Composite decking is the new era of deck building.
With wood grain patterns and all the aesthetic benefits of natural wood plus none of the negative aspects, composite is a great decking choice.
The problem comes in deciding which composite to use, what brand to go with and which styles best suit your needs.
Two of the bigger names in the industry are Trex and Deckorators. Each brings their own style and construction to the mix, making your decision even tougher.
Key Takeaways
Here are the main points to compare and contrast between Deckorators and Trex:
- Deckorators provides eight board qualities in eight series. Trex offers four qualities in three series.
- Both brands offer low to high-durability decking, with varying cost ranges.
- You can buy Trex through most wholesalers and installers. Deckorators’ decking is mostly available through showrooms and specialist installers.
- Neither brand penalizes you on warranties if you install decking yourself.
- Both are very easy to sweep and keep clean.
- Both brands offer a 25-year warranty as standard, but Deckorators boosts this to 50 years on top-tier models.
- Deckorators may be a little more expensive at the top tier. Both, however, have ranges to fit all budgets.
Benefits of Composite Decking
Composite decking has a lot of benefits and they can be the defining decision factor for you.
Let’s look at the top benefits of composite decking.
- Doesn’t crack or splinter. Composite decking, unlike natural wood, can withstand heat and cold cycles without cracking or splintering.
- Long life. The average composite deck should last at least 20 to 25 years.
- Low maintenance. There is no need to seal or maintain the decking to the levels that natural wood requires.
- Cleans easily. With a broom and garden hose you can keep your deck clean year round.
- No painting. Composite decking is dyed through at the factory and never requires painting like wood decks.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Right Decking Materials
Project Size
The project size needs to be measured in both square feet and linear feet. Square foot measurements are used for planning and budgeting as well as getting quotes for install costs.
Linear foot measurements will help you understand how much material you need to buy.
Install Location
Where you install will be important as well. Elevated decks or second story decks will require different materials than those put in directly on the ground. Moisture, bracing, and even installation technique will depend on where (and how big) your deck will be.
Installation Type
Decks aren’t the easiest home improvement project to take on yourself. Even with composite decking making the process easier, you still need to build a proper frame, know spacing and alignment procedures and have all the needed tools and equipment.
Tools and Equipment
If you do decide to take the project on as a DIY deck, you will need proper tools and equipment. This includes the right fasteners for your boards, the right type of saw and saw blades to make even cuts and the proper joists and framing materials.
Each brand will have slight variances on their requirements, so make sure you read up and have everything you need before you begin.
Additional Accessories
Decking is a lot more than just frames and boards to walk on. You also have cladding, railing, lighting, stairs and more. Depending on your design, your accessories and extras will vary.
Board Construction
Board construction will also vary. There are several types of boards including flat, grooved, scalloped and hollow. Each brand will offer different options for what they produce and you need to match your requirements with the brand offerings.
Price and Warranty
Your budget will be a huge factor, too. Your composite deck will have the most costs upfront. With lower maintenance and cleaning, plus the lack of sealing or staining needed, you won’t have many long term costs.
Pro Tip: Let’s talk about the warranty. A longer warranty may sound attractive, but always check the fine print about what’s covered. From my experience, both Deckorators and Trex have excellent warranty coverage. However, Deckorators offers a 50-year warranty for its top-tier models, giving you peace of mind for decades.
Deckorators Vs. Trex
Board Selections
When it comes to board selection, your biggest choice will come from Deckorators. They offer 8 board quality types in 8 different series lineups. Trex on the other hand has 4 board quality options in 3 different lines.
These give you the largest installation options as well as the most durable boards for your project.
With Deckorators you have two base options, either the traditional composite or their proprietary blend Mineral-Based Composite (MBC) boards. The MBC has enhanced durability and life expectancy, a longer warranty and is available in three of their highest quality line ups.
The Voyage, Vault and Frontier decking is all made from MBC. You will also find the porch decking options are MBC as well. For a more traditional and economical solution, the Vista, Trailhead, Tropics and Distressed lines up will give you what you are after.
