Composite decking may have grown in popularity over the past decade, but it’s still considered a specialty product by many retailers. That means you can have trouble finding it on the shelf, which makes good brands hard to identify. With that in mind, here are some of the best composite decking brands available for homeowners and contractors in the U.S.
Brand
4-sided capped
Uncapped
Total Series
Premium Series Price per 20 foot
Budget Series Price per 20 foot
Fiberon
Yes
Yes
8
$78 - $82.00
$48 - $60.00
TimberTech
Yes
No
3
$95 - $100.00
$45 - $50.00
MoistureShield
Yes
Yes
7
$90 – $102.00
$60 - $75.00
Trex
NOT SURE
Yes
4
$85 - $100.00
$38 - $54.00
Dekorators
Yes
No
3
$90 - $98.00
$50 - $67.00
Wolf Decking
NOT SURE
No
3
$60 - $73.00
$54 - $61.00
Duralife
3-sided
No
2
$80 - $90.00
$67 - $73.00
Envision
NOT SURE
Yes
4
$80 - $100.00
$45 - $60.00
Fiberon Decking
The Best Composite Decking Overall
We’re fans of any company that provides consumers with multiple decking options, and Fiberon does that better than anyone else. The company has seven different series to choose from including two products sold exclusively through Home Depot.
Fiberon’s lineup consists of premium and budget-friendly decking. They carry both 4-sided and 3-sided composite boards with solid and grooved profiles. You’ll also get standard lengths and widths across each series, but their Symmetry and Horizon collections are their flagshipproducts. These boards are capped on top, so they are protected from all sides. There are eight colors to choose from between the two and three colors each from Fiberon ProTect and Sanctuary series, the next steps down from a budget standpoint.
ProTect is a 3-sided product which means it’s not reversible while Sanctuary has a similar design but is only available in certain regions. Fiberon Good Life is a different story; however as one of their cheaper products and widely available in 5 colors along with a scalloped profile. It’s a capped board just like the Armorguard series, which also comes in scalloped but is only available through Home Depot along with a product called Veranda Deck.
Fiberon produces planks on par with other industry leaders, but have an advantage as they are easier to find at local retailers in case you plan on the deck yourself. If you want to dig deeper into their product lines, check out our in-depth Fiberon Review.
TimberTech Decking
The Best Value for the Money
TimberTech is a fan favorite with consumers and contractors alike. While they don’t have nearly as many series as other manufacturers, what they lack in variance they make up with colors and collections.
You’ll have two series to choose from the company with TimberTech Pro and Edge; each of which has several collections. TimberTech Pro is a 4-sided premium board that’s capped for extra protection. There are three series with Terrain, Legacy, and Tropical with a total of 16 colors in all. What sets them apart aside from those hues is the patterns and the way they are finished.
The company’s cheap decking series is called TimberTech Edge, and there are two collections with Premier and Prime. These 3-sided boards are only available in darker shades however which may rule them out for some. You can find TimberTech’s products at decking dealers across the U.S. along with stores like Lowes, 84 Lumber, and Home Depot. You can find out more about the Pro lineup in our full breakdown of TimberTech.
MoistureShield Decking
The Best Composite Decking for Summer Heat
MoistureShield carries a nice mix of capped and uncapped composite decking. Their products share more similarities than differences with the rest of the best composite deck brands on our list aside from a unique type of technology incorporated into some of their boards called CoolDeck.
There are a total of 7 series currently available from MoistureShield ranging from the premium MoistureShield Vision to the more affordable Essentials collection. CoolDeck is geared to keep your feet cool regardless of how hot the sun makes your deck, and you’ll find it on the Vision and the Infuse series; both of which feature capped composite boards.
MoistureShield Refine and MoistureShield Pro are sandwiched between the Vision and Infuse and priced accordingly. While all are quality products, your color options are limited and only open up with MoistureShield Advantage which is in the budget class. It’s an uncapped product, but you’ll get eight colors to choose from and multiple widths as well. The company also has Modernview which is ideal for decks that come in contact with water.
While you can find out more about MoistureShield in our review, the main thing to keep in mind with this company is availability. Their products aren’t carried by big box retailers, so you’ll need to contact them directly or work with a contractor to source their composite deck boards.
Trex Decking
The Best Option for DIYers
Trex is a well-known name in the composite world, and also one of the more affordable options available to consumers today. It’s relatively easy to find, and there are three series of composite decking with Transcend, Select and Enhance.
Trex Transcend has the standard 25-year warranty and is a composite board made from 95% recycled content, so there’s not a lot of filler in their planks. There are 10 colors available across two collections as well with classic earth tones and tropical hues. The Trex Select series is a little more affordable, but not as scratch-resistant and only comes in five colors.
Budget-conscious consumers may want to lean towards Trex Enhance. There are two series, and both scalloped although the quality depends on the color you choose as Naturals is a tier above their Basic collection. Trex Decking is commonly found at dealers throughout the United States along with Home Depot, Lowes and 84 Lumber if you’re willing to order.
Dekorators Decking
The Best Budget Composite Decking
Dekorators is a fairly new company in the composite decking world, but they caught our attention with their solid lineup of PVC and composite deck boards. The latter is comprised of three series, and there is a price point for everyone.
There are two cheap composite deck lines from Dekorators with Classic and Vista. Both are capped composites but have a completely vibe with Classic geared more towards looking for natural tones and clean vertical patterns. Vista composite decking boards have contrasting variegation with two tropical colors and Driftwood.
As with most decking companies, Deckorators also has a premium line called Heritage. It’s available in three rustic hues and finished with a textured distressed embossing featuring a non-repeating pattern for a unique look. You can find Deckorators Decking through select online retailers including the Deck Store Online and Lowes.
Envision
An Excellent Option for Contractors
Envision is a brand under the TAMKO umbrella; a company is best known for selling building products including residential roofing. Launched in 1999, this company isn’t as popular as TimberTech or Trex, but they do have several impressive series available.
If you’re looking for something that will give your deck an unmistakable look, Envision Distinction is a fine choice. There are four wood tones to choose from, but each composite board features multiple colors with a random wood grain pattern. The company’s Inspiration series provides consumers with a more natural feel thanks to a blended two-tone surface and deep texturing.
As for their budget line, that’s called Envision Expression and it’s a compressed composite board with a grain pattern that does not repeat. Evergrain is their uncapped composite board, another budget-friendly option. Their decking products are a little harder to find, but you can pick up Envision decking through select Ace Hardware stores along with various building supply shops.
Other Alternatives
GreenBay Decking has lines like DuxxBack and OPTIMA, two interesting products that don’t use traditional wood fillers like most composite boards. While Bamboo is an outstanding flooring alternative, it’s also used in decks, and Cali Bamboo has several collections that use recycled bamboo in place of wood.
While mainly a PVC deck manufacturer, Wolf Decking put out a sleek line of composite boards with their Perspective Series while EP Decking has a budget-friendly product found from online shops like Build Direct and Wayfair. Other brands worth looking into include Duralife, Genovations and Armadillo Decking.
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FAQ
Q: Which brand has the most realistic decking?
A: That’s a tough question as there are dozens of brands to consider, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. With that in mind, the more expensive boards make use of finishing techniques and color variations in order to mimic the look of wood in a realistic fashion. You get what you pay for when it comes to realism and composite decking.
Q: Is TimberTech easier to install than Fiberon?
A: Not necessarily. Many factors come into play with composite deck installation, including the profile and type of boards being used along with the design of the deck itself.
Q: Why is capped composite decking more expensive regardless of the brand?
A: It’s because of the way it’s constructed. Capped composite decking has an extra layer of protection that’s fused onto the outside, which covers the core and makes it impervious to fading, staining, and mold.
Q: Which brand makes decking that will stay cool under my feet during the summer?
A: Composite or capped composite decking of any kind will get hotter than a traditional wooden deck, regardless of what manufacturers may promise. With that in mind, boards that are hollow don’t retain as much heat, and PVC capped boards will be the coolest.
Q: Do any composite decking brands have truly maintenance-free products?
A: Yes, in fact, most high-quality composite decking will require little to no maintenance. Just a quick rinse or two throughout the season will suffice for most homeowners, although it depends on the conditions in your area and around your home as well.
Q: Can I paint my composite deck?
A: By design, composite deck boards aren’t capable of accepting paint in the traditional fashion which is why choosing the right color is so critical initially. That said, you can paint composite planks when they’ve been primed and prepped correctly, although that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.
Q: What’s the average warranty among the top composite deck brands?
A: It depends on the tier or quality of the product, but 25 years is around the average in the mid-range, while premium planks can have guarantees from 30 to 50 years or more. Most warranties are tiered as well and only cover certain aspects of the boards.
Q: Can composite decking be used around pools and other wet areas?
A: While it all depends on the brand and collection, the majority of composite deck boards are safe to use “around” water. That doesn’t mean they can be submerged, however, and traction should be considered as well.
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5 thoughts on “Best Composite Decking Brands 2023”
I wanted to compliment you on your website and the information you’ve compiled about composite decking. It is difficult for homeowners to find all of this information in one place, and they won’t find all the options by shopping at a building supply retailer. Even the deck specialty stores and online retailers won’t have all of the options available, and will usually push a potential customer toward a brand that they stock, or a brand that provides the best incentives to that retailer.
A suggestion for an additional category to add to your Decking section would be an evaluation of all the products that provide a dry space under a deck. Since we introduced our DuxxBak product 6 years ago, we have seen interest in the concept steadily increase. There are a lot of potential applications in both single family and multi-family housing. There are also a lot of ways to create a dry space with a wide range of cost, complexity, and effectiveness. We see evidence of a lot of homeowners and contractors choosing the first option they find, then realizing that they spent a lot more money than they should have, without getting the best end result.
Be leary of the Timbertech. Will get black moldy spots in not a lot of airflow on 3 sides. Have two sides with house against the deck. Deck is about 3 ft. from ground with lattice.
Why am I not seeing Sylvanix Elite listed among comparable products? I’m in the market to purchase composite decking for my gazebo, and while gleaning through the premium products, i.e. TREX Transcend, AZEK, and Fiberon, installed at the showroom of the local building supply, none compare with the natural graining, life-like weathered finish, and superior density of this product. Considering that it’s been around for 20 years, you would think that I would find some reviews…positive or negative… online, but I’m coming up empty!
Thanks,
TR
I wanted to compliment you on your website and the information you’ve compiled about composite decking. It is difficult for homeowners to find all of this information in one place, and they won’t find all the options by shopping at a building supply retailer. Even the deck specialty stores and online retailers won’t have all of the options available, and will usually push a potential customer toward a brand that they stock, or a brand that provides the best incentives to that retailer.
A suggestion for an additional category to add to your Decking section would be an evaluation of all the products that provide a dry space under a deck. Since we introduced our DuxxBak product 6 years ago, we have seen interest in the concept steadily increase. There are a lot of potential applications in both single family and multi-family housing. There are also a lot of ways to create a dry space with a wide range of cost, complexity, and effectiveness. We see evidence of a lot of homeowners and contractors choosing the first option they find, then realizing that they spent a lot more money than they should have, without getting the best end result.
Be leary of the Timbertech. Will get black moldy spots in not a lot of airflow on 3 sides. Have two sides with house against the deck. Deck is about 3 ft. from ground with lattice.
Thank You for the composite decking review, it’s very helpful. I have a question, well maybe 2.
Last fall I had a new deck built with real wood decking. The wood is horrible, it is splitting, it splinters and we just hate it.
Can I remove the deck boards and replace them with composite decking, the joists are on 16” centers?
Is there a product that can go on top and if so, is that a good alternative?
Why am I not seeing Sylvanix Elite listed among comparable products? I’m in the market to purchase composite decking for my gazebo, and while gleaning through the premium products, i.e. TREX Transcend, AZEK, and Fiberon, installed at the showroom of the local building supply, none compare with the natural graining, life-like weathered finish, and superior density of this product. Considering that it’s been around for 20 years, you would think that I would find some reviews…positive or negative… online, but I’m coming up empty!
Thanks,
TR
I did not see Menards ultra deck series in this review. Just curious how it would compare to the others?