Re-posted from 2014. OG Boardwalk.
New Trex boards being installed at the Ocean Grove Middle Boardwalk project. June 10, 2014. Paul Goldfinger photo ©
Close-up of Trex boards in the noon sun. They look like wood and they are not dark in color. The color varies with the light. Blogfinger photo © June 13, 2014.
A length of boardwalk under the noon sun. You can get an idea of color and brightness. Blogfinger photo June 13, 2014, near Main Ave.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
In March, 2013, the rebuilding of the South End Boardwalk in Ocean Grove, New Jersey began. Blogfinger covered that story, and our article said, “The final surface (that we walk on) will be placed last, and a composite material will be used instead of wood. This splinterless approach may upset some purists, but it is the most practical for safety, endurance and strength.” So for those who are complaining now, they were not paying attention before. This is old news.
The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association decided early after Sandy to use Trex, the world’s leader in wood alternative materials. The Trex boards are made of 95% recyclable materials. They use plastic bags, sawdust and wood scraps. No trees are cut down for this industry which has been in existence since 1996. It is a “green decision” to use this product.
The CMA chose a color that looks like wood, and after one year, that sample stretch of boardwalk at the South End has not warped, and not a single complaint was received by the CMA regarding this choice of materials. On the contrary, JP Gradone, COO of the CMA told us today that they have received many complements regarding the appearance (“sharp and clean”) of that area over by the beach badge office, near the fishing pier.
But Ocean Grove is not alone in this choice of planking. Among the post-Sandy boardwalk reconstructions which have used Trex are Belmar, Sea Girt, Pt. Pleasant and Atlantic Beach, NY.
Spring Lake also used a composite, but one made by TimberTech. Only Asbury Park did their boards in wood. Bradley Beach did theirs with masonry pavers.
We spoke to Mr. Gradone today regarding the decision to use Trex, and he was enthused about the choice. “Trex has a 25 year warranty, whereas wood boardwalks only last 7-10 years.” The composites, he said, don’t warp, rot, crack, splinter, fade or shrink. Shrinking of wood causes screws to “pop.” Trex resists staining, he said, and they are less slippery when wet. No staining, sanding or other maintenance is needed.
Note that the infrastructure beneath the Trex boards was constructed for strength with treated wood piles and beams using steel screws, bolts and brackets in addition to the preexisting bulkheads.
PAUL SIMON from Songs From the Capeman: “Quality.”