Initially, I wrote this article about 7 years ago and I revise it every year to include the latest products.

After 25 years of installing new and removing old decks, I have observed almost every deck product and method used to construct decks.

At No Maintenance Decking & Trim we have done the home work for you! We have looked at all of the products on the market. Some have very good features and others are not much different than all of the rest. We have considered many factors such as cost, warranty, maintenance, durability, product integrity, concealed fasteners as well as having the entire deck built out of the same product (visible parts) and the over all “look” of the deck. I rate these decking products using a scale from 1 to 10: 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest.

If you are in the market for a deck, look at all of the alternatives and consider everything. If you plan to own your home for more three years or just want the best value for your deck, then please read on. Please take note that a product that maybe great for the majority of customers may not be as good of a fit for you.

In recent years, homeowners have come to realize that wood decks will be cheaper than a wood composite or a plastic deck. If you just want a deck and don’t care what it looks like, then build a wood deck and let it crack, check and enjoy the splinters. If you desire to have a beautiful deck and don’t what to spend any time on it after it is completed except for periodic cleaning, then an all-plastic product may be right for you. Keep in mind that the maintenance of the wood deck plus the initial outlay will cost more than the difference between the up-front cost of the plastic deck. See Table 1

As a decking distributor, builder and retailer, we offer the public the best products at the best price. This concept works because we believe in the products that we sell. I don’t see any reason to sell a product that has inherent problems just because it costs less. The minor price difference in relation to the benefits over time, is money in the bank. For 2008, the alternative decking manufactures have realized that all-plastic decking is much better than products that are made with wood and plastic. As I’ve been saying for many years, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link and the weak link in wood composites is the wood!

For instance, pricing; when we purchase a car, we don’t buy the cheapest thing on 4 wheels. We look at characteristics such as safety, gas mileage, size, style, maintenance, comfort and other amenities. We also consider that we will only have this vehicle for about 4 years. As an independent plastic lumber retailer, I can sell virtually any decking product that is currently available.

All things considered, I have chosen three decking products to carry: Azek, Trex and Tandeck. We sell Trex because they have been making alternative decking for many years and will always be the top seller. Trex has weathered all problems that come with any new product. They have listened to their customers and their new product line is proof of that. Trex has great marketing and brand recognition; it is the envy of all decking manufacturers. In 2008, The Trex Company introduced Escapes decking. This all PVC product is made in three very rich colors and is similar to Azek Decking formally called Procell. We carry the aforementioned Azek decking; this PVC product is probably the flagship decking sold in the USA today. We also carry the Tandeck Decking system which is lesser known and made with high density polyethylene which is a superior plastic for building products. Tandeck boasts 6 colors of decking along with matching railing in 2 styles. Tandeck also has a beautiful stair tread along with multiple profiles that can provide a sophisticated look.

The next question you’ll have is “what should I buy”? One way is to look at the history and the composition of the product. If you see a product like Correct Deck that has a “new and improved” product every year, than that tells you they’ve had so many problems they had to change the way they manufacture it. I have seen products come and go, and the one thing they have in common is wood or sawdust as filler. We now know that the weak link is the wood. The all-plastic decking is certainly the wisest choice but all plastics are not created equal.

Let me spend a minute talking about different types of plastic. In the decking industry we’re using four types: Poly Vinyl Chloride PVC), Polystyrene (PS), or Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE). These plastics have different characteristics that are better in some applications and detrimental in others.

Stiffness - All residential decking products are tested to hold 60 pounds/square foot and all manufactures must adhere to that engineering code. PP and PS are stiffer but fail miserably in fade testing. PVC and PE are less stiff as opposed to the others but still pass all testing,

Fading; in our testing PE doesn’t fade at all and has the ability to be made into more appealing rich colors. PVC will fade a very small amount in 10 years and is produced in lighter almost pre faded colors.

Longevity; PE building products have been around for many years, it is a little more susceptible to expansion and contraction due to temperature fluctuations but will look better longer. You don’t have to look any further than the length of warranty PE decking warranties are twice as long as that of PVC decking.

We will speak about these individual products further on in this article. PVC and PE, the plastics in Trex Escapes, Azek and in Tandeck, are very durable, colorfast and resistant to chemical staining. The price of PVC & PE has risen over recent years for a few reasons; the price of oil and natural gas and the most important one is that the world has realized that PE in particular is a better plastic for use outside in the harsh elements. PVC and PS decking look great when they are new. PS decking (EON) looks better than PE decking when it is new, but in one year the PE decking will still look the same and PS decking will have lost that nice shine. I would hope that you will want your deck to look as good in ten years as it was the day it was installed.

