Superstorm Sandy: Total Chaos and Unprecedented Destruction
According to ASTM testing, tropical hardwoods are valued not only for their beauty, versatility, strength and durability, but also for their natural resistance to fire as well as decay caused by fungus, termites and marine borers. They are among the hardest and most durable of building materials and as resistant to fire as concrete and steel.
"While domestic softwoods can be chemically treated to become resistant to either fire or rot, you cannot treat for both perils," Lotz said.
Moreover, the natural service life of many superwoods exceeds their natural growth cycle. Even when damaged, they can usually be reclaimed, reused or recycled. Tropical hardwoods can be used successfully in outdoor settings without chemical preservatives. This is important because it reduces the potential for chemicals and pesticides used to preserve lumber from being released into the environment.
Superstorm Sandy: Total Chaos and Unprecedented Destruction
Periodically, hurricanes have damaged or even destroyed boardwalks along the Eastern Seaboard. However, when Superstorm Sandy thundered up the East Coast on October 29, 2012, she blasted away virtually every boardwalk along the entire coastline. Among the beachfronts that required extensive reconstruction after Hurricane Sandy were Long Beach, Jones Beach, Coney Island, Far Rockaway, Asbury Park, Atlantic City, Liberty Island, Robert Moses State Park and several others. Altogether, more than 2 million board feet of decking was installed after the hurricane. Almost half was used to rebuild Long Beach's 2.2-mile long oceanfront walkway.
Because local authorities opted to use Ipe for the project, Long Beach's boardwalk is stronger, safer and more durable than the original 1907 seaside platform and it does not require the constant maintenance and upkeep that the old boardwalk required.
Some of the Atlantic beachfront communities employed lumber salvaged from damaged boardwalks in their reconstruction programs. The reclaimed boards included a hardwood hodgepodge of Angelique (Dicorynia guianensis), Teak (Tectona grandis), Ipe, Cumaru, Greenheart, along with pine and fir. New amenities including seating and handrails on Coney Island's 1000-foot long Steeplechase Pier were fashioned from reclaimed Ipe. Boards from the 5.5-mile long Rockaway Boardwalk, originally built in the 1920s, were incorporated into new decking and seating, among other applications.
Frequently asked questions
What wood was used to rebuild the Long Beach boardwalk after Hurricane Sandy?+
Local authorities used Ipe to rebuild Long Beach's 2.2-mile oceanfront walkway. The Ipe boardwalk is stronger, safer and more durable than the original 1907 platform and requires less maintenance.
How much decking was installed after Superstorm Sandy?+
More than 2 million board feet of decking was installed after Hurricane Sandy, with nearly half going to rebuild Long Beach's 2.2-mile oceanfront walkway.
Which East Coast boardwalks required reconstruction after Superstorm Sandy?+
Beachfronts requiring extensive reconstruction included Long Beach, Jones Beach, Coney Island, Far Rockaway, Asbury Park, Atlantic City, Liberty Island, and Robert Moses State Park, among others. Superstorm Sandy blasted away virtually every boardwalk along the entire Eastern Seaboard on October 29, 2012.
Why are tropical hardwoods preferred over treated softwoods for boardwalks?+
Tropical hardwoods are naturally resistant to fire, fungal decay, termites and marine borers, and are as fire-resistant as concrete and steel. Domestic softwoods can be chemically treated for either fire or rot, but not both perils simultaneously.
What reclaimed hardwoods were reused in post-Sandy boardwalk reconstruction?+
Salvaged lumber included a mix of Angelique, Teak, Ipe, Cumaru, Greenheart, along with pine and fir. Reclaimed Ipe was used for new seating and handrails on Coney Island's Steeplechase Pier, and boards from the 1920s Rockaway Boardwalk were incorporated into new decking and seating.
Are chemical preservatives needed for tropical hardwoods in outdoor use?+
No, tropical hardwoods can be used successfully in outdoor settings without chemical preservatives. This reduces the potential for preservative chemicals and pesticides to be released into the environment.