright silver finish that will dull gray over the years. Galvanized steel consists of the base steel metal being dipped into a molten bath of zinc at temperatures that cause excellent adhesion. It depends.īut I’m not sidestepping the question to avoid being on the record - it really does depend! Each offers their own advantages and disadvantages. So which is the better dock building material – aluminum or galvanized steel? Well I’m going to give you the old "Sunday morning politician on Meet the Press" answer. Aluminum or Galvanized Steel – Which is better for docks? Pepper in some cross braces on your deeper water sections and you'll have a dock you can be confident in!Ģ. This makes a huge difference on your dock stability. That means one leg can't flex without bringing the other one with it. What this does is provide accountability side-to-side between legs on a section of dock. One side may be down near the mud foot and then rise at a 30-45 degree angle to come up to almost water level. A cross brace is a bar that goes from one leg to the other rising at an angle. In general, whenever a customer uses my docks in 4-5ft of water or more I start adding cross bracing. ![]() The second solution is to add cross bracing. This makes for stronger legs with less flex. This pipe has an almost 2" outside diameter with a heavy wall thickness. The first and easiest solution is to use 1-1/2" nominal sch. So this is a real problem, and there are real good solutions to take care of it. It doesn't matter how far you drive your legs, or how strong your frame is, the legs will flex. The amount they flex is very small, but over greater heights it can make for a shaky dock. The ladder is very stable on the first couple of steps, but once you get up to the paint can rack you better start looking for a safe landing spot.Īs the dock support legs get longer they are more susceptible to flexing. ![]() I often present it as the equivalent of being on the top rung of a step ladder. The deeper the water is, the higher the center of gravity the dock has. Here is the key: dock wobble is almost always a function of water depth or "height" of the dock. I've personally stood on plenty of docks with pounded posts that would make you dizzy from the wobble. But here's the better question: Is it stable and sturdy?īack in the day everyone would always pound their dock legs down into the lake bottom every spring and then pry them out every fall. Yes! Of course they are! Almost everybody's dock frames are strong enough! I'll bet that heavy old wood dock you have now - even with the pain it brings installing and removing every year - is still strong enough. People always ask me if my dock frames are strong enough. The Dock Stability Secret: It's All in the Legs ![]()
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