At BHI, we install a variety of composite decking brands. With so many to choose from, we wanted to share with you our most popular three brands, to help you decide which composite decking is right for your project.
Trex
Trex composite decking is made from reclaimed plastic and wood materials. Most of these raw materials come from recovered plastic grocery bags, plastic film, and waste wood fiber. Trex buys approximately 300 million pounds of used polyethylene and an equal amount of hardwood sawdust each year. Both solid planks and tongue-and-groove planks are available.
Trex decking is a compression-molded product, sometimes with an added extruded outer shell. The planks are solid material, and are normally finished with end caps or trim boards covering the ends. Some product lines are attached to underlying structural framing with hidden fasteners, while others are nailed or screwed down through the top face. Trex offers a limited warranty of 25 years, which is fairly standard for the composite decking industry.
Company history: The company formed in 1996 through the buyout of a division of Mobil Corporation and went public in 1999. Trex is headquartered in Winchester, Virginia, with manufacturing facilities in Fernley, Nevada, and Winchester, Virginia. It is available in more than 42 countries.
Available products include surface decking, deck framing elements, drainage components, outdoor lighting, fencing, trim, pergolas, outdoor storage, collections, accessory hardware, and Trex Outdoor Furniture. Trex offers one of the largest selections of outdoor composite lumber and products of any manufacturer; products are easily obtained almost anywhere.
TimberTech
TimberTech products are made from a solid PVC compound touted as being highly resistant to stains, scratches, splits, mold, and mildew. Although made from 100 percent PVC materials, the surface decking products feature an extremely realistic wood appearance. Railing products include both solid PVC and some composite materials. TimberTech AZEK products are high-quality, premium lines, perhaps the best (and most expensive) of all the composite decking manufacturers, with a limited warranty of 50 years. Additional product lines include TimberTech Pro (with 30-year warranties) and TimberTech Edge (25-year warranties).
Decking boards are solid molded PVC through the entire thickness with an extra-durable cap coating on the exposed surfaces. Planks can be installed either with hidden fasteners or by driving nails or screws through the faces. End grain is usually covered with matching fascia boards.
Company history: Previously an independent company, TimberTech now comprises the Outdoor Living division of the AZEK corporation, headquartered in Chicago with multiple U.S. manufacturing plants. Over the last few years, AZEK has acquired a number of smaller composite decking manufacturers, making it now one of the largest suppliers.
Products available include surface decking, railing, porch, trim, and molding components, and lighting and hardware accessories. The decking boards are available in narrow, standard, and wide board widths. This is one of the broadest product lines, with more than 40 colors and textures available across the various product lines.
Fiberon Fiberon company makes surface decking, railing components, and fencing products that feature a solid PVC "Permatek" outer shell bonded to a wood composite core. Several "good," "better," "best" product lines are available, each offering various shades of wood tone and gray decking planks. The best lines offer more realistic wood grain textures and are more resistant to fading. All products carry a 25-year limited warranty.
Fiberon decking planks are formed by compression molding with a surface capping applied to three or four sides. They can be installed with face-driven fasteners or by a hidden fastening system. Ends are usually covered with matching fascia boards.
Company history: Fiberon started in North Carolina as a manufacturer of wood-plastic composite decking in 1997. In 2008, Fiberon and Sensibuilt joined their assets and brands to become a major player in the alternative decking market.
Products available include decking boards in seven different "good-better-best" lines, with three to five different color/textures available in each line. The best product lines are solid planks, while the "good" product lines feature scalloped bottoms. Other products include railing and fencing components, fasteners, and composite cladding/fascia boards.
Schedule Your Project with BHI!
Now that you know a little more about the options available in composite decking, which product would you like for BHI to install for your project? Call us today at 423-715-9642, or email us at bramlett.bhi@gmail.com to schedule your assessment.
