- 1). Purchase a non-toxic waterproof wood sealant from your local home improvement store or an online retailer. Look for a product that uses cedar wood oil or vegetable (soy) oil as a main active ingredient to seal the wood and protect it against rot or damage.
- 2). White or red cedar, cypress, oak, spruce and fir are recommended for dock construction because they are naturally rot-resistant and durable. Check with your lake association and city or state government to see if you are allowed to use pressure-treated lumber for docks that will be placed in lakes. Consider this as another excellent building material, if it is allowed by your local government, as it has already been treated against rot and does not require an additional sealant.
- 3). Lay your non-pressure treated wood dock, if already assembled, or the wood to be used to make it, on a large plastic tarp at least 100 yards away from the lake edge. Use a paint brush or roller to apply a non-toxic waterproof sealant to the entire surface area of every piece of wood. Allow the sealant to dry completely before beginning construction or placing your dock in the lake.
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