At No Maintenance Decking and Trim we feel that a six-inch piece (a sample) of most decking looks pretty good but a two-year old deck is the proof! At No Maintenance Decking and Trim we have 1500 square feet of decking set up outside, yes, outside in the elements, so that you can visualize your decking will look like over time. Some of the displays have been outside in the harsh elements for up to 8 years. Every year we go to the Deck Expo. We see beautiful decks constructed with great carpentry skills. The problem is that if you put these decks outside for 6 months, they will look terrible! We welcome everyone to come and look at the set of stairs we’ve set up at our outside show room and challenge them to show me a better looking decking product.

Concealed Fasteners

After many years of selling and installing alternative decking products, we have noted that customers with a discriminating eye prefer decking with a concealed fastening system (no unsightly screws on the top of the deck board). Most alternative products are not set up for this system and need to be altered to accommodate the fasteners. There are two widely used types of after-market systems; Eb-tys and Tigerclaw deck fasteners. There are a few others but they cost about the same. Both fastener systems take a considerable amount of time to apply but the result is a very clean look! The retail price of these products adds approximately $1.45 per square foot. Factoring in the extra labor costs will add to the price of the deck.

The Tandeck Decking is made with a groove to accommodate their clip system. The Tandeck clip has a retail cost of 63¢ per square foot and it takes less time to apply to the decking than using two screws per joist as you would apply to standard decking. This price difference will make the Tandeck Decking cost about the same as a quality wood composite with concealed fasteners.

Does Plastic Decking get Hot?

This question comes up all the time and it shouldn’t! A common perception is that plastic decking is hotter than wood decking. This question is usually asked in the summer months and it’s always accompanied by “I have a friend who has a composite deck and it gets very hot”. When someone asks me this question I have them put their hand on white Tandeck decking. When they do so they say, “It feels cold”. Then I say “if plastic is hot, than the white decking should be hot as well. Since it’s not hot, it’s not the plastic that’s hot but the color that affects the temperature”. This is just common sense. I own two SUVs one black and one white. When it 95°, the black one is much more difficult to keep cool. Many years ago, I had a wood deck at my house and one year I stained it a dark gray and it was very hot! The next year I stained it a medium gray and it was much cooler. I asked this question to a decking supply company in Florida and they came back with a great comment. They told me that in Florida it’s very hot and people know and understand that everything is hot when its 100°. We can conclude that dark colors absorb sun light (hotter to the touch) and light colors reflect sun light (cooler to the touch). People like rich deep colors, which is fine and lighter colors need more frequent cleaning. Therein lays the trade off with heat and cleaning.

DECK BUILDING PRODUCTS

Wood

Until the early 1990s, wood was the only product used to build a deck. There are many types of wood and I will try to cover most of them. The first decks that I encountered were originally built out of whatever was left over from the frame of the house, usually Douglas fir or Spruce. These decks were stained or painted every 1 or 2 years and lasted anywhere from 7—15 years depending on the care given and its proximity to the sun. Replacement decks were built to look better and last longer. In the early eighties, we began to use Pressure Treated wood (wood treated with the chemical, Copper Chromium Arsenic, which was banned by the EPA for residential use in January, 2004). We used it only on the frame and on high-end homes because its cost was about three times that of conventional wood. As the cost came down and more profiles were introduced, we began using it for the entire deck.

Pressure Treated Wood

Pressure Treated ACQ (Ammonia-cal Copper Quaternary, CCA’S replacement) is acceptable if you’re looking for “just a deck”. If you don’t care what it looks like, this will be the best deck product for the money. Water will not damage it but if the deck is in the sun, it will dry it out until the areas exposed to the sun disintegrates. If you have a pressure treated deck, you may be able to make it look better by painting, pressure washing, sanding, caulking & staining with a solid body stain. This will have to be done every year, but it will at least look good. Building the frame out of Pressure Treated wood is fine, because it is not in the direct sunlight. ACQ has great strength but only time will tell for the ACQ treatment process.

Rating 3—if you plan to have the deck more than 3 years, buy a different product.

Cedar, Mahogany & Redwood

These decks always look great for the first couple of months after they‘re installed, but before long they will require some kind of maintenance. Depending on how you take care of the deck and the frequency of this maintenance, will directly relate to its looks and length of life.

Cedar

Cedar is very soft and needs a lot of maintenance but will look good for its short 6—10 year life. This product maybe the most expensive deck (per year) to own.

