post and cons -trex vs timbertech-

Now, before you decide between Azek or Trex, it’s best to have a good understanding of both brands along with all their pros and cons. When making your selection make sure and consider the purpose of the deck, your family’s needs, your local weather, and your overall budget. By doing this, you’ll ensure you buy the right decking for your personal needs. 

Composite decking is a man-made building product made of recycled wood fibers and/or recycled plastic. Because composite decking products are so durable and impervious to rot, they have a much longer lifespan than wood decking and require little to no maintenance. They don’t need the staining, sanding or sealing that wood decking does. Composite decking comes in a wide variety of colors and multiple sizes. 

Considering the many benefits of composite decking, such as lower maintenance and being resistant to mold and insects, composite decking is widely considered one of the most durable decking products on the market today. In addition to these advantages, new capped composite decking is also stain and fade resistant, which makes it even easier to clean with very high color retention. 

Maintaining your composite deck requires semi-annual cleaning. A simple wash with a garden hose and a mild household cleaner will do the trick. Capped composite decking is sealed, making it easier to clean if mold and mildew start to form on the surface. Since there are exposed wood fibers in uncapped composite decking, they can be susceptible to mold growth just like any outdoor porous surface. However, washing your deck periodically will help keep mold at bay. Installation of composite decking is the same as traditional wood decking with the added benefit of optional side grooves for hidden fasteners. Hidden fastener systems makes use of grooves built into the sides of decking boards for a smooth surface without any screws showing. Possibly best of all, composite decking has absolutely no splinters, twisting or warping. However, it’s important to note that you must follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation.

Trex is composed of 95% recycled material and is designed to look and feel like real wood. This recycled material includes things like ground up plastic, sawdust, and reclaimed wood. When compared to other kinds of composite or PVC decking, Trex has a much more natural look and feel. Everyone loves the natural look of wood but don’t want to deal with all the painting, staining and sealing. Wood decks of all types, including pressure-treated wood, ipe, cedar or redwood, require extensive upkeep. Trex was designed to have with the beauty of wood decking without all the maintenance. These high-performance, eco-friendly composite boards withstand years of sun, sleet and snow, keeping their rich color.

Each Trex board is designed to mimic the subtle imperfections found in real wood grain. Boards have additional colors added into the surface which enhances it’s natural appearance.

Its durable outer shell resists scratching which means that day to day things like pushing your chair out from under the table or letting your dog out onto the deck won’t damage the decking.

Finally, Trex is environmentally friendly. It’s made from 95% recycled materials, including recycled sawdust, and claims to be the most eco-friendly decking material on the market.

Trex comes in three different varieties, Trex Transcend Composite Decking is considered the premium option. Trex Enhance and Trex Select are also high performance composite decking models that are backed by the company’s warranty and come in a wide variety of colors.

If you look at the edge of a composite deck board you’ll see that it’s made up of two parts. The core or inside part and the thin outer shell as shown in the close up pic above. In industry terms that thin protective outer shell is called the cap. Also referred to as a deck boards capping. Think of it as the hard chocolate shell of an ice cream bar. Both companies have this protective outer shell which is a coating of durable material that resists mold, staining, scratches and fading. Capping significantly prolongs the life of composite decking in both Azek and Trex.

Durability of the cap is a major concern since that’s the area exposed to the blazing sun, frigid winter temperatures, staining, and potential scratches. All outdoor materials fade over time, and you can expect minor fading from both Trex and Azek within the first few years. After that, the color will remain fairly consistent throughout the life of the deck. And if excessive fading occurs it’s covered under both company’s warranty.

Although Trex and Azek are made of tough materials, they can still both be scratched. Both brands are among the most durable composite decking products on the market. Both resist scratching far better than common treated pine decking or other soft woods. In scratch tests both Trex and Azek perform comparably to an exotic hardwood like Ipe. However, scratches in real wood don’t show up as much and can be sanded, repaired or stained away.

One of the two does perform better in scratch tests and that brand is Trex.

When considering the durability of composite decking you have to look at more than just the cap. That just offers surface protection. It’s what’s on the inside that really counts. Trex has a core made of 95% recycled material which includes things like ground up plastic, sawdust, and reclaimed wood. Trex is a much more natural material than Azek. On the other hand, Azek is made of entirely PVC, which is not a natural material.

Plastics last much longer and resist many of the issues that can damage Trex’s natural core. It’s because of this resistance that Azek is the clear winner. Plastic can’t rot, be eaten by bugs, is more resistant to warping and impervious to a bunch of other things that can potentially damaged Trex.

 When it comes to a head to head price comparison, Trex wins this matchup of Trex vs Azek. Prices vary based on the model Trex or Azek you buy and where and when you buy it. But with an honest comparison of low end, mid grade and premium decking samples taken from both brands. Azek is more expensive to buy than Trex by about 20% – 30% on average. Installation, framing, railings and fastener costs are all exactly the same so we’re only comparing the decking cost here. 

