The advent of composite decking materials by Trex was revolutionary only a little more than a decade ago. The quality and choices are vast now, sometimes causing confusion over what product is best for your situation. Here’s some basic information about the three basic types of composite materials to help you sort out the details.
Standard composite decking like the original Trex is made from a mixture of plastic, sawdust and a binder to hold the components together. The recipe varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. They are typically the least expensive of the choices out there, especially the ones that use wood materials as the binding ingredient. They also don’t hold up as well, tending to scratch and hold stains more readily than other materials, and also weaken more quickly.
Cellular PVC decking is solid to the core and typically is finished to resemble real wood. They are very low maintenance and higher in price than other choices. They also tend to weigh much less than your traditional composite deck products.
Capstock composite decking is relatively new in the marketplace and is a combination of composite material on the inside with a plastic coating on the outside. It is less expensive than cellular PVC and holds up under normal use better than straight composite decking. These are very hard to scratch and will resist stain. They typically carry a 25 year no stain, no fade warranty. One of the major players in this category is Fiberon. Butte Fence is a stocking dealer.
Tamko and Fiberon have products in each of these categories of decking and Butte Fence stocks their products.
Just call us with your questions! In Meridian: 208-884-0203. In Twin Falls: 208-733-8388.
