What is hot-dip galvanizing?
Hot-dip galvanizing is a process of providing a protective coating (zinc) over bare steel. The bare steel is cleaned, pickled, fluxed, then dipped in a molten bath of zinc and allowed to cool prior to inspection and shipping. Additional information is available at www.galvinfo.com
What is pressure treatment?
In pressure treatment, chemical preservatives are forced deep into the cellular structure of the wood in a closed cylinder under pressure. This process enables the preserved wood to maintain a chemical barrier against termites and decay for long periods of time, as shown through more than 40 years of continuous field testing conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Several manufacturers guarantee their treated wood to resist decay and termite attack for 40 years or longer.
Is All Treated Wood The Same?
All wood is not the same. Pressure treated (PT) wood is treated to different levels.The chemical treatment used in pressure treated wood is call Copper Chromated Arsenate, or CCA. Most hardware and home improvement stores carry pressure treated lumber which has 1/4 pound (.25 lb) of chemical per cubic foot of wood. Marine treated lumber is more heavily treated, and the following are guidelines for choosing the proper treatment levels. For ground contact or salt water splash, use a minimum of .40 PT lumber, which has 60% more CCA than .25 lumber. For fresh water immersion (such as fresh water bulkheads), use a minimum of .80 PT lumber. For brackish water immersion, use 1.0 PT lumber. For saltwater immersion, use 2.5 PT lumber. This lumber, at 2.5 pounds of chemical per cubic foot of wood, has 10 times the chemical treatment of .25 boards.
What About Grades of Wood?
Boards come in different grades. #1 grade boards are stronger and have fewer knots. #2 grade boards are less expensive, and are well suited for dock substructures and for bulkheads. Make sure you know which grade will be used for any decking so you get a fair comparison among bids.
How long should I wait before I stain my deck?
Even though the lumber may be kiln-dried before treatment, using water-borne preservatives restores moisture to the wood. Too much moisture in the wood may prevent the stain or paint from penetrating the wood sufficiently. It is best to test the wood by painting or staining a scrap piece to see if it applies properly. If not, wait until it does. A water repellent should be applied annually. Do not use latex paints. Semi-transparent, oil-based stains work best. If you do not have time to wait, purchase wood marked "KDAT" (Kiln-dried after treatment).
Above ground: lumber, timbers and plywood
Ground/fresh water contact: lumber, timbers plywood
Saltwater splash, wood foundations: lumber, timbers, plywood and structural poles
Foundation/freshwater: pilings and columns
Saltwater immersion: pilings and columns
0.25
0.40
0.60
0.80
2.5
Application
Retention Value
(lb/sq ft cubic)
Are all Marine Contractors licensed in their state?
Please call the Mississippi State Board of Contractors for inquiries 601-354-6161 or look up your contractor online www.msboc.us
What sort of insurances should a Marine Contractor carry?
If you are hiring a licensed marine contractor they should be covered by General Liability Insurance and workman’s compensation specific to the marine industry.
Workers compensation should be: USL&H (also known as the Longshore Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act – LHWCA) and the Jones Act.
USL&H: is a federal act designed to provide compensation to an employee if an injury or death occurs upon navigable waters of the US – including any adjoining pier, wharf, dry dock, terminal, building-way, marine railway or other adjoining area customarily used by an employer in loading, unloading, repairing, dismantling or building a vessel.
Unlike State Workers’ Compensation, which is regulated, Longshore claims fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Labor. Longshore claims can have a higher benefits schedule, more severe penalties and legal ramifications for noncompliance.
Jones Act: is a federal act, which provides employee benefits – similar to Workers’ Compensation – to masters and members of a US-flagged vessel. (A “flagged vessel” can be a pontoon boat taking a crew to a job site, a small 17’ center console used to push a barge for bulkhead construction or an ocean liner). State Act Workers’ Compensation plans DO NOT cover vessel crew and employees can bring action against their employer for negligence.
Pink Marine Construction, Corp will happily produce workers compensation and general liability certificates upon request.
Who is the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources?
They are Mississippi's point of contact for wetlands permitting. They regulate and protect Mississippi's wetlands for the future. Pink Marine Construction, Corp aids in the permitting process with DMR. Please click on this link to find out more information on DMR and required paperwork to acquire a permit. www.dmr.state.ms.us