Trex offers only traditional composite, but has higher quality materials in their core make up. With the Transcend line being in the best category, it is the highest rated and most expensive of the bunch.
You will also find options in the better range with Trex’s Select and Enhanced lines. Enhanced, though, is split into two sub-categories, Naturals (in the better grouping) and Basics (in the good group).
Styles & Colors
| Series | Colors | Durability | Price |
| Deckorators Voyage | 5 | High | High |
| Deckorators Vault | 2 | High | High |
| Deckorators Frontier | 2 | High | High |
| Deckorators Vista | 4 | High/Mid | Mid |
| Deckorators Trailhead | 3 | Mid/Low | Mid |
| Deckorators Tropics | 2 | Low | Low |
| Deckorators Distressed | 1 | Low | Low |
| Deckorators Porch | 3 | Mid | Mid |
| Trex Transcend | 8 | High | High |
| Tres Select | 5 | Mid | Mid |
| Trex Enhance – Naturals | 4 | Mid/Low | Mid |
| Trex Enhance – Basics | 3 | Low | Low |
Pro Tip: Regardless of whether you choose Deckorators or Trex, remember that the color of your decking can significantly impact how much heat it absorbs. Lighter colors are generally cooler underfoot in the summer. So, consider not only your aesthetic preference but also practical considerations like this.
Availability: Where to Buy
One of the biggest challenges for decking is finding the exact style, brand and color you are after. Many brands sell through dealers and showrooms on a wholesale level. Other brands only sell through retail outlets.
With Trex, you don’t have much to worry about. Part of their popularity is that they don’t limit much where their products are sold. Not only can you shop online, you can also get Trex through any contractor, wholesaler or installer.
The best advantage, though, is that all four lines are available online and in store through Lowe’s and Home Depot.
This cannot be said for Deckorators. Most of their sales are done through wholesales, showrooms and installers. This is true for all of their lines, and only two series products are sold retail.
The Tropics and Distressed lines are sold through Lowe’s, but with only two options in a total of 3 colors, it isn’t a lot. Deckorators tend to push you through a contractor, which is great for additional warranty coverage and installation reliability. It does hurt the DIYer, though.
Installation
One common problem with a lot of smaller brands is that they will penalize you through the warranty if the deck isn’t installed by a licensed professional. Neither Trex nor Deckorators will penalize your warranty, though, so you won’t have to worry about that here.
It is still wise to read through the warranties (see below) to know what you are getting and the stipulations they do have.
If you need assistance in finding the right contractor for the job, we can help. We have partnered with Networx to help you find professionals for any of your decking needs. By using the free form, you can input your information and needs and get results of contractors in your immediate area.
Care and Maintenance
Both Trex and Deckorators offer low maintenance decking. You will need to keep the deck clean, which is the biggest portion of the care and maintenance of the boards. A sweep of the deck once or twice a week is usually good enough.
You do want to ensure wet debris is cleared as soon as you can. After a rain or early morning dew can soak leaves and pine needles which can leave dark stain marks if the moisture isn’t removed.
It can happen, though, and when it does, replacement is a lot easier than with natural wood. Using the quick fasteners, you only need to remove the damaged boards, drop a new one in and tighten the fasteners.
Warranty Coverage and Claims
When it comes to the warranty, Trex makes things really simple. They offer a flat 25 year warranty coverage for all lines, at all times. The warranty is not transferable, but aside from purchase registration no other components are required on your part.
For Deckorators they also offer a 25 year warranty that covers structure, stain and fading and removal and replacement aspects. However, if you go with the top tier models (the MBC models) the structural warranty is extended from 25 to 50 years.
The MBC is also rated for in or on ground and water contact. You won’t find a water and ground rating with Trex, so this may be important for your final decision.
Pricing
When it comes to pricing, composite as a whole is more expensive than natural wood and in many cases even PVC. However, where these two are fairly comparable priced.
The mid range options from both Trex and Deckorators are going to come in between $3 and $4 per linear foot. The pricing difference comes in the low tier and high tiers lines. Trex offers the more affordable decking in both options. On the low end, the difference is only about 25 cents, which equates to about $100 on a 12×12 foot deck.
