Trex / Composite Decking?

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

Tell me what you think of composite decking, and the pros / cons. Concerns include: looking good, traction, and easier maintenance? I saw a Trex deck about 10 years ago and thought it looked super fake, but maybe it has improved it since then. The fakeness was because there were no color variations, so it looked like wood painted opaque brown. Maybe the newer styles with color variations look better?

This is for a front porch & steps. I'm tempted to get real wood, but it gets TONS of pine needles, pollen, sap, etc and has to be cleaned often. This is in Seattle, so consider 3 seasons of rain. In the winter there's a small amount of snow scraping, damaging rock salt, etc. I understand composite could withstand all of that abuse better and require less maintenance. I worry that with real wood, I'll be touching up stain and sealer way too often.

So... is composite decking worth it? Tell me your opinions. Include brands / types if you can.

Trex Select (in Tiki Torch) is the first product I got a quote for. Looks great in photos but I need people's opinions!

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PRO

AdvantageLumber.com

3 years ago

Second what BeverlyFLADeziner said. Everything you say you want from a composite product you get from real ipe wood for a comparable price, and ipe has a better long-term track record.

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Comments (8)

PRO
HALLETT & Co.
3 years ago
Look at azek- I just put in ‘natural hickory’ and it doesn’t have that fake grain- it has an almost brushed surface. I think it’s trying to look like ipe. Very non slip even when wet.
User thanked HALLETT & Co.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
3 years ago
Or consider IPE wood instead
User thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
I would agree IPE easy to care for and real.
User thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
3 years ago
I love IPE, but you have to have realistic expectations. It doesn't look like the magazine photos except the day of install unless you are religious about keeping it oiled. Or let it go grey which is gorgeous but not what some people expect... Unfortunately most people (myself included) want once and done, especially from a big deck. My last house we used IPE for the front steps (15 of them...) and the stoop and it was gorgeous, faded to that pretty driftwood color which blended with my grey siding.
User thanked HALLETT & Co.
User
Original Author
3 years ago
IPE does look really beautiful in the pics! but the fading and maintenance concerns me. and seems like it has sustainability concerns when it comes to sourcing. composite wood is a great use of recycled plastics and wood leftovers, so that's a big pro on my list.

would still love to hear from people about their own experiences with composite decking.
PRO
AdvantageLumber.com
3 years ago
Based on where you are, I'd guess you'd only have to oil the ipe once a year to keep the color. Honestly, the bigger maintenance headache by far will be cleaning the sap, pine needles, etc., which you'll have to do no matter what material you use.

Composite decking is certainly not maintenance-free: https://thecraftsmanblog.com/the-problems-with-composite-decking/

You do have to be careful choosing a good ipe supplier with reputable sources. But as long as you have that, real wood decking is actually better for the environment: https://blog.advantagelumber.com/2014/01/02/the-environment-and-your-decking/

But composite decking may not be as eco-friendly as you think: http://www.compositedeckingreviews.org/blog/2014/01/composite-decking-is-not-eco-friendly/

You definitely need to watch out when it comes to composite decking. Some projects turn out fine. Others...not so much. Composite manufacturers have a history of making bold claims that don't hold up in the real world, then finding creative ways to dodge their warranties.
User
Original Author
3 years ago
thanks! I do get worried about greenwashing when it comes to making purchases, so this is worth looking into. my rationale was based on the fact that recycled plastic is not actually used in a lot of things, so I thought decking was a good way to use this resource. but of course manufacturing practices need to be considered too. you've given me a lot to consider!