Rating 3 — looks good when it’s installed but requires costly, annual maintenance in order to extend the life of the deck. If you have a cedar house, this deck will look great with a transparent cedar stain applied every year.

Redwood

These decks have a natural beauty but required a lot of maintenance to keep it looking good. Redwood may have a longer life in a dryer, western climate. A few years ago, I dismantled a 16-year old Redwood deck. It was an ugly, dark brown but there was no rot at all! Yearly staining with a solid body stain would have extended the life of this deck at least another 10+ years.

The owners had vinyl siding applied to their house and opted for a deck that matched the house.

Rating 5 — If an entire deck package is offered, take it and it will look good. Redwood requires a lot of maintenance.

Mahogany/Vertical Grain Fir

Deck-grade mahogany from Malaysia and Indonesia or vertical grain Fir from the United States is harder than Cedar and will last up to 20 years. For homes that are in the woods or that have a wood motif, this is the right product to attain this look. Costly annual maintenance is the down side.

Rating 5 —lasts longer than Cedar.

Teak and other Hardwoods

There are many varieties of South American Hardwood. Teak (Ipe, Ironwood etc.) is best known for its use with furniture and ship decks. They have a very high upfront cost and require maintenance; they look great and last a very long time. This decking may be reasonably priced (3 times that of treated wood). I visited a distributor of alternative decking in Florida and I surveyed all of the various products that were displayed outside. They had a few types of hardwood displayed nicely in the sun. They were installed just 2½ years ago and looked terrible! Every type of hardwood was terribly cracked. This changed my outlook on hardwoods. Remember that it was in the hot Florida sun, but it looked dried out. I was shocked! In the July/August 2005 Deck Builder Magazine, I read an article about a marina in South Carolina. They were proudly showing off their dock which looked great! But further along I read that they will be treating it with Penofin four times a year. While the dock is new, they will spend the money to keep it looking good, but in a few years they’ll tire of the cost it takes to maintain it. The dock will begin to look tired and worn out. The finishing components (rails, fascia & trim) are very expensive.

Rating 8— Highest cost of all the deck products tested and will need costly maintenance.

In the late eighties, we noticed that Pressure Treated wood wasn’t susceptible to water damage but it would dry out and crack leaving the worst splinters that any bare–footed person could imagine. Pressure Treated wood, due to its wet-treatment process, swelled up in both its length and width so it would shrink and crack when it dried. In my dealings with homeowners, I flatly stated that to keep the deck looking good, a solid body stain would need to be applied every year. In ten short years we were back to the maintenance game! In the early nineties, we were introduced to plastics used in decking. As with any new product, people were interested and I built quite a few decks with a composite called Trex. Soon after, I was asked to be a consultant to a new company on Long Island New York that sold 100% recycled plastic decking. I could see that we had two similar yet very different schools of thought:

Wood Composites

When wood breaks down after a few years, the decking may become rough and flaky. The plastic will stay in place but the wood will disintegrate. Wood is a cellulose material that absorbs water & bacteria. The bacterium feeds on the wood to produce the mold that you see on many of the popular composite deck products. Most consumers don’t realize that mold is a microscopic organism that produces enzymes to digest organic matter to produce spores. In nature, mold plays a key role in the decomposition of plant debris and wood. However mold presents a problem on the surface of the wood or composite decking, resulting in substantial damage over a long period of time. Mold on the other hand, can’t eat Polyethylene or PVC and can easily be removed with a brush and cleaner or often times a good hard rain. The wood doesn’t hold the color for very long, so fading is also an issue. Another important issue, not widely known, is that you shouldn’t use wood composites under 18” above the ground unless your deck it is fully ventilated. You will find this written in very small print in the way back of the product information guide. These small words will be used to deny all claims when the product fails, which it will sooner or later. Check out this two year old Timbertech deck. Notice the inconsistent fading and as you might imagine, the warranty claim was denied.

The wood will absorb moisture and puffs up like oatmeal does in water. Naturally, higher quality wood composites like Trex will hold up much better than the cheaper products. Other composite deck products which possess different characteristics will be reviewed later on.

Trex

It is far and away, the best selling and most widely known plastic decking product on the market. The marketing and brand recognition is second to none. They have made tremendous improvements to the core decking, along with adding three new decking profiles and a lower and a higher price point to their decking line. In 2007, Trex introduced Contours, a bold, dramatic grain pattern at a price point that provides an exceptional value, about $2.00 per linear foot. Also in 2007, The Trex Designer Series Railing system was introduced. It looks great and has exceptional strength. In 2007, they introduced a post sleeve to slide over an existing 4 X 4. The Trex Artisan product line of railing is a winner that was well thought out and tested before it was introduced in 2005. Their newest decking, introduced in 2008, Trex Escapes is very similar to Azek decking (formally Procell Decking). Trex Escapes is made in three very deep rich colors. The product is very nice and should sell quite well.

