Your Trex Composite Decking & Railing Questions Answered

Avoid Improper Decking Gaps

Trex actually admits this on their own website when referring to their older generation products. Routine cleaning and maintenance are required for both wood and composite decks. Composite manufacturers now admit that there are no "maintenance free" decking materials of any kind. Every decking material needs at least a periodic washing. Mold, mildew, and dirt attack every deck - plastic, metal, wood or composite – with evenhanded tenacity, and have to be taken care of at regular intervals.

Most homeowners know that finding mold inside their homes is a huge hassle and potentially very scary; however, if it’s outdoors, is it a big deal? Outdoors, mold plays an integral part in breaking down dead leaves, trees, and plant matter to go back into the ecosystem. However, that also means that wood decks and traditional composite boards are prime real estate to hungry mold spores. When a home inspector says, “Mold is eating away at the foundation of your deck,” they mean it literally — mold isn’t a cheap date. Left unchecked, mold can lead to structural damage. In these locations, it’s probably best to avoid the use of composite decking materials that contain wood fibers that have not been treated with chemicals that prevent wood rot. Trex decking does not typically get hotter than pressure-treated wood, although on a hot day with a blazing sun, nearly any surface will get uncomfortably hot.

For wood decking, the remedy for would is cleaning and re staining. Composite decking requires using special cleaning chemicals that will kill the mold and remove some of the finish. This will leave the decking more porous and susceptible to more mold growth. This can happen in many ways but the most common is just the daily use of the deck.

Trex Company, Inc

Wet planter pots, dropped grill tools, and spilled food is no match for newer composite decking materials. They offer an unprecedented combination of stain, fade and mold resistance because of their exclusive protective shell and ability to withstand high-traffic. You can save hundreds by replacing the decking yourself. Along with a circular saw you'll need a drill, preferably cordless. Don't skimp on support joists if you choose heavier composites or less-rigid plastics.

Any more information from anyone who has had success getting their deck replaced is welcomed. to keep it looking good throughout the years, much like washing your car. For early generation composite decking , periodic cleaning with a deck wash is required. Trex high-performance decking require less work - a simple soap and water cleaning is all that is necessary to maintain the beauty of the products. is a revolutionary steel deck framing system that provides a stronger, straighter, safer and smarter foundation for Trex high-performance decking and railing products.

Moisture that gets trapped under the decking and on top of the wood joists would tend to stay there and keep the joist from drying properly. Wood that is not allowed to dry properly will be more susceptible to rot and decay. The reason for color fading comes from the wood fiber content. Inconsistent fading occurs due to the manufacturer’s inability to control the consistency of the colorant and raw materials being added. When the first generation composite boards are exposed to the UV and water it begins to decompose.

Wood And Composite Decking Review: Pros And Cons

Of course, the real value is in the time that you enjoy spending outdoors on your Trex deck. Our Cost Calculator will have your closest estimate for materials costs. Over the past few decades, composite decking has skyrocketed in popularity as an alternative to wood. Many new decks are being made with composite decking rather than wood, as manufacturers have led homeowners to believe that their products are superior to any real wood.

Trex Select is another fantastic option that offers quality decking materials at an affordable price. Available with shelled composite and railing, Trex Select brings superior durability and unparalleled aesthetics at an affordable price. While all three collections will help you transform your backyard space into the ultimate sanctuary, Trex Transcend is the best of the best. Transcend deck boards are made from 95% recycled boards with earth-friendly manufacturing processes to be more environmentally friendly than real wood. Trex Transcend is the revolutionary collection that first debuted in 2010. A proprietary nine-element surface formulation that produces a natural, wood-like grain pattern, it’s engineered with an exclusive low-sheen, high-traffic formulation.

I was excited about having something touted as being “maintenance free.” Over the years I have power washed it to keep the vegetation (moss? algae?) at bay. Mind you, I was never really told how to maintain it . For the most part it has held up well and we have enjoyed the deck.

It could be also a total disaster if you can’t get the exact same deck board because in that case you’d have to replace all the decking. A wood deck gets hot enough so that walking barefoot is mildly uncomfortable. All composites and plastics get hotter than wood – some get hotter than concrete. Dense materials retain more heat and get hotter than less dense materials.

For wood, solid stains typically yield longer-lasting results. When pricing the materials, be sure to figure in the cost of railings, stairs, and supporting structure as well as the planks under foot.

These are the only products most contractors can get so of course they’re going to say they’re good. Whether you choose Transcend, Select, or Enhance, you’re making an investment in a hassle-free, low-maintenance composite deck that will last for years to come. Choose high-quality composite decking materials to build the deck of your dreams where you can spend warm afternoons and cool evenings relaxing with friends and loved ones. Here is a side-by-side comparison to illustrate the unique features, materials, price, and color options for each Trex composite decking option.

Responses To Composite Decking Mushrooms

On the Jersey Shore, where Hurricane Sandy turned many of the area's fabled boardwalks into driftwood, oceanfront communities are rebuilding, and some are choosing composites over wood. initially planned to use Ipe, a tropical hardwood found in the Amazon rainforest. But environmental groups including the Sierra Club encouraged the towns to go with composite decking. After the decision, some critics noted that Ipe can be sourced from sustainably-harvested forests, and they offered the opinion that it will outlast composite decking. That’s why these seaside boardwalks will be under the building industry’s microscope in the years ahead. Currently there is additional bad news for the composite decking industry regarding Trex decking and their latest multi-million dollar class action mold lawsuit. It is absolutely true that all decks and decking materials have some susceptibility to mold and mold related issues.

• Although PVC decking is made using synthetic materials, Trex decking is made from 95% recycled content and involves the combination of wood scraps and polyethylene.
• Composite decking material uses a combination of plastic and wood fibers.
• Unlike other decking materials, composite decks can provide the look and feel of natural wood without the environmental impact of cutting down trees for timber.
• Reclaimed sawdust, offcuts, and household plastic waste are combined and ground down under heat and pressure to come up with composite decking products.
• Any exposed wood particles in a board’s core or cap weaken its defense from mold, mildew, and moisture damage.
• Composite decking is made up of a blend of wood particles and plastic materials to form a deck board, thensomeare capped with a synthetic material to help keep moisture out.

Decking Buying Guide

You’ve decided it's time to replace your outdoor deck and you’re ready to take it on as a DIY project, or you’ve decided to work with a licensed and bondedcontractor for the heavy lifting. Staining is a major problem with older model Trex decking and a huge issue with older composite decking products in general. Because with a Trex deck you can’t sand or refinish the deck. If a stain occurs and can’t be cleaned the only remedy is replacing the entire board. This can be an issue with an older deck once fading has occurred since the new deck boards won’t match the old.