What Is Trex Decking? What Are The Advantages?

Composite Wood For Decks

Even if your deck or porch are exposed to extreme temperatures and all sorts of environmental factors, you can be confident they’ll withstand the test of time. You also get to provide your family with a safe and comfortable space for play and relaxation. You can melt composite decking under the right set of circumstances. There are multiple features that you can have with composite decking. Composite decking is a wood alternative that can provide a longer lifespan and lower maintenance needs when compared to the traditional design.

The fact that composites don't feel or look like real wood is beside the point. Once in place, they just do their job and don't need much more than an annual wash-down, leaving you plenty of time to work on your nap.

Thanks to advanced manufacturing procedures, Trex features a more refined wood grain appearance and streaks that look natural, even up close. It’s available in dozens of colors that eliminate the need to apply stain. Standard wood decking has to be infused with pesticides and heavy metals like arsenic during its pressure treating process. Without these additions, wood is susceptible to being invaded by pests, but with it, wood can be dangerous to children, animals and even adults as the wood deteriorates over time. Finally, composite wood tends to have fewer options on the cosmetic side.

Wood Decking

Your deck doesn’t have to be boring and can be just as unique as you are. While I have plenty of good memories of time spent on the deck, I also have my fair share of bad ones. Since it’s made of wood, I remember spending an entire weekend power washing the gunk off of it, then spending the following weekend covering it with water sealant. Chromated copper arsenate is a wood preservative containing chromium, copper, and arsenic. Starting in the 1940s, CCA was used to make pressure-treated lumber. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has classified CCA as a restricted-use product. Since 2003, the pressure-treated wood industry discontinued the use of CCA for residential use.

Products & Services

More durable than wood, composite decking stays out of the landfill longer. If you walk on a wood deck barefoot, you risk a splinter—but that is not the case when walking on a composite deck. Composite decking materials are composed primarily of hard plastic, and unlike wood, this material will not splinter or crack. In fact, composite decking was created to eliminate the problems that occur with regular wood decking, namely splintering. Splintering and cracking are primary reasons why wood decks need to be routinely sealed.

Most decks require a full on retreatment consisting of sanding, cleaning, staining or painting and sealing every two to five years. Composite decking is made from a combination of plastic and wood fiber. The wood fiber typically consists of anything from wood chips to sawdust. Additionally, the plastic part of composite decking can come from recycled plastic materials or new plastic materials.

Unlike real wood, you won’t need to strip, sand, seal, or stain it. Once it’s installed, you can get a long life from it with little maintenance other than regular cleaning. Real wood has a less expensive initial cost than composite wood because the material itself is cheaper. It can also be easy on your budget because there are a wide number of options. Real wood decking has stood the test of time as a popular favorite.

• However, as durable as wood decking is, it’s still far more susceptible to maintenance costs, time and effort.
• Most decks require a full on retreatment consisting of sanding, cleaning, staining or painting and sealing every two to five years.
• Composite decking is made from a combination of plastic and wood fiber.
• The wood fiber typically consists of anything from wood chips to sawdust.

Transcend offers an unprecedented combination of fade, stain and mold resistance thanks to its exclusive protective shell and high-traffic formulation. This outdoor kitchen features the Trex Transcend collection of composite material. Learn more about Travelers homeowners insurance products, or if you’re ready to take the next step, click here toget a quote or find an agent. Unlike wood, composites don't need to be painted or stained to match your home's exterior. Wood decks are notorious for fading to a dusty grey after several years of use, if they aren't stained and sealed regularly. If you like the silver grey color of a weathered deck, then this may not be a problem for you.

Still not as long as composite, but an admirable amount of time, if properly treated. Composite decking has risen to meet the high standards of professionals and homeowners. Here are some of the ways its done that, and why a composite deck may be for you. Composite decking is easier to clean than standard wood decking, and routine maintenance requires simple soap and water. Say goodbye to power washers, sanders, and other equipment typically enlisted to get your deck looking new. There's also no need for periodic treatments of finish, paint, or other chemicals typically used to protect all-wood decks.

This is because consumer expectations around these things have become more refined, too. Excellent service from beginning inquiry through follow-up after the gutter installation was completed.

Composite decking often goes down the same way as wood, that is, with stainless steel decking screws. But some manufacturers offer products with clip or tongue-and-groove assembly. These easy building systems result in deck surfaces without unsightly rows of visible screw heads. Eco-Friendly — Composites are usually made from virgin plastic with less than half made of recycled content. Comparatively, Trex is made from 95% recycled material, including wood, sawdust and plastic film, which makes it one of the most eco-friendly building materials in the industry.

Composite decking materials, on the other hand, sell for $2.50 or $3.50 per linear foot. Even so, when you account for the costs associated with maintaining a wood deck , composite decking emerges as the value choice. Sustainability – Because composite decking is made from recycled plastic and reclaimed wood, it does double duty to protect the environment.