We must remember that Trex composite decking will fade, stain and it will get moldy from the inside because of the wood in the mix. To their credit, the colors that they sell are designed to fade to a more desirable color. This is very important! Products like Timbertech start with a fair color and in 6 months you will be kicking yourself when you see how terrible it looks. The matching Trex railing looks great, has outstanding strength and complements the decking quite well. Here are some of the issues that Trex has:

1. Fades slightly and not evenly. Areas exposed to the sun will fade at a different rate than those in the shade.
2. Spills, such as juice, coffee, barbeque sauce, wine, potato chips and even pool water will stain it permanently. If you have children, you know how easily that can and will happen. Think of a light colored carpet that you can never clean.
3. Trex is not made to accommodate a hidden fastening system. It must be screwed through the top of the deck board. There are methods to conceal the fastening but its expensive and time consuming.
4. Mold and mildew is an issue. In the product brochure, they suggest using a deck cleaner to remove the mold. I tried it and it worked quite well. The cleaner was easy to use and took off the mold. The person applying it must be careful not to miss any areas of the decking, fascia and railing. Similar to a poorly washed black car, if you miss any spots, you’ll see them all.

Trex has come a long way. Many people believe in buying a well known, well established product, which is fully understandable. I like the new Trex, but after 25 years in the decking business, I believe that the 10 - 20% difference in price, composite vs. all plastic is well worth paying the extra money. It takes a lot to change my mind and Trex did it! The Artisan Railing is impressive, and the Escapes decking will be their best seller, not only in their design, but the “look” is great!

Rating 7— it is the best composite decking. They have come a long way. The Escapes I will rate a 9 but there is no matching trim or railing yet.

Evergrain

This is a fair quality, composite decking. People love the wood grain. It is molded not extruded; they must add a coating in the mold before pouring in the mix. I’ve had some Evergrain on a our display deck for a few years and it looks very good.

1. It stains and fades more than Trex.
2. Evergrain has a ½ X 11 ¾ wide skirt board to use as trim. This is a big plus! This board can be used around the frame as fascia and for stair risers to cover the stair stringers.
3. The wood grain may show wear in high traffic areas after a few years.
4. They have raised their very limited warranty to 25 years.
5. Evergrain must be nailed or screwed through the top of the deck board. As I mentioned previously, there are methods to conceal the fastening, but it’s expensive and a lot of work.
6. The railing system is not visually appealing and is very expensive.

Rating 5— it’s a fair product. Trex Accents is superior.

Timbertech

This product is now marketed to go head-to-head with the big box low price point decking. They have a complete decking system which includes railing and fascia for a skirt board. This product fades faster than any product I have ever seen! This advertising brochure shows a beautiful deck.

It may be one of the most beautiful decks that I have ever seen. They have been using this photo for years and I would love to see this deck now in real life! I don’t think that they would be so proud to show it off now after several years of wear. Timbertech is sold based on price and not on performance. The decking may be cheap but the railing is not.

1. It looks bad even when it’s new. The grey decking is almost purple. If you run your hand over it, you will feel a very porous surface and anything will stain it. I’ve been told that they plane it (take off the top layer). This will leave wood on the top therefore, more susceptible to staining
2. Timbertech has a fair trim and rail system. The railing is very expensive.
3. They raised their very limited warranty to 25 years. They do not warranty it to look good.
4. They are setting a record for denied warranty claims.

Rating 4 —the fading and staining is the down side, you may as well use wood

Choice Deck, Veranda

This is the composite decking sold at Home Depot and Lowes. It is a good, cheap wood composite decking with only one color in stock. If you can’t tell the difference between Choice Deck, Veranda and a premium deck board, than by all means, buy it!

1. They only offer 8’, 12’ and 16’ lengths, so if your deck is longer than 16’ you will have seams.
2. These products must be nailed or screwed thru the top of the deck board. Again, there are methods to conceal the fastening, but it’s expensive and a lot of work.
3. The railing systems are not very good.

Rating 5—it costs less than all most wood composites and it doesn’t splinter.

EON

The manufacturers of Eon claim that it is “The BEST in Alternative Decking”. This product is made from polystyrene; it’s not a good plastic for outdoor use. This is a great looking product when it is new. Their mahogany color decking is gorgeous, but in a few months it will look very dull.

