INDUSTRY Trends By Matthew Bruce
LATEST CAPPED composite decking offers superior moisture resistance, making it ideal for the marine environment. (Photos by MoistureShield)
New wave of demand for shoreside amenities
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trend in decking that LBM dealers can help equip their customers to capitalize on: amenities on the water. Deck and dock builders are finding that customers, both homeowners and businesses, are seeking the same comforts seen in today’s luxurious decks on docks and marinas, either near or on the water. Brandon Martin, owner of Martin’s Custom Tidesides of Sodus Point, N.Y., builds about 30 docks per year and provides everything related to shoreside leisure projects, currently with 18 seasonal and full-time employees. He buys his decking and building materials from HEP sales, with locations in the Central, Western and Southern tier regions of New York State, with one location in northern Pennsylvania. “What we look for in a dealer is the supply of products that can hold up to changing waterfront conditions,” he said. Brandon’s team covers the large shoreline region of Lake Ontario in New York state, from Hilton to Oswego and south to the Finger Lakes’ 1,000 Islands and Old Forge. As one of very few official distributors of top-of-the-line boat lift and floating dock systems in the lake region, Brandon and his wife, Ashley, also own and operate a marina in Sodus Point, selling boats and boating equipment. “Homeowners want more dockside luxury with a fully enjoyable experience all year round,” he said. And as much as Brandon was frustrated by the pandemic’s limitations, he said it greatly contributed to this unprecedented demand for outdoor living, especially on the shoreline. “The pandemic spurred a renewed investment in shoreline life—living here is a growing
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rooms and dining areas on the dock, nicer boat houses, furniture, outdoor kitchens, hardscapes, fire pits and heaters. They also want more open space and nicer materials, which has also prompted a need for technology.” This high demand for shoreline luxury decks created a need for better performance and aesthetics beyond what wood could deliver. “We’ve discovered a dock and deck material that checks all the boxes for a marine environment,” said Brandon. “We rely exclusively on capped composite decking for about 90% of the decking on our projects, so superior moisture-resistance and submersion is a must. The other 10% are concrete where deck footings cannot be installed, so we’ll pour a 6” pad of concrete.” Martin’s crew also required a less heavy, dense material because it’s often hauled down a hill to the water and loaded on barges. Barges are used for construction on the water, to set trusses and have stacks of decking handed off to the crew. From the barges, 8” pipes are driven into the bottom bed with a vibratory pile driver for the framing. “This is back-breaking work, so having a composite material you can manage while everything is moving on the water really matters,” said Brandon. “Mother nature is the biggest challenge with water movement, wind and rain all working against you.”
Rising Tides Cause Dock Exposure
Rising and falling water levels can be challenging for dock builders, because it leaves dock areas that have been under water exposed. “This is where submersible composBuilding-Products.com
