The industry standard to protect new marine piles is to wrap them with a thin black plastic wrap and nail it on. In theory, this would cut off the flow of water into the pole, which would keep all marine organisms from ever having a chance to attack the timber. If done properly, this black wrap can buy you a few extra years. The issue is, it is rarely done right and even when it is, it still has weak points. Over the years, marine growth begins to build up. When barnacles begin to grow under the seam of the overlapping wrap, or by the nail holes, the thin plastic rips and separates from the pile. Once that occurs water is able to flow freely to the piling, leaving it vulnerable to environmental attack. The only way to ensure your piling is protected is to be sure there is no weak point that could fail.