From what we’ve seen with our own business and based on the product research we’ve done, Azek lasts longer and looks better over time than Trex does. This is due in part because of it’s plastic core. Being plastic makes it immune to some of the long term issues that Trex’s recycled core may have to deal with. While it is more expensive up front, because there’s less things that can damage it and it stays nicer for longer, we think Azek is the better long term value.

Keep in mind this is extremely close and Azek doesn’t win by much, they’re both fantastic composite decking products and we wouldn’t recommend picking a decking just because it may last a few years longer considering Trex comes with a 25 year warranty.

 Between Azek and Trex decking, Trex definitely resembles the look of wood much more than Azek. Now, that’s not to say that Azek doesn’t resemble wood too, but if a natural look is important to you, then Trex is definitely the way to go.

Azek has a more synthetic appearance because of what it’s made of but newer models get more and more natural looking as they improve the product. Trex on the other hand captures the elegance and richness found in real wood decking like few other brands can. And their constantly improving their products too, so newer models will look even better over time.

Both brands offer premium models with a wood grain and multi colored surface that gives it a more natural appearance but the winner for now is Trex.

 There’s nothing like the feel of real wood beneath your feet on a warm summer day. Since Trex is made from a mix of natural materials, it better captures the natural look and feel of wood than Azek, which is made of PVC. And best of all, Trex accomplishes without the risk of splinters while looking great and requiring no maintenance.

Both materials heat up from the sun but Azek gets a bit hotter. PVC doesn’t disperse heat as well as the natural materials in Trex so it gets hot which can be uncomfortable on your feet.

Both materials feel as soft in terms of bounce provided the framing is equal but in terms of texture Trex wins again. PVC has a sterile, cold feel where natural materials feel better on your bare feet. However if your wearing shoes you won’t notice a difference.

 When it comes to fade resistance, Azek wins this match up of Trex vs Azek. Keep in mind that Trex comes in a variety of models that resist fading to varying degrees. Cheaper Trex fades more than the premium options, but on average, Azek fades less overtime. However both brands due fade a shade or two lighter than how they look when brand new. 

Both brands cover excessive fading under their respective warranties.

This resistance to fading keeps Azek decks looking newer for longer which helps improve it’s long term value and for some, may make Azek worth the extra up front material costs.

 Although both Azek and Trex are weather resistant, Azek tends to be more resistant to moisture because it’s made of PVC, which doesn’t absorb water. However because it’s PVC, Azek expands and contracts more than Trex does, making it less resistant to temperature changes. This expansion and contraction over time can cause cracking and other issues with the boards. Make sure when you install Azek the boards are all tightly secured to cut down on these issues.

When considering resistance to harsh weather, the winner this match up of Trex vs Azek is Azek.

If you live in areas with hot summers and cold winters like here in NJ, you may want to choose Trex. Even though Trex expands and contracts with temperature changes too, it’s less of an issue. However with proper installation some of these issues can be reduced or eliminated.

On the flip side, if you live in a region with a lot of rain, then Azek may be the better choice as it doesn’t absorb water.

The reason we give the edge here to Azek is because water issues are much more serious than a cracked piece of decking. Azek issues will be primarily cosmetic. However if Trex starts to absorb water you could be dealing with all sorts of big problems which in extreme cases includes replacing all your decking.

 When it comes to fade resistance, Azek wins this match up of Trex vs Azek. Keep in mind that Trex comes in a variety of models that resist fading to varying degrees. Cheaper Trex fades more than the premium options, but on average, Azek fades less overtime. However both brands due fade a shade or two lighter than how they look when brand new. 

Both brands cover excessive fading under their respective warranties.

This resistance to fading keeps Azek decks looking newer for longer which helps improve it’s long term value and for some, may make Azek worth the extra up front material costs.

Although both Azek and Trex are weather resistant, Azek tends to be more resistant to moisture because it’s made of PVC, which doesn’t absorb water. However because it’s PVC, Azek expands and contracts more than Trex does, making it less resistant to temperature changes. This expansion and contraction over time can cause cracking and other issues with the boards. Make sure when you install Azek the boards are all tightly secured to cut down on these issues.  

When considering resistance to harsh weather, the winner this match up of Trex vs Azek is Azek.  

If you live in areas with hot summers and cold winters like here in NJ, you may want to choose Trex. Even though Trex expands and contracts with temperature changes too, it’s less of an issue. However with proper installation some of these issues can be reduced or eliminated.  

