I’m looking to have a deck built this summer and am thinking about using TREX composite decking for the top and railings/posts. Has anyone used this stuff and if so, what are your thoughts?? Is it worth all the extra money, or would I be better of with something else? Little to no maintenance is the driving factor for me.
Structurally no complaints. Have 2 decks 8 years old. Just be sure Trex will stand behind the maintenance issue. The composite mix of plastic and sawdust leaves it subject to mold. We have had areas of discoloration that require scrubbing with a special cleaner that gets rid of the mold. Repeat process each 2 years. Otherwise we have been extremely happy with the product. Pretty much maintenance free, which leaves more time to chase the elusive Musky. Good luck.
Ditto on the mold issue… after 4 years, we had to clean the mold off in order to made it look good again.
I wish I was in your spot and could redo my decision to use wood for my deck surface. Until someone invents a wood finish that last more than 3 years in MN on horizontal surfaces I say go with the wood replacements. I detest the frequent refinishing of my deck. If I could do it over I would pay triple to avoid wood.
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I wish I was in your spot and could redo my decision to use wood for my deck surface. Until someone invents a wood finish that last more than 3 years in MN on horizontal surfaces I say go with the wood replacements. I detest the frequent refinishing of my deck. If I could do it over I would pay triple to avoid wood.
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I couldn’t agree more Don.
My neighbor has the Trex decking. He’s had it for close to 10 years. It’s funny, I just looked at it last weekend and noticed how terrible it looked because of the mold.
To the OP there are a lot of different brands of composite decking. Are you married to the TREX brand because that’s what your contractor uses?
Do some reading online. The mold issue is a common one with TREX, but other composites don’t use sawdust and so don’t have the problem to the same degree.
If I had to do a deck due to a house’s design, I wouldn’t even think about wood. I HATE, hate, hate cleaing and staining and with a wood deck that’s exactly what you’re signing up to–endless cleaning and staining/waterproofing/whatever.
Grouse
After dealing with the mess of re-staining decks on my old house, I now have a Trex deck. There’s no comparison spray washing a trex deck once a year vs re-staining a wood deck every few years…
Menard’s makes Ultradeck. That’s what I have now. I bought a used deck. Tore it down and rebuilt it. Got it cheap! But…the biggest problem with UD is that it fades and the company won’t stand behind it. The spokesperson even says the decks are subject to fading. It’s 2 years old and really faded. But…it’s cheap and I know that any parts I replace will fade, too. I’m not worried. If I had bought it new…knowing what I know now…I would go Trexx. Just my 2 cents.
Like everyone else has said……..MOLD. Needs to be cleaned once or twice a year!!! If it wasn’t for that it would be a great product.
What product are you using to clean the mold and where are you getting it?
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To the OP there are a lot of different brands of composite decking. Are you married to the TREX brand because that’s what your contractor uses?
No, I’m not dead set on using TREX, however, it has been the most recommended decking so far by friends, relatives, etc.
Mud sent me a link via pm for versadeck, which is aluminum, and I can say that I am VERY intrigued by this! Even less maintenance, no mold issues… We’ll have to see what momma wants.
Thanks everyone, keep the suggestions coming though!! 
If you plan on staying in the house you’re currently in for a long time, than its worth every penny of the extra money to upgrade from wood. If its something you’re doing just to improve your current home to move on to something bigger and better, stick with wood and use the money saved for improvements on the new home.
I would look at Azek decking,i have done a couple of decks with this stuff and it looks awesome with the hidden fastener method. kinda spendy but well worth the money, the one deck i did looks like the day i put it in two years ago
I aviod Trex unless a customer specificly requests (demands) it. Much better products on the market. We installed a few Timbertech XLM decks last year and really liked the product. Full PVC product, no mold issues. Blind screw method and they look awesome. Just did a 1 year inspection on one of them this week. Looks as good as the day I installed it.
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I aviod Trex unless a customer specificly requests (demands) it. Much better products on the market. We installed a few Timbertech XLM decks last year and really liked the product. Full PVC product, no mold issues. Blind screw method and they look awesome. Just did a 1 year inspection on one of them this week. Looks as good as the day I installed it.
Randy,
I’m getting ready to replace my deck of 34 years, Green treated by the orgional manufacture (Wolmin for a clue).
Here is what I found with a quick google on your perfered product.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/home-improvement/decking/decking-material-ratings/models/user-reviews/timbertech-xlm-plank-99020649.htm#readReview
Please do not missunderstand, I’m just looking. I thought I would go back to all wood product for the cost/life/looks. Then I read your post leaned your way and then looked at the review links.
Any reason I should not stay with the treated lumber in 2×6? (not 5/4 radius deck floor)
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I would look at Azek decking,i have done a couple of decks with this stuff and it looks awesome with the hidden fastener method. kinda spendy but well worth the money, the one deck i did looks like the day i put it in two years ago
We have a guy coming on monday that also uses and recommends AZEK- from the concensus here, maybe avoiding TREX would be a much smarter move… Ok, you guys made my mind up for me- now I’ll be strictly looking at PVC… Or aluminum… Dang, maybe it isn’t made up yet!!
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I aviod Trex unless a customer specificly requests (demands) it. Much better products on the market. We installed a few Timbertech XLM decks last year and really liked the product. Full PVC product, no mold issues. Blind screw method and they look awesome. Just did a 1 year inspection on one of them this week. Looks as good as the day I installed it.
Randy,
I’m getting ready to replace my deck of 34 years, Green treated by the orgional manufacture (Wolmin for a clue).
Here is what I found with a quick google on your perfered product.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/home-improvement/decking/decking-material-ratings/models/user-reviews/timbertech-xlm-plank-99020649.htm#readReviewPlease do not missunderstand, I’m just looking. I thought I would go back to all wood product for the cost/life/looks. Then I read your post leaned your way and then looked at the review links.
Any reason I should not stay with the treated lumber in 2×6? (not 5/4 radius deck floor)
Bit surprised by the white streaking? Something to definitely look into.
If treated meets your needs and achieves the look, go for it. Just crown the deck boards so the arch is up.
Denny, from my experience there isn’t a product yet that will hold up to weather well and for a long time, in other words close to bullet proof.
Take a look at what happened to vinyl and aluminum sideing. The manufacturers said you’d never have to paint your house again, I’ve painted several houses with aluminum sideing and they do make paint for vinyl sideing and it sun bleaches and does become brittle because it dries out.
Sun and U-V rays are the culprit in both, the vinyl sideing becomes brittle after time and the paint on aluminum sideing Oxydizes to the point where the aluminum shows through. The point it the distructive weather will age anything plus any product that is chemically close to PVC.
I do know the way they treat lumber today is a better formula then it was, plus paint and stains are much better then they were 20 to 25 tears ago too. I mix up my own treatment for treating wooden decks and I know its better then anything on the commercial market. I treated a deck and a fence two years befor the flood here a few years ago and seen what it looked like last year. The fence and deck were both under water for a week and when I seen it, it still looked decent and didn’t need to be treated again.
When maunfacturers say you’ll never have to do something again, wheres the proof. I want to see a 30 to 50 year proof and there isn’t any. So what I’m saying is check out what the products are made of, Just because its a new product doesn’t mean much unless its been around for quite a few years. Its fairly easy to treat a deck with a bug sprayer, a drop cloth or two and a brush to back brush with. If treated right and every few years a wooden deck will last for along time and you can easily do it yourself, all it takes is a saturday once every 3 years and they will last a long time.
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