1. Polystyrene is stiffer than polyethylene, and is not colorfast. It will fade quickly.
2. It has a hollow sound and feel when you walk on it.
3. Very expensive.
4. Stains very easily. On the Eon web site, they have a laundry list of products that you should not use to clean it with and they also say that pool chemicals will stain it.
5. We have it on a test deck. We applied paint and tried to clean it off but the decking melted!

Rating 5 - Looks great when it is new. It may look good for a few years.

Correct Deck

Correct Deck claims to be a premium, higher quality, longer lasting deck product. This makes me shake my head and say “why”? They change the formula every year. In the April 2005 Deck Builder magazine, I read that they put a new additive in it that will keep it from fading and prevent mold. I went to a local specialty decking retailer and bought a few 16’ pieces and screwed it down. In 5 months, it was a pale pink color with green mold all over it. This is the worst product I have ever seen! Of course, they had a new improved formula for 2006. It also looked terrible. I know a large deck builder that has been burned so often by Correct Deck that he will not even say the name.

1. It has a 25-year warranty.
2. Concealed fastening system yielding a clean look.
3. Its finish is more of an orange peel than a wood grain.
4. This is the worst product I have ever seen!
5. We have some deck boards on our “test deck” that is cracked around the screws. Come take a look.

Rating -10 yes, minus 10! If you get sucked into buying this product, you will buy anything!

100% Plastic Decking Products

Azek Decking, formally Procell

This is a excellent decking product which is made from poly vinyl chloride (PVC). Azek has a natural wood look. Its so good that we sell it.

1. The colors are very pale, almost pre-faded.
2. Azek must be screwed through the top of the deck as per their installation guide.
3. Azek offers a deck board and a fascia board but does not offer a matching railing. Their web site calls it a decking system, but just offering a deck board doesn’t make a decking system.
4. Expensive -- it maybe 10 -20% more than other premium decking.

Rating 9 - if you like to look at screws, it’s alright.

Tandeck Decking System

This is the product that I believe is the best value in decking you can buy! There are a few minor players that make polyethylene products besides Tangent Technologies of Aurora, Illinois. Tandeck is made with Polyethylene (PE). To demonstrate just how colorfast it is, I have a piece of decking which was installed in 1992 and we checked out the deck in February 2006. This deck looks so good that we are replacing it for the customer just to get the samples in order to show the world that it hasn’t faded at all. I have a piece of this 13 year old decking in my office and pieces of it will be in all retailer location that carry the product. The Tandeck decking system is so much better than the rest! Check it out yourself! You will need to see a completed deck of any of the composite or PVC decking systems and then take a look at the Tandeck Decking system. It is obvious—whether you have vinyl siding, brick or stucco, there is a color and style that coordinates with your home. For product information see www.tandeck.com.

1. Tandeck has six non-fading colors. Ultraviolet inhibitors are added to minimize fading which is less than1% over 10 years.
2. Stain resistant—virtually any stain will come off including permanent marker.
3. Not Slippery—The wood grain will grip your shoe or bare feet. It’s great around pools!
4. Concealed fastening system—no ugly screws on the top of the decking or the need to buy an after market fastener.
5. Matching rail system—strong, durable, sophisticated, hi-end rails that match the deck color.
6. Without question, using the Tandeck Deck stair and all the railing accessories, it makes the most stunning & elegant staircase that I have ever seen!
7. A 50-year warranty

I get a lot of feed back on Tandeck. I’m asked if there are any negatives with it. Since I like to be objective with all products, I will list them:

1. Expansion and contraction: This can be a problem if you do not read the installation guide.
2. Static electricity: This is a naturally occurring phenomenon similar to walking across a carpet in dry weather. High humidity reduces the problem. Low humidity conditions (less than 50% relative humidity) will add to the static build up. High humidity conditions take away the static. This condition will subside over time and eventually be non-existent. Years ago I built a large deck for a chemist and he remarked that when a low humidity condition is present, as in April, May and October, there is static build-up. The chemist, being a practical man, said that: 1) he put down a rubber welcome mat which absorbed the static and 2) it’s still better than staining, fading and mildew that his old wood composite deck had.

Rating 9 – Great product,

If you don’t see a particular brand of decking mentioned in this article, check out what’s in it made out of. If the decking is made out of wood it will perform like all of the rest We’ve provided you with the only straight talk about decks you’ll ever read so now when you see the characteristics of similar products, you will be educated to make the right choice for you.