If you are considering a deck or dock construction project, you will want to build your new outdoor structure to last. Also, you are likely hoping to make the new deck as maintenance-free as possible. If your deck or dock is going to be built in a more extreme climate, such as Maine, then there are added considerations in order to ensure durability.

Let’s first address issues for all deck and dock construction, regardless of location:

Test Out the Size

Before you settle on a size for a deck, This Old House suggests that you carefully decide upon the dimensions of your outdoor surface. Stakes and twine allow you to try to move around in the area and see if it really is large enough. If you already have your outdoor furniture, you can place it within your staked out area and see if you, your family and your guests have enough elbow room to move around freely.

Codes and Permits

You will need to apply for a building permit to build a new deck or dock in Maine. For example, in Portland, Maine, you will be looking at a 20-day permit approval process. This Old House suggests that you also need to think about the requirements that you may have to meet for your homeowners’ association. They may have aesthetic requirements that go above and beyond building a simple, structurally-sound deck.

The Surface and Type of Material is Key

You are fighting the elements of saltwater spray, snow, sun, hail and rain. You will need the very best materials that are highly resistant to rotting, warping and degradation. You also need materials that are termite resistant. Another key factor is that you won’t want to choose a material for your deck surface that will become dangerously slippery under snow or frost conditions. This has a huge impact on the type of material you will choose. Finally, the material you choose will dictate how much work you will have to do in terms of deck maintenance each year.

According to Decks & Docks Lumber Company, options for dock construction materials in Maine include:

Pressure-Treated Wood: This option works for docks only if it meets regulatory requirements. The chemicals used to treat the wood can harm drinking water quality and aquatic life. You will need to seal and stain the wood yearly, which can also harm the environment.

Composites: This is deck material created by wood encased in plastic. It has a range of costs, from relatively inexpensive to a bit expensive. It is important to buy composites that have smaller wood particles encased fully in the plastic in order to avoid warping. It does not need to be sealed and does not harm the environment. The only real drawback is that it will get hot in the blazing sun of summer.

Modified Wood: This is softwood that has been thermally modified with heat and steam to make it highly durable and more water-resistant. It does not have the drawbacks of either pressure-treated wood or composites because it does not need to be stained or treated, it won’t harm the environment, it looks natural and it doesn’t get hot in the sun.

Frost Heave and Water Level Fluctuations

The Maine Lakes Society recommends that if you are building a dock and the water level changes drastically throughout the season, you need to build a floating dock. With minor water level fluctuations, you can build a dock that is suspended from the lake surface by pipes. A floating dock that is portable and that you only leave in the water for no more than seven months each year will exempt you from needing a Natural Resources Protection Act permit.

Your local county building inspector will be able to provide the guidelines for the proper depth of footings for a land-based deck to avoid the problems of frost heave.

Leave Room to Shovel the Snow Off

The question is, “Would you rather shovel the snow over the top of the deck, or would you rather shovel it under the lower railing?” You will have to pay attention to code while opting for room to push that snow right from the deck surface and over the edge.

Hide the Unsightly Stuff Underneath

If you have enough room under your deck, you can give it a lattice skirt and hide your garden hose and extra woodpile tarps under the deck. A big caveat is to use lattice because you want the deck to breathe from the underside, especially if you use wood. This prevents premature rotting. Also, don’t put so much underneath that you prevent airflow. Finally, don’t put the woodpile for the wood stove under the deck, especially if it is abutted to your house or made of wood because you will have created a termite magnet