A technical guide comparing timber and recycled plastic boardwalk systems. Covers durability challenges, maintenance costs, safety risks, and whole-life value analysis for contractors and specifiers working on wetland, coastal, woodland, public park, holiday park and local authority projects.
This technical guide is written for contractors and specifiers who need to evaluate boardwalk materials for public and commercial projects. It compares traditional timber with recycled plastic systems, focusing on long-term performance, maintenance obligations and lifecycle value.
The executive summary outlines why timber boardwalks can become costly to maintain over time, where recycled plastic performs best, how to assess whole-life costs, key installation considerations, and a material comparison checklist for project evaluation.
A section on timber boardwalks details durability challenges in demanding environments, including rot, moisture absorption, swelling and warping. It covers ongoing maintenance requirements such as sealing, staining and board replacement, plus safety risks like splintering and surface deterioration.
The guide then presents recycled plastic boardwalk systems, highlighting resistance to rot and moisture degradation, low maintenance, consistent material performance, slip-resistant and splinter-free surfaces, and suitability for environmentally sensitive locations. Application environments include wetlands, coastal and marine areas, woodlands, conservation sites, public parks, holiday parks and leisure destinations.
A comparison table contrasts timber and recycled plastic across moisture resistance, rot and decay resistance, splinter-free surface, slip resistance, maintenance requirements, material consistency, insect resistance, service life, wetland and coastal suitability, accessibility and sustainability credentials.
The final section describes boardwalk design options with and without handrails, available in multiple colours, for public open spaces, fishing pegs, cycle paths, piers and floating docks. A wheelchair passing area option is also noted.