Piling Wrap is an inexpensive, effective way to protect your dock pilings from marine borers and other damage. It cuts off the water flow needed for wood boring worms to survive by suffocating them deep inside your pilings.
The invention comprises a plastic sheet of substantial durability and fluid impermeability that is predesigned to wrap two to eight feet of solid wood piling. The opposite edges of the flat wrap are arranged to overlap each other, and mounting hardware can be affixed at various places along the overlapping sections.
Most people do not realize that their dock pilings and camps are under constant attack from wood boring worms. These microscopic pests, also known as shipworms, can burrow into your wooden pilings and cause severe damage over time. They are like the termites of the sea and can deteriorate your pilings to the point that they might collapse.
Piling wrap acts as a physical barrier between the marine borer and your dock pilings. The wrap is made of a durable material that the marine borer cannot penetrate and is designed to last. It can be added to new docks and even older docks.
Some piling wraps are infused with chemicals that further deter the marine borers and help to protect your marine structure from these damaging worms. This is important because if a marine borer infested piling is left unprotected, it can weaken the entire foundation of your waterfront property. A weakened foundation can lead to serious injury for anyone walking or playing on the dock.
Most docks, piers and their pilings are made of wood. Over time this wood deteriorates, and it can be caused by a variety of factors including shipworms, marine growth, and weather. These marine deterioration issues can cost your business in the long run.
A common method to protect marine piles is to wrap them in a black plastic and nail it down. While this is a good idea, it’s not a permanent solution. The marine growth that grows on the overlapping seams, such as barnacles and algae, eventually punctures the wrap allowing marine borers to penetrate.
The best way to prevent these problems is to install piling protection, such as caps or wraps. Caps are usually installed on the tops of the piles to protect them from damage, while piling wraps affix around the sides of the piles. Even though some brands of piling are constructed from hardy materials like tropical greenheart, they still need to be protected with either caps or wraps.
Docks, homes on the water, boats, camps and other structures need protection. Just like people wax their cars to protect the paint, those living near or on water should do everything possible to protect their investments.
A piling wrap is a great way to extend the life of your dock. The product is made of extremely durable plastic and affixes to the outside of a piling, keeping it safe from marine borers.
The main marine borers are called limnoria or shipworms and attack wood just below the surface of the water. They eat away at the piling until there is nothing left and can cause the dock to collapse.
Our piling wraps are a non-toxic, injected polymer solution that is impervious to saltwater, chemicals and fuel. The tough and abrasion resistant PVC cover and polyester core is also UV insensitive. We offer full service piling wrap installation for new and nearly new docks that have not yet been attacked by these destructive creatures.
A piling wrap is a protective layer that ensures marine pests, salt water, UV rays, and decay never touch your dock pilings. The result is a substantial increase in your pilings lifespan.
A full service piling wrap installation includes scraping, cleaning, pressure washing and then covering your pilings with the protective wrap. The wrap is then nailed into place around the pile. We also install a protective cap to prevent birds from roosting on the pilings.
Piling sleeves are another way to protect your pilings. These sleeves are heat-shrunk at the lumber yard to cover the entire piling with a durable, watertight layer that prevents the burrowing of marine pests.
The most common type of marine borers attacking dock piers and posts is called limnoria, or more formally, shipworm. These mollusks can destroy a wooden piling in less than a year if left untreated. They can undermine the strength of a dock, causing it to destabilize and ultimately collapse.