How to measure dock pilings for wrap

How much wrap does each piling need?

Cut per piling = π × diameter + 6 in. π × diameter (about 3.14 × diameter) is the distance around the pile. The 6 in is the overlap. You tack one edge with 3 to 4 nails, pull the sheet tight around the pile, overlap the ends 6 in, then nail the seam every 3 to 6 in.

A cloth tape is quicker. Wrap it around the pile where the wrap will go. That reading is already π × diameter, so add 6 in.

In the cut column, the second number is the cut rounded up to the next 1/4 in, to mark on a tape.

Pier Protector is 48 in wide. The width runs up the pile and the cut wraps around it, so one piece covers a band up to 48 in tall.

Where on the piling should I measure?

Measure inside the band you plan to wrap, not at the deck.

Round wood piles taper, so one end is wider than the other. Wear can also leave a pile thinner near the waterline than it is higher up, in an hourglass shape.

1. Pick the band. Mark its top and bottom, up to 48 in apart. Put it where your pilings show wear. See why dock pilings wear out.
2. Scrape the band. Take off loose growth so the tape sits on the wood.
3. Take three readings. Wrap the tape around the pile at the top, middle and bottom of the band.
4. Keep the largest one. Add 6 in to it. That is the cut for this pile.
5. Write it down. Number each pile on a sketch of the dock, with its cut. Then measure the next pile.

Why the largest? A flat sheet that closes with 6 in to spare at the widest point overlaps a bit more where the pile is narrower.

Measure at low tide, so you can reach the band, and work from a stable spot.

How do I measure square or odd-shaped piles?

Measure the distance around, then add 6 in. The π step is only for round piles.

• Square post: add the four sides, or wrap the tape around it. A post that is 8 in on each side is 4 × 8 = 32 in around. Its cut is 32 + 6 = 38 in.
• Oval, split or bulged pile: take the three readings as above and use the largest.
• No room for a tape? Wrap a string around the pile, mark where the ends meet and measure the string.
• A brace, cleat or ladder in the band: move the band to clear it if you can. If not, mark it on your sketch and ask us before you order.

How do I turn my measurements into an order?

1. Work out the cut for each pile: distance around + 6 in.
2. Add up all the cuts, in inches.
3. Divide by 12 to get feet.
4. Over 75 ft, the longest piece? Split the cuts into pieces that hold whole cuts (75 ft = 900 in).
5. Round each piece up to the next 5 ft. The minimum is 20 ft.
6. Add one install kit per 10 piles, rounded up.

Order one length and cut the pile pieces yourself. Ten piles ordered as ten cuts would come to 200 ft, not 40 ft, because each cut is at least 20 ft.

Order by length, not square feet. The 48 in width already covers the height.

A small dock can come in under the minimum. Four 10 in piles take 4 × 37.4 in = 149.6 in ÷ 12 = 12.5 ft, so order the 20 ft minimum.

The "How much do I need?" calculator on the Pier Protector page asks for diameter. Divide your tape reading by 3.14: 37.7 in ÷ 3.14 = 12 in. It takes one size at a time, so add mixed sizes by hand.

Worked example: ten 12 in pilings

1. Distance around one pile: 3.14 × 12 in = 37.7 in
2. Add the overlap: 37.7 in + 6 in = 43.7 in per pile
3. Ten piles: 43.7 in × 10 = 437 in
4. Change to feet: 437 in ÷ 12 = 36.4 ft
5. Round up to the next 5 ft: 40 ft covers it
6. Kits: 10 piles ÷ 10 = 1 install kit

40 ft is 480 in, which leaves about 43 in, just short of one more cut. For a spare cut, order 45 ft.

The price per foot drops at 50 ft. At 40 or 45 ft, check the 50 ft price on the product page. It can cost less, and the extra can replace a torn piece later.

Worked example: piles of two sizes

Six piles measure 10 in across and four measure 12 in.

• 6 × 37.4 in = 224.4 in
• 4 × 43.7 in = 174.8 in
• Total: 224.4 + 174.8 = 399.2 in ÷ 12 = 33.3 ft, so order 35 ft
• Kits: 10 piles, so 1 kit

Write the pile number on each piece as you cut it.

