Considering Trex materials for the next time you resurface your deck? Composite materials are comparatively new in deck technology, but they’re already quite popular due to a blend of environmental friendliness, low maintenance, and long-lasting good looks. To help you decide whether Trex materials make sense for your deck, we’ve put together a quick look at the benefits and downsides of Trex composite decking.

Basics

A Trex deck is a composite deck, meaning the material is man-made and made up of equal parts wood fibers and plastic. This creates a long-lasting, rot-proof material which still looks as beautiful and classic as a treated wood deck.

Benefits

There are a lot of benefits to choosing Trex materials for your deck resurfacing. Here are just a few of the most notable areas you’ll see improvements over traditional treated lumber:

• Wear and tear – Normal forms of wear and tear such as fading, warping, and the like become far slower processes with a composite Trex deck. While poorly made composite materials can fade due to harsh chemical cleaning, a properly coated and cared-for Trex deck won’t have these problems.
• Green – Composite materials are primarily made up from recycled and reclaimed wood and plastic, making it a green, environmentally friendly product. The lack of stains and similar chemicals to wear off into the soil is a benefit, too.
• Scratches are rare – The plastic blended into a composite deck makes it, like any good plastic, highly resistant to scratching and similar damage. You should still be careful, of course, but normal usage won’t see much marring.
• Mold resistance – Trex materials are essentially mold-proof unless you’re taking very, very poor care of your deck. Furthermore, mold won’t be able to set into the wood and set forth ruining your entire deck even under the worst of circumstances.
• Cleaning – Because a Trex deck is so much less delicate than even the sturdiest and best-processed lumber, cleaning becomes a simple, straightforward process. Your deck can look immaculate year-round with minimal effort.
• Warranty – Trex backs its decks with a generous, detailed warranty. What little wear and tear you do see over the course of the warranty should be covered—just make sure you’re taking proper care of the deck.

Downsides

Of course, even high quality composite materials such as those made by Trex come with a fair number of downsides. It’s important to weight these into your final decision on treated lumber vs. composite materials.

• Cost – Per square foot, expect to pay significantly more for a Trex deck than you would a treated lumber decking. The exact gap depends on the specifics of your installation, but you may be looking at a price tag a bit higher.
• Inability to refinish – It’s not possible to refinish a composite deck, meaning that when something goes wrong with planks, they’ll need to be completely replaced.
• General upkeep challenges – While a composite deck from Trex requires less day to day maintenance and cleaning, when you do need maintenance, it can be a more significant project.

Find Out More About Trex Decking in Maryland

At Diamond Decks, we proudly offer Trex decking to clients. If you’d like to learn more about Trex materials, composite decking, and resurfacing options, contact Diamond Decks & Home Improvement today!