We have an aluminum dock with cedar inserts. What is the best way to store it? We have always stacked it in its frame to keep it from warping, but I feel like the ends of the boards never get a chance to dry out, and I’m wondering if we are making it rot prematurely.—Kim Peters, Beaverton, Ont.
You might be. Bruce Backus and the folks at On the Water Designs, a dock builder in Kilworthy, Ont., recommend removing the inserts and either stacking them or leaning them face-to-face and back-to-back (this protects the top sides of the dock). Ideally, you’d store these panels in a garage or a shed. “Don’t keep them somewhere heated,” says Backus. “The wood will dry out too much.” No shelter? Store the inserts under a tree, wrapped in a tarp with the ends left open to allow air to circulate.
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If you’re concerned about warpage, Jason Bernard of Ontario’s Best Docks and Decks in Concord, Ont., suggests securing the stacked panels with a pair of ratchet straps to encourage them to keep their shape during storage. If you arrive in the spring to find a warped panel, “Tie it to a rope, and throw it in the water for 24 hours until it becomes malleable again,” says Bernard.
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Removing the panels in the fall is best practice for other reasons: it gives you a chance to clean off any debris that has accumulated and makes it easier to inspect the wood, says Bernard. This way, you’ll know if you need to do any repairs before next year’s dock season begins.
This article was originally published in the Sept./Oct. 2024 issue of Cottage Life.
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