All walkways are not built and maintained the same way. When many think of walkways, we may think of sidewalks or walkways over land. Walkways over water, however, are not built the same. While the former can be laid out with relative ease and not much thought to damage by the environment, water walkways take special consideration and future problems into mind when planning. Here, we will discuss what must be considered and tips to troubleshoot common walkway problems from experts.
Walkways in a Marine Environment
Walkways in a marine environment can take on many forms. Let’s take a look at the different ways walkways over water are utilized.
- Boat Lifts are, of course, used to store your boat, but even the smallest lift will have a walkway, while larger boat lifts are also used as a platform will have much larger walkways built in.
- Docks used for fishing or docking your boat are another example of a walkway over water. Boat docks are one of the most important walkways in a lake or bay environment.
- Marshy area walkways are another type of platform that is a must in areas that are not accessible on foot due to the water level. This can be full-time water levels or occasional water levels due to the rain percentage.
- Marinas that may have several boat docks and multiple walkways are one of the most comprehensive walkways in a marine environment you will see as an example.
Troubleshooting Common Walkway Problems
Walkways in marine environments have many challenges that land-based walkways may not. For one thing, building over water has specific challenges that you just will not see on land. Safety becomes a factor in every aspect when it comes to a water environment. Let’s take a look at different things to consider by expert walkway builders in this sometimes extreme environment, and what some common problems are to troubleshoot.
- People-friendliness of a walkway is the most important part of having a safe and enjoyable one. Not only does a walkway need to be aesthetically pleasing to the area around it, it must also function for the people who use it. Levelness, width, fall protection, and even material soundness are things to think about when building. If a walkway is dangerous to walk on due to poor material or is not accessible to those who want to enjoy it, then it is not useful.
- The environment is one area where troubleshooting problems with walkways can be exacerbated. When building walkways close to or on water, extreme weather should be taken into account. A walkway built with cheap materials or underbuilt will have an issue with things like high winds and especially waves. Unless one wants to have to repair walkways after every storm, expert thought, design, and materials must be used in the construction.
- Deterioration is another obstacle to overcome to prevent walkway problems. Walkways in wet and especially salty areas, like along the coast, can rapidly deplete a walkway that is not constructed properly.
- Aesthetics may not appear to be a common problem to troubleshoot, but when you see a poorly planned job that does not take into account the land and water around it, you can quickly see why it is important to have your walkway blend into the environment around it.
How to Correct Common Problems
Although repairs are possible, the best way to prevent common walkway problems is to have experts with experience in the right way to build do the job. If you have had a walkway that has required maintenance time after time, contact a reputable company in your area to inspect your walkway. This is probably going to be the best investment you can make: utilize expertise to save you money in the end.
A Company of Experts
For those who live near Brunswick County, or Horry County, NC, we at DockTechs are here to provide expert advice on the planning, building, or repair of your walkways. Our experts not only understand the importance of making sure you like the look of your project, but they will also create an item that will be useful and part of your life for years to come. Contact us today to have us take on your next project.