Pro Tip: When you’re choosing between Deckorators and Trex, don’t just look at the initial cost, consider lifetime value. Composite decking might be more expensive upfront compared to traditional wood, but the savings in maintenance and longevity make it a sound investment in the long term.
However, for the high end ranges (Trex Transcend and Deckorators Voyage/Vault) the difference is about $1.50 to $2 with Trex being less expensive. This translates to a $250 to $400 savings on a 12×12 deck.
What People Are Saying
Overall you will find raving reviews and happy customers with Trex. There are also negative remarks made, but for the most part it comes down to the installer and not the product.
You will find that Trex gets high marks on durability, resilience and ease of install. They also get great ratings for all the extras they include. Aside from decking they also offer fascia, cladding, lighting, games, railings and more.
Deckorators don’t have the extensive accessory lists, but do offer railing, fascias, cladding and lighting. They also get high remarks, though you will also find more negative reviews posted, too.
The negatives are down to availability and cost, but the durability of the MBC boards and the longer warranty are constantly rated high.
At a Glance
Let’s take a look at both brands over all the important factors side by side. Note that the pricing will depend on your location, brand, type and style chosen. The listed prices are an average over all available and your actual costs will vary.
| Brand | Collections | Colors | Warranty | Price |
| Deckorators | 8 | 22 | 50/25 years | $2 – $7 per linear foot |
| Trex | 4 | 20 | 25 years | $1.75 – $5 per linear foot |
Composite Decking Pros and Cons
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Low maintenance | Higher initial cost than natural wood |
| Multiple installation methods | Some brands can fade in direct sunlight over time |
| Can be rated for direct-ground install | May show scratches more easily than wood |
| Various board construction options | May have a shine or “plastic” look |
| Through-dyed by manufacturer | Not the most green solution |
| No sealing or staining required | |
| All-inclusive kits available |
Best Decking Options and Brands
Building a deck has options. From size and shape to the materials used. Composite is just one of those options. With composite, there are a lot of great brands, such as Trex and Deckorators. However, you also have other options such as TimberTech and Fiberon decking.
If you want to stay with wood, but not so traditional, ironwoods are a great option. Woods like Ipe for decking, or Cumaru boards will make a strong, lasting deck. But there are a lot more.
Aluminum decking, for example, is a great choice for those looking for lower maintenance and a life-long solution. VersaDeck and Nexan make great aluminum decking options, but they aren’t the only ones.
No matter what your outdoor flooring and decking needs are, you have a solution somewhere. If it isn’t composite (which it should be), there are many other styles, types and looks to go with. The choice is always yours, so make sure you find the solution that meets all of your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this section we will answer the most commonly asked questions that people have about composite decking. If you have other questions, use the comment section found below.
Q. Is composite decking worth the cost?
- Composite decking, compared to natural wood, has a higher initial price point. However, the cost to value ratio is notably higher. Over time, the effort, money and personal time savings with composite rise more and more. This means you save time and money by not having to apply paint, sealer or make repairs. When a repair is needed it is easily handled with a few screws and a little effort.
Q. How are composite deck boards made?
- Composite decking is made from post-consumer content, meaning it is recycled. Up to 95% of the board is made from a wood pulp and plastic mix or a mineral based recycled content mix. The recycled material created a plastic-like or PVC-style solid that is formed into boards, planks and fascias for use in decking.
Q. Is composite a green solution?
- Composite decking is more green than sustainable wood decking. However, it still requires a pressure treated lumber frame and joists. Because it still relies on wood properties it loses some of it’s green appeal. While it isn’t the most green solution out there, it is near the top.
Q. How long will a composite deck last?
- On average, high quality composite decks can last over 25 years. The average life expectancy for most brands is 20 to 30 years.
Conclusion
Composite decking has a lot going for it and makes a cost-effective decking solution for many homes. If you are looking for a new decking material for your next project, composite may be the answer.
The difficult decision comes in finding the right brand to serve your needs. With names like Trex and Deckorators in the mix, that choice is even harder. Both offer you great value and outstanding decking. You just have to find the one that fits your needs better, and hopefully this article has helped with that.