Worked example: more than 75 ft

A longer dock has 24 piles, all 12 in across.

1. 24 × 43.7 in = 1,048.8 in ÷ 12 = 87.4 ft. That is over 75 ft, so you need two pieces.
2. Fill the first piece: 900 in ÷ 43.7 in = 20.6, so it holds 20 whole cuts. 20 × 43.7 in = 874 in ÷ 12 = 72.8 ft, so 75 ft.
3. The second piece takes the other 4 cuts: 4 × 43.7 in = 174.8 in ÷ 12 = 14.6 ft. That is under the 20 ft minimum, so 20 ft.
4. Order 75 ft + 20 ft = 95 ft in all.
5. Kits: 24 ÷ 10 = 2.4, so 3 kits.

The calculator splits evenly instead: two 45 ft pieces, 90 ft in all. That is 5 ft less, because no piece has to round up to the 20 ft minimum. Each 45 ft piece still gets the 50 ft price, because the break counts every foot of Pier Protector in the order.

To install, follow the dock piling wrap install manual. For the 20 ft minimum and the longest pieces on all four brands, see how cut-to-length ordering works.

What if I need to cover more than 48 in of height?

Stack bands. Overlap them 6 in, upper band over the lower one, so water runs off. Two bands cover up to 48 + 42 = 90 in, and three cover up to 132 in.

Each band is its own cut around the pile, so two bands double the length and three triple it. Ten 12 in piles with two bands take 20 cuts: 20 × 43.7 in = 874 in, or 72.8 ft, so order 75 ft.

One install kit covers about 10 pilings.

If the worn zone on your pilings is taller than 48 in, one band can't cover all of it. Pick the part that matters most, or stack bands.

Common mistakes

• Measuring at the deck, or going by the size the pile was sold as. Measure in the band.
• Measuring one pile and multiplying. Pilings vary, even on the same dock.
• Leaving out the 6 in overlap. Without it, the seam has nothing to nail through.
• Using the round table for a square post. A square post takes more wrap than a round pile of the same width.
• Splitting a pile's wrap across two pieces. Each pile gets one piece with one seam, so each piece must hold whole cuts.
• Stacking bands the wrong way round. The upper band goes over the lower one, so water runs off.

Who is this not for?

• Pilings that are failing. If a pile is soft, cracked, leaning or badly worn, have a marine contractor look at it first. Wrap is a cover for sound wood, not a repair.
• Concrete, steel or plastic piles. Pier Protector is nailed on, so it is for wood piles.

FAQ

How much Pier Protector do I need for my dock?

For each piling, cut π × diameter + 6 in. A 12 in pile takes about 43.7 in. Add up every pile, divide by 12 and round up to the next 5 ft. Ten 12 in pilings need about 36.4 ft, so 40 ft and one install kit cover them. The price per foot drops at 50 ft, so check whether 50 ft costs less. Each piece covers up to 48 in of height.

Should I order piling wrap by square feet?

No. Order by the length of your cuts. The 48 in width runs up the piling, and the length you cut wraps around it. Add up π × diameter + 6 in for every piling, change inches to feet and round up to the next 5 ft. The minimum order is 20 ft.

Can I wrap square or odd-shaped wood piles?

Yes. Wrap a tape around the pile inside the band, take the largest of three readings and add 6 in. Skip the round-pile table for square posts. An 8 in square post is 32 in around and takes a 38 in cut. An 8 in round pile takes 31.1 in.

How many install kits do I need?

One for about every 10 pilings. Divide your pile count by 10 and round up: 10 piles take 1 kit, 11 to 20 take 2, and 24 take 3. Each kit has a 3 in × 1,000 ft roll of stretch wrap and about 160 stainless ring-shank nails.

What is the stretch wrap for?

At least 3 tight layers of stretch wrap go on first, under the HDPE. They seal the wood surface in the wrapped band as a layer against marine borers such as shipworms and gribbles. The HDPE on top takes the rubbing, sun and debris.

What if I can't get a tape around the pile?

Use a string. Wrap it around the pile inside the band, mark where the ends meet and measure to the mark. Add 6 in for the cut. If a bulkhead or fender leaves no room for a string, the sheet can't go around either, so ask us before you order.