What brand of composite decking is best?

3 years ago

I’ve been doing research on different composite decking, and it’s very hard to pick. We have Trex, TimberTech, Azek, Fiberon. Recently I heard about Newtechwood...but it’s made in China. Anyone heard of or have good experience with NewTechWood?

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PRO

HALLETT & Co.

3 years ago

All the synthetics hold heat but they wear like iron. Mine is azek ‘dark hickory’ and I love it. Couldn’t make me do wood.

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Comments (11)

Angel 18432
3 years ago
Haven't researched New Tech Wood, but when investigating other brands comments

were it gets very hot, very slippery and that pressure treated is the way to go.

Who would have thought !
nhbaskets
3 years ago
We just had our deck redone with Azek. It does get hot so we’ve put an outdoor carpet down.
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Not speaking for pressurepros, but I think his comment was more approving of this statement rather than the whole post: "You should plan on a good cleaning EVERY year, no matter what material you use. For perspective, how often do you wash your car?" Composite is by far NOT the only way to go. Many folks here have IPE or (real) mahogany in harsh environments with great results. I spend 2-3 hours a year maintaining my mahogany deck, that's all. That's no more than I would spend with composite, that's for sure. Composites, in my opinion, are a distinctly personal decision like between a MAC or PC. Wood or composites have their respective pros and cons, but in the end, some don't mind the downsides of composites. Regardless, I think we will all universally agree that there is no such thing as a "no maintenance" composite. Also, coupled with the fact that most composite companies (or their products) haven't been around long enough to know how they'll be holding up in 10, 5, or even 2 years, you'll see a somewhat anti-composite bias on this board.
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I built quite a few decks years ago, starting back in 2007. Up here in Canada, composite was just starting out with just a few brands back then. Since then, many of the cheaper brands are gone....ended up being crappy products. Even the biggest name Trex had huge issues and class action on inferior product. However they resolved those issues especially innthe higher end product line Trancends. I am currently installing a large deck using moistureshield, their visions line ( higher end). Some of the colours in that line have what they call cool tech technology on the boards to reduce the temperature as composite gets much hotter in the sun than wood. I do not know how it works, but I do know I tested it last summer on some 34c days, and it was cooler tomthe touch than other brands (including trex trancends). I did not find that it was 35% cooler as they say, but it was cooler. I took readings with an infra red thermometer to see the difference as well. Whatever line you go with, make sure its a company that has been doing it for a long time, not some companyn that just started up. Don't chase price as in the cheapest line...more then likely you wont be as happy with the lower lines. Also the better lines are whats called capstock, they are wrapped at least on top side (sometimes 3 or 4 sides) in a thicker plastic coating whichnthe old composite did not have. Most importantly, make sure it is installed as per manufactures instructions..do not take short cuts. And remember composite is not maintenance free....people keep calling it that, but there is some maintenance to it....keeping it clean and cleaning up spills properly. It is still much less maintenance then wood, but its not maintenance free.....more like "low" maintenance. Good luck with your project.
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S M
3 years ago
Shoot, thanks for this comment! Do you remember which style of Azek you used? Was it Azek vintage? What color did you use? This is so disappointing :(
HU-75440551
3 years ago
We just put in TimberTech (driftwood) and I love it. The deck gets direct afternoon sun and it doesn’t get too hot — definitely not any worse than the deteriorating redwood it replaced.
S M
3 years ago
I’m trying to decide between timbertech pro legacy in tigerwood or timbertech azek vintage in weathered teak. I have samples of both. The vintage weathered teak is my favorite and by far the most expensive. At around 900 sq ft, materials alone will cost nearly $10k.

If I’m going to spend this much on a deck I want to make sure my kids and I can walk on it barefoot. I’m in So Cal and the summers get HOT.

Since the temps are currently in the mid 70s, what’s the best way to do a heat test on these samples?
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
3 years ago
I will say the texture on the azek is great- not fake wood grain just evenly brushed. Completely non slip even when wet. Their website is terrible- colors are totally wrong. We have dark hickory which on the website is almost chocolate brown yet in reality it’s a medium grey. Always get real samples! Regarding temperature, put a sample of each out in the sunlight for an hour and take their temperature- not the same as when it’s 100o but you will see which absorbs more heat.
Philip Wang
3 years ago
We got Azek Vintage Collection in Mahogany installed for our deck and boardwalk. The color and texture are beautiful. Mahagony resembles red mangaris. We were considering Cypress and Mahogany in the Vintage collection but decided for Mahogany since it's a safer color to choose. It turned out to be a great choice.
HU-653819625
3 years ago
Deckorators Decking
HU-621094479
2 years ago
I have done quite a few decks, with differant products. Some good, some I have found out to be crap.

Whatever you go with, make sure its a good company, that they have been in the composite business many years so they have already gone through the issues. For the happiest results, stay away from the cheap lines. Every manufacturer has a cheap line so they can get sales at all price points.

Personally I would shy away from cheap stuff from China.

If you go Trex, do the transcends line. Most of the main competitors carry a good, better, best line. Make sure you are sticking with the higher quality lines when comparing.

All composites get hotter than wod in the sun. In hot weather and diect sun, some are unbearable to walk on. I am currently doing a 27x20 deck (my own), and I am using miosture shield-vision line. They have some colours in that line that have what they call cool tech technology. They say it is suposed to be cooler by up to 35%. I do not know about that, but last summer I did my own testing on a bunch of composites (trex transcends included). The moistureshield cool tech was definatley cooler tomthe touch by far, also the infra red thermometer measured it the coolest by far as well. I wrote the results down and even did a very ameturish video (would have to find it).

The better composites now are called capstock, that means they are capped (3 or 4 sides) in a heavier pvc style capping whichnis supposed to be better than non capped.

Some scratch easier, some fade more. Some resist moisture damage more. Some are much more slippery than others, especially when wet. For me, moisture shield visions line checked the most boxes, and have been around probably the longest or close to it. Apparently they are even approved to be in water and in dirt.....most composites will fold in hat scenario.

Bottom line, don't shop by price first. Shop for:

Company track record and longevity, quality product (dont get the lower end line)

Most importantly install it 100% directly to manufactures instructions (not necessarily to what the store or sales guy says). If there ever is a claim, if it is not installed properly...your basically done.

Good luck with your project.
H D
last year
SM curious which color you ended up choosing? I am loving the Weathered Teak and it has good ratings for slip and stain resistance. Would love to hear experiences and any photos!

What brand of composite decking is best?

HALLETT & Co.

Comments (11)

Angel 18432

nhbaskets

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