On the flip side, if you live in a region with a lot of rain, then Azek may be the better choice as it doesn’t absorb water.  The reason we give the edge here to Azek is because water issues are much more serious than a cracked piece of decking. Azek issues will be primarily cosmetic. However if Trex starts to absorb water you could be dealing with all sorts of big problems which in extreme cases includes replacing all your decking.

A slippery deck is extremely dangerous and can lead to a serious accident, especially if your deck is around a pool or hot tub. Trex boards with a wood grain surface is a much better choice than Azek boards. While both Trex and Azek are offered with a wood grain surface, the material Trex is made of is less slippery than Azek’s PVC.  Anyone who’s owned an Azek deck will tell you it gets very slippery when wet. Not too mention it does poorly in winter and is prone to icing. When we build Azek decks in winter we always take special care to look over the entire deck for ice each morning to avoid falls. We check with Trex too just to be on the safe side but it’s much less of an issue.

When comparing premium grade Trex models to Azek in terms of stain resistance, both brands perform about the same. They both have a protective shell that’s specifically designed to resist common stains if cleaned quickly. If spills are allowed to sit for a while then both materials will stain and removing that stain will be just as hard no matter which brand you go with. However, this all changes when comparing cheaper models of Trex to Azek.  

Cheaper models of Trex perform really bad in a stain test. Almost anything permanently stains it including something as simple as foot prints. And don’t ever drop anything greasy on the deck, it’s totally impossible to get out. You have to replace the entire deck board or cut out the stained area. This is mainly true of older model’s that didn’t have as good a shell coating or no shell at all. However it still has to be mentioned since these models are still available to buy new in lumber yards all over the state and some of you may be considering using them.

If you’re trying to live a more environmental friendly life and want to use green building materials, then Trex is definitely the composite material for you.

Trex eco friendly composite decking is made from an innovative blend of 95% recycled wood and plastic film. On top of that, Trex uses some of the most earth friendly manufacturing processes in the country, reclaiming factory waste and eliminating the use of harmful chemicals. Trex offers consumers a truly environmentally responsible choice. When you invest in a Trex deck, you can feel good that you’re using the greenest composite decking on the market.  

Trex claims they have never cut down a single tree manufacturing any of their composite decking products.

 A 25-year fade and stain warranty covers all models of Trex decking. Azek, which owned by Timbertech offers a basically identical warranty however their fade and stain warranty is good for 30-years. Both offer limited warranties that cover material defects, splinters and rot on all of their capped decking products.  

You can read the updated warranty on each manufacturer’s website as they are subject to change. We’re up to date with both of them and for the most part both warranties are very good and are essentially identical.  

When a customer does take advantage of their warranty, both companies will either replace the damaged boards or refund a portion of the money for the defected items. However this doesn’t include the cost of initial installation.

Trex Warranty Coverage

• 1 to 10 years old: 100% 
• 11 to 13 years old: 80% 
• 14 to 16 years old: 60% 
• 17 to 19 years old: 40% 
• 20 to 22 years old: 20% 
• 23 to 25 years old: 10%

Timbertech Warranty Coverage

• 1 to 10 years old: 100% 
• 11 to 12 years old: 90% 
• 13 to 14 years old: 80% 
• 15 to 16 years old: 70% 
• 17 to 18 years old: 60% 
• 19 to 20 years old: 50% 
• 21 to 22 years old: 40% 
• 23 to 24 years old: 30% 
• 25 to 26 years old: 20% 
• 27 to 30 years old: 10%

Yes. But in our experience it’s sometimes not an easy process and at times they’ll use every excuse in the book not to pay up. If you have a warranty claim that’s not an obvious defect then they’ll fight the claim. They don’t want to pay if they don’t have to. It’s like working with any insurance company, you have to prove your claim. They don’t just write you a check because you ask for one.  

Of course if you have a legitimate claim, and can prove it, they’ll pay you what’s owed. Just be prepared for a battle to get your money. And keep in mind it gets harder to prove the longer the decking has been installed. It’ll be easy to get a claim paid if the decking was recently installed but much harder if it’s 15 years old.  

Make sure you don’t do anything to void the warranty. That’s a big one. If you haven’t cleaned it properly. Or worst of all, haven’t installed it properly, they generally won’t honor the warranty.

When comparing Trex vs Azek, there are Pros and Cons to both materials. Azek is quite a bit more expensive due to how it’s made but it’s a great long term value that’s more durable than Trex. However, premium grade Trex isn’t cheap, it’s also very durable but has a more natural look and feel than Azek. On the other hand, Azek is more resistant to fading while Trex is much more environmental friendly, and the back and forth goes on.  

Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference as both companies make great composite decking products. Trex vs Azek is an ongoing, ever changing discussion, as each company continues to innovate, improve and reinvent their product lines.

If you have any questions or comments e-mail us (info@cnhrestoration.com) any time. We’d love to hear from you.