What You Need To Know About Trex Vs Plastic Decking

Weathered Wood

It’s not wood, so it shouldn’t be expanding and contracting due to temperature changes, right? Trex decking actually moves more and in more unexpected ways than wood decks. Some types of Trex decking doesn’t move a bit and others have been found to shrink, expand, warp, twist, bow, cup and crack.

We regret that we do not provide a warranty in this instance. Wood or gas fire pits should not be placed on top of Trex decking. However, gas fire pits may be installed beside or between deck boards with a protective wall made of stone or other fire-resistant material used for insulation. The breadth of the Trex lineup means that there are Trex products to suit nearly any residential or commercial need.

Trex Composite Decking Company Information

• Everybody knows color fades in the sun, but composite decking companies seem to be oblivious to what their products are really capable of.
• As of 2014, Trex no longer manufactures any early-generation composite decking.
• Routine cleaning and maintenance are required for both wood and composite decks.
• Trex actually admits this on their own website when referring to their older generation products.
• Some composite decking has faded so quickly in just a couple of seasons that replacements boards stand out like a sore thumb.

No matter how much effort goes into making composites look like wood, they're not. The only way to get the full beauty of a wood deck is to use the real thing. Some composite companies are using recycled materials.

Decking

Some composite planks are flexible enough to be easily curved into patterns or shapes that would be expensive to duplicate in solid wood. CR members with digital access can see our Decking Ratings, which reflect our updated, two-year exposure score. Our tests showed that some synthetic decking didn't make the grade for rigidity, and some tonier wood products look worse for wear. Trex Enhance blends well with all Trex railing lines, allowing consumers and designers to mix-and-match to create a completely custom look. An innovative design at an affordable price, Trex Enhance requires minimal upkeep so you can spend more time relaxing outside instead of cleaning your deck or stressing about costly repairs. Although not technically a composite, Perennial Wood offers many of the durability benefits of composite decking.

Are you considering rebuilding your deck the composite decking? Here are some things to consider before you commit to this relatively new material. First generation composite decking is not scratch resistant at all, it can be easily scratched with a person’s fingernail after it has started to weather. Wood decking is the overwhelming choice for homeowners. But synthetic plank decking offers good looks with less upkeep.Composites, which blend ground-up wood and plastic, have chipped away at wood's popularity.

Insects, rodents, and other wildlife will also not be attracted to your modified wood deck. Last, but not least, modified wood ages beautifully (even becoming a silvery-grey) and rarely splinters.

Again, it seems completely random when this happens, but it happens often enough that you should know about it. Sadly, most composite decking falls into that category. It has been improving slowly over the years with the introduction of capped products and other upgrades, but still, the reports from consumers and contractors are not promising. Take a look at some of the websites where homeowners have posted their reviews, and you’ll read 1 and 2 star reviews all day long. Color difference – many decks were faded with uneven color resulting in some boards being lighter and others getting darker. Many of the synthetic products are available in colors such as white, gray, and several shades of brown. Surface textures include smooth , subtle wood grain, ridges, and other decidedly nonwood-like patterns.

If I opt into the settlement I appear to be releasing them from any future claims if, as is likely, the balance of the deck goes bad. Since the manufacturer admits the decking does absorb moisture, anyone with Trex decking needs it to dry as soon as possible when it gets wet. This does become problematic in areas that experience lots of rain over months of time. To prevent the growth of mushrooms, fungus and mold on the underside of your decking, you may want to consider implementing what I’m doing. The front porch I’m rebuilding is going to have new and vastly improved ventilation.

Another characteristic that can cause problems includes retaining heat and feeling hot to bare feet. Composite decking also isn’t as strong as solid wood, which is evident in that smaller joist spacing is required for the deck’s structure. While a hardwood deck can be constructed with joists 16′ apart, most composite deck joists must be built 12′ or less apart to prevent sagging. There are other characteristics of composite decking that limit its usability. Since these are natural attributes, there really is no way to avoid them. While composite decking certainly does have some advantages, it also has a number of problems that the average homeowner may be unaware of. Many homeowners have ended up learning the hard way that composite decking isn’t flawless and, in many cases, ends up being a frustrating, expensive mistake.

For a neater look, many composite decks are attached to joists using hidden fasteners so there are no visible screws on top. They also clean up nicely with soap and water if needed. Get tips on how to find the right materials for your deck. Composite decking cost is measured by square feet; it’s about $35 per sq. This will vary depending on the exact material you choose and may not include labor. In fact, every cap that TimberTech produces, including for theTimberTech AZEK® Deckingline andTimberTech EDGE™ Deckingline, contains ZERO organic materials. Each blend is different because each line offers different core makeups to suit the needs of homeowners.

A ranch, raised ranch, or contemporary house style can work well with many deck designs. It's more challenging to make a deck work with older styles, such as Tudor, colonial, or 1920s bungalow.

And while their customer service and warranty department could be better, they do offer a good warranty which will protect you if major defects occur. Skimp on any of these 3 issues and you could have problems down the road. Trex has absolutely had problems in the past but their constantly trying to improve and perfect their decking products. With each failure they’ve learned a lesson and improved the product.

The plastic in the composite mix is compromised, and water gets past the protective plastic and into the wood flour. This means that special processes must be used in manufacturing and installing composite decks to account for this un-wood-like expansion and contraction. For guidance, we can look to the experience of the vinyl siding industry that has been contending with the problems of plastic expansion for over a half-century. Many of the techniques of installing composite decks are taken from the vinyl siding professionals. But, there are still many problems that have not yet been conquered. In our heat retention tests, dark stained wood was typically Fahrenheit 5° to 10° (Celsius 2.8° to 5.6°) hotter than natural, unstained wood.