When you’re looking at purchasing a new dock, one of the choices you’ll have is the type of material you want for the decking. The most common are Aluminum and Cedar. The decision is often made without much thought. A new dock is a big purchase, and one that should last for many years. Making good choices now will help to insure that you’re still happy with your dock years down the road.
ShoreStation, Porta-Dock, Shore Master, Wickcraft, and Endres all offer you a choice of decking material (though not all offer the same choices). The three most common decking materials are aluminum, vinyl, and red cedar.
Over the next few days, we’ll take a look at the benefits of each of these materials.
Cedar Decking
Natural red cedar is the wood of choice for dock manufacturers. It offers strength, durability, and beauty. It’s also a renewable resource grown and milled right here in the US and Canada.
Dimensional Stability Western Red Cedar is known for its “demensional stability”. This means that once it’s cut, it holds its shape and size. Other softwoods will warp and shrink causing the nails and screws holding them down to loosen, resulting in a dock that creaks and clatters. Cedar will stay flat and tight.
Natural Resistance One of the best-known reasons for using cedar for decking is its natural resistance to the ravages of moisture. Natural preservatives produced by the wood kill off fungus, leaving the deck clean and strong. Other chemicals produced by the wood ward of insects that can eat through other woods, weakening them.
Fire Resistance While fire may not be one of the top concerns for your dock, it’s good to know that cedar decking has a natural flame resistance that allows it to be used without the addition of chemical flame retardants. This means there’s no chance of harmful chemicals leaching out into the lake.
Durability Unlike many other woods, Western Red Cedar handles the outdoors easily, lasting for decades in even harsh environments. It handles sun, rain, heat, and cold without a problem.
Beauty There’s just something classy about a cedar dock. It’s got a friendly look that adds “street appeal” to your lakeside home. The thick boards give a soft, yet solid feel when walking on them, and they stay cool to the touch even under the hot summer sun. Whether you paint the lumber, stain it, or just leave it natural, it’s got a look that says you understand quality.
