Your dock’s piers are its foundation—very quite literally, the “legs” that keep your dock standing. As such, they might just be one of the most critical dock components that you must protect now—and over time.
Dock piling fenders are one dock add-on that can be implemented to protect the posts and piers of your dock. But how do dock piling fenders work and what are the other options you have for dock pier protection?
Dock piling fenders are just what they sound like—“fenders” that can be placed on dock piers, posts, or “piles” to protect those dock piers, posts, and piles from physical contact or abuse.
Most often, piling fenders are made of wood, steel, concrete or other synthetic compounds. Usually, they can protect (at least to a degree) from UV and structural damage—but that’s about all they really do. Furthermore, they only protect underneath the small surface they’re attached to or cover.
Another name for dock piling fenders is “dock bumpers” or more specifically, “vertical bumpers.” And while dock piling fenders are generally a good idea or for most dock owners, they’re going to only provide minimal protection from anything other than a boat, PWC or other “something-to-dock” contact.
Alternately, there are other forms of pier protection that multi-task—they protect dock piers and poles from contact but also perform other important roles as well.
One form of dock pier and piling protection that can provide a degree of protection from impact, while also shielding a larger area of your piers and poles from UV damage and marine-life, is piling wrap.
Piling wrap is frequently made of black vinyl sheeting that is wrapped around dock posts and secured with stainless steel nails or fasteners. The wrapped area of the pole is a little above the water line to just below the mud line.
Once the piling wrap is installed or put in place, it provides dock post protection for the covered area of the piers. It can absorb or deflect a certain level of impact damage, but its most significant benefit is that it effectively shields dock posts from UV degradation and marine life. Therefore, piling wrap summarily lengthens the life of your dock’s posts and piers.
Another nice benefit of pile wrap is that it can be placed on dock posts either before they’re installed onto your dock or even after the piers have been in place for some time. This is true even if you already have some damage to the piles, so long as any damage can be fixed or cleaned prior to installation.
Pier Protector is a form of dock piling wrap that multitasks for dock post protection that is easy-to-install, effective, durable, and even attractive too.
Pier Protector is made of a supremely strong HDPE plastic. HDPE plastic is a recycled plastic material that can last up to 100 years, without losing efficiency. It can be installed quickly and easily, attached with stainless steel fasteners that will hold it in place securely for many years to come.
Pier Protector is also affordable and simply put—it works. It offers not only a physical contact barrier akin to that which a piling fender does, but delivers complete UV and marine organism protection for the wrapped portion of the dock poles.
Even better, Pier Protector comes in an attractive black color that is sleek and modern, complementing your dock’s design aesthetic instead of challenging it.
If you’re tired of the same old bulky dock piling fenders that have been the norm—and even standard—for so many years, it’s time to take a look at Pier Protector. Check it out and see if Pier Protector might be the dock pole protection solution that makes the most sense for your dock—and you!
