Finding a low maintenance, durable dock board which also fits larger joist spacing has been the bane of many contractors’ existence.
With this in mind, TIVA Building Products is pushing the industry forward with their innovative – and patented – dock board.
The TIVADOK is a two-by-eight PVC board that is reinforced with an aluminum core, says company vice-president Megan Fangrad.
“The large strip of aluminum that runs through the entire core of the board provides superior stability and strength,” says Megan. “This allows our boards to fit joist spans of up to 32 inches.”
Many older docks and commercial dock applications require deck boards to reach across bigger spans – from 24 all the way to 32 inches. Most PVC and composite boards can’t meet those requirements.
Thick wooden boards were the only option. But wood has a finite life span and needs regular staining due to the constant pressures of the environment – blasting sun from above, moisture below, as well as other weather-related stresses.
This spurred TIVA Building Products owner Terry Fangrad, father of Megan, and his team to find a solution. As a builder himself with 35 years of experience in the deck and dock industry, Terry understands the challenges contractors face when building a dock.
The result is TIVADOK boards. They feature a cellular PVC core which prevents mold, mildew and rot. The surface is made from an ASA (acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate) capstock to ensure strong colour retention and combat fading. And, of course, there’s the web of aluminum through the centre to provide added strength.
TIVADOK currently comes in two cottage-style colour options: elmwood and beechwood.
For applications that demand a wider range of colour options without the aluminum reinforcement, TIVA also offers TIVADEK, one-by-six PVC boards that come in a dozen different colours.
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Terry says people sometimes get confused about the difference between PVC and composite materials.
PVC is completely inorganic, while composite materials contain organic components like wood and sawdust. Those organic materials can break down, rot and swell, just as wood boards can, explains Terry.
“We made sure our product does not have any organic material at all. It’s all virgin PVC, hence you don’t have those issues,” he says. TIVA’s innovative technology is patented, allowing them to make products that provide unsurpassed durability.
“We’re not trying to be all things to all people,” says Terry. “We’re quality focused. Our consumer is someone who recognizes quality and is willing to pay for a premium product.”
TEXT CHRIS OCCHIUZZI | PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN
