Posted on Aug 9, 2024 11:10 AM EDT
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Composite decking can be a low-maintenance, affordable alternative to traditional wood, offering durability and enduring appeal for any outdoor space. However, with many options available, choosing the right product can get overwhelming quickly.
When looking into composite decking, remember that composite boards, by and large, have a longer life than wood decking, so it’s especially important to consider board composition—either wood and plastic or plastic and a mineral compound—and aesthetics. After all, you’ll have it for a very long time.
While there are dozens of options, we’ve identified a clear front-runner. With a 50-year limited warranty backed by one of the first composite-decking manufacturers, Trex Signature is our favorite.
That said, it’s not the only great option. To create this list, we took a deep dive into six different brands, identified their top lines, and determined what sets each line apart from the competition. We also spoke with a construction expert, who offered his take on the products and what he likes best. For those looking to create a new low-maintenance outdoor living space, this list provides some of the best composite decking options for a variety of styles and needs.
After looking into a number of different composite decking companies and their products, we think these are the top six options.
Trex has manufactured composite wood decking since 1996 and is still widely respected by construction professionals. Its Signature line is considered the company’s luxury option. It’s durable, looks great, and is backed up by a 50-year warranty. While Trex is a respected brand, what sets the Signature line apart is its appearance. We think it’s the most realistic-looking wood grain among their products. We also like its trend-forward matte finish.
Like the Transcend line, another great offering from Trex, the Signature line is exceptionally resistant to fading, staining, and scratching. It’s also impact-resistant. Good looks and durability pair together to make this line great for high-traffic areas.
However, the Signature line is currently only available in two color options, and, like any luxury item, it’s expensive, starting at $8.50 per linear foot. However, if you’ve got the budget to make it work, we think Trex Signature is just about the best there is.
Get the Trex composite decking at The Deck Store, DecksDirect, or Advantage Lumber.
The TimberTech Legacy wood composite decking is one of the best-looking product lines that we researched, but it’s also on the more expensive side, at about $7.00 per linear foot. It offers six different colors with a textured, hand-scraped finish for one of the most natural-looking finishes on the market.
Capped on all four sides and with a wood-free polymer to seal out moisture, Legacy decking is also highly resistant to mold, mildew, and rot. It’s also stain- and fade-resistant and includes a 30-year fade and stain warranty to back it up.
Get TimberTech composite decking at Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or DecksDirect.
Similar to Trex, Fiberon was an early adopter of composite technology, having manufactured composite decking since 1997. One of the company’s standouts is the Good Life Escapes collection. Designed to mimic the look of exotic hardwood, Good Life Escapes is priced closest to wood of all the options on this list. Unlike wood, however, the composite has a three-sided cap, giving it great durability for the price point.
Zack Boisvert, director of construction services for Premier Construction & Design in Detroit, Michigan, says Fiberon’s Good Life Escapes offers the best bang for the buck. “When you compare the Good Life line, particularly the Escapes collection, to the other top-tier products … you see a marked difference in price,” Boisvert says. “It’s really a great steal.” Fiberon also makes some of the most eco-friendly products as well, with their composite decking being made of around 96 percent recycled products.
Get the Fiberon composite decking at The Home Depot, The Deck Supply, or DecksDirect.
Deckorators is a brand that doesn’t quite have the cache of a Trex or TimberTech, but it still has carved a niche for itself. That niche is, simply, customization options. We like that the Deckorators Voyage composite boards come in six colors and a variety of widths. While many other companies are limited to 5.5-inch-wide boards, Deckorators also has boards that are 3.5, 7.25, and 9.25 inches wide.
Multiple width boards can be implemented in a variety of designs and add visual interest beyond standard-width deck planks—though the 3.5-, 7.25-, and 9.25-inch boards are less widely available at popular retailers. The Voyage line can also be installed in or near water, making it a great option for those with pools.
Get the Deckorators composite decking at Lowe’s, The Deck Store, or Advantage Lumber.
Lumberock offers marine-grade composite decking, using a combination of plastics and a mineral compound to create its boards. In other words, they are impervious to moisture. This nonporous construction gives these composite decking boards better strength, decreased thermal expansion, and rot and insect resistance.
Lumberock decking is available in a dozen colors, though they do look less like natural wood compared to other options, and they aren’t available at major retailers. However, we think Lumberock is a great option for those looking to build a deck on the water or those who live in particularly wet and rainy climates.
Get the Lumberock composite decking at Lumberock.
As a relatively new product, Armadillo Evolution Decking has set itself apart from competitors with the best warranty in the business. Released for the first time in 2023, Armadillo’s Evolution series is a fully capped composite decking that comes in six different colors. Designed to compete with mid- to top-level tiers from more established companies like Trex and TimberTech, the Evolution series combines durability with a textured look. However, it’s not scratch-resistant.
One of the most impressive features is the Armadillo Golden Promise Warranty. It’s one of the most generous warranties that we’ve seen. It’s a 50-year full-coverage warranty that is fully transferable and includes a full 5-year labor warranty. That means Evolution decking is protected from manufacturing defects, splintering, delaminating, rotting, and structural damage for 50 years. The warranty is also not prorated, meaning consumers get the same coverage in year 49 as they do in year one. All this comes at a fairly reasonable price too: less than $5.00 per linear foot.
Get the Armadillo composite decking at Lowe’s or Armadillo.
With a crowded market, narrowing down the list of the best composite decking companies wasn’t easy. Of course, companies like Trex and TimberTech, which have been making this kind of decking for years, are the first to come to mind.
However, as we researched more, taking expert opinion into our analysis, some other companies, like Armadillo and Lumberock also caught our attention. In addition to brand recognition, we looked into specs like durability, customization options, warranties, and ease of purchasing in our decisions. We wanted to come up with a list that ran the gamut of everything a consumer might want to consider when purchasing composite decking.
When contemplating what kind of composite decking you need, the smartest thing to do first is likely figure out your budget. The cost of composite decking varies quite a bit, so it’s important to figure out how much you want to spend.
With a budget in mind, consider composite decking materials and appearance. Some look almost identical to actual wood, while others have a simpler appearance and profile—which is also reflected in the price.
Some may think of composite decking as artificial decking, but a look at the contents reveals that that’s not entirely the case. It does contain natural materials. Composite decking is primarily comprised of recycled materials, usually wood fibers and plastic, but some boards are made of plastic combined with a mineral compound, like Lumberock and the Deckorators Voyage line.
Each combination of materials creates superior moisture resistance compared to wood. Excess moisture in wood decking can cause warping and rot, which can only be prevented (at least for a few years) with meticulous annual maintenance.
Composite decking composed of both wood fibers and plastic (or plastic wood decking) is often capped with plastic polymer to provide greater resistance to moisture. Some decking boards are capped on the top and sides, with the bottom uncapped to allow any moisture to escape, while others are capped on all four sides to completely seal out moisture.
Compared to wood, which requires regular sanding, staining, and sealing, composites are low maintenance. They don’t require staining or sealing and many are highly fade-resistant. Cleaning as often as needed is usually all that’s required to keep a composite deck looking great. However, not all composites are the same. Those with wood fibers have the potential to rot down the road, while those packed with minerals and plastic are virtually rot-resistant. Still, both options are practically weatherproof decking compared to wood.
Obviously, aesthetics is going to be a huge part of any deck project. When composite decking was first introduced, colors were flat and often faded quickly. To say that the look of composite decking has vastly improved would be an understatement. Not only do top brands offer dozens of multitonal colors, but they’ve also improved the texture to mimic real wood grain. Plus, and perhaps most importantly, fade resistance keeps the composite decks looking new years after installation—there’s no need to stain these decks.
With all of the previous information in hand, it’s possible that you just might be even more overwhelmed than before you started researching. In fact, it’s still likely you’ve got some questions. We’ve compiled a few of the most asked questions when it comes to buying the best composite decking. Check them out below.
Both are quality choices for low-maintenance decks. PVC can last longer but is more expensive than composite.
With proper care, composite decking can last between 20 and 50 years. That care does not include a deck paint or stain to keep it looking good—a huge time and money saver in the long run.
Anything related to value is relative, but when one considers the long life and the lack of maintenance needed, composite decking is definitely worth considering. Prices vary quite a bit as well, with some cheap composite decking lines costing less than $2.00 per linear foot.
Mike Larson is a journalist by profession, with almost 2 decades of experience covering everything from business to sports to environmental issues. However, he’s also the cost-conscious owner of a 100-year-old home in Pittsburgh, which makes DIY work a very important part of his life.
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By Stacey L. Nash , Additional research provided by Andreana Lefton
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