We've put together our opinions and experiences on the different collections of alternative decking in the form of product reviews, to help you understand how every line of decking we carry is different from the others.
We mean to point out the pros, cons, similarities, and differences between the various decking brands and families. The information below is not intended as an endorsement of any one product, but to highlight the strengths of each for helping you plan, install, and enjoy your deck.
Collections are ordered by price, most expensive being towards the bottom of the page.
Budget-level Solid-Color Composite Decking
Colors: Beach Dune, Clam Shell, Saddle Compare with TimberTech Terrain, TimberTech Edge Prime, Fiberon Good Life Weekender, and TimberTech Edge Premier
- 25-year fade-and-stain warranty
- Board is capped on the top and edges
- Texturing is more random and looks less repetitive than other budget boards
- Channels/scallops in underside make these boards more maneuverable
- 8" boards are also available for deck stair fascia and riser.
- Not capped on underside of board
- 5 scallops on underside make drink rails unsightly and impractical
- Shallow texturing looks less 3-D and is more slippery
- Only three solid colors available
- Composite fascia is more difficult to than PVC fascia, and screws require predrilling and have large heads
Colors: Cabin, Cottage Compare with Trex Enhance Basics, TimberTech Terrain, TimberTech Edge Prime Plus
- 25-year fade-and-stain warranty
- Board is capped on the top and edges
- Realistic 3D texturing with good slip resistance
- Channels/scallops in underside make these boards more maneuverable
- Cortex plug fasteners are available for fascia (uncommon at this price range)
- Has one of the longest track records for a budget board
- Not capped on underside of board
- Scallops on underside make drink rails unsightly and impractical
- Only two solid colors available
- Routed (rather than extruded) groove for hidden fasteners can be inconsistent, sometimes making installation difficult
- Composite fascia is more difficult to than PVC fascia, and screws require predrilling and have large heads
Colors: Dark Teak, Maritime Gray Compare with Fiberon Good Life Weekender, Trex Enhance Basics, and Trex Select
- 25-year fade-and-stain warranty
- Board is capped on the top and edges
- Natural, less repetitive-looking texture
- Channels/scallops in underside make these boards more maneuverable
- 8" boards are also available for deck stair fascia and riser.
- Not capped on underside of board
- Scallops on underside make drink rails unsightly and impractical
- Shallow texturing looks less 3-D and is more slippery
- Only two solid colors available
- Composite fascia is more difficult to than PVC fascia, and screws require predrilling and have large heads
- 8" Riser board not available
- No plug option available, borders and treads must be face screwed
- Longer boards can break if carried incorrectly
Colors: Dark Teak, Maritime Gray Compare with Fiberon Good Life Weekender, Trex Enhance Basics, and Trex Select
- 25-year fade-and-stain warranty
- Top-capped, full profile board
- 8" boards are also available for deck stair fascia and riser.
- One of the few budget boards approved for Cortex screws and plugs, making hidden fastening of treads and borders possible
- Not capped on underside of board
- Shallow texturing looks less 3-D and is more slippery
- Only two colors in collection
- Composite fascia is more difficult to than PVC fascia, and screws require predrilling and have large heads
Colors: Pebble Gray, Saddle Compare with TimberTech Terrain, Fiberon Good Life Weekender, and TimberTech Edge Premier
- 25-year fade-and-stain warranty
- Top-capped, full profile board
- 8" boards are also available for deck stair fascia and riser.
- Full-profile board, works on cocktail rails (uncommon at this price point)
- Not capped on underside of board
- Texturing is repetetive and can look plasticky
- Looks more like plastic than other boards in this class
- Formula contains more wood than most other composites
- Composite fascia is more difficult to than PVC fascia, and screws require predrilling and have large heads
Budget-level Variegated Composite Decking
Colors: Sandbar, Saltwater Comparable to Timbertech Terrain, Trex Enhance, Timbertech Edge, Fiberon Good Life
- 25-year limited warranty
- Board is capped on the top and edges, and filler composition contains less wood likely to break down over time
- One of the most realistic-looking budget boards, with good slip resistance
- Channels/scallops in underside make these boards more maneuverable
- Not capped on underside of board
- Scallops on underside make drink rails unsightly and impractical
- Composite fascia is more difficult to than PVC fascia, and screws require predrilling and have large heads
- 8" Riser board not available
Colors: Coastal Bluff, Foggy Wharf, Rocky Harbor, Toasted Sand Compare with Timbertech Edge Prime Plus, Timbertech Terrain, and Fiberon Good Life Escapes
- 25-year fade-and-stain warranty
- Board is capped on the top and edges
- Texturing is more random and looks less repetitive than other budget boards
- Channels/scallops in underside make these boards more maneuverable
- Stronger streaking/coloring than competition for this class
- Not capped on underside of board
- 5 scallops on underside make drink rails unsightly and impractical
- Shallow texturing looks less 3-D and is more slippery
- Composite fascia is more difficult to than PVC fascia, and screws require predrilling and have large heads
Colors: Dark Oak, Natural White Oak, Weathered Oak Comparable to Deckorators Venture, Trex Enhance Naturals, Fiberon Good Life
- 30-year fade-and-stain warranty
- Fully-capped on top and bottom of board
- Premium texturing similar to Azek Vintage
- Channels/scallops in underside make these boards more maneuverable
- 8" boards are also available for deck stair fascia and riser.
- Approved for Cortex screws and plugs, making hidden fastening of treads and borders possible
- Scallops on underside make drink rails unsightly and impractical
- Composite fascia is more difficult to than PVC fascia, and screws require predrilling and have large heads
Mid-range Variegated-Color Composite Decking
Colors: Dunewood, Driftwood, Ironwood, Silverwood
- Top-capped, full profile board
- Muted tones are ideal for situations where a weathered wood color and texture is desired
- Not capped on underside of board
- Composite fascia is more difficult to than PVC fascia, and screws require predrilling and have large heads
Colors: Chai, Earl Gray, Espresso, Latte, Moringa Compare to TimberTech Reserve, Trex Transcend, and Fiberon Symmetry.
- 40-year fade-and-stain warranty
- Top-capped, full profile board
- Fine, multi-tone variegation coordinates well with other decking colors and home colors
- 8" boards are also available for deck stair fascia and riser.
- Not capped on underside of board
- Some colors have little variegation and almost look like solid colors
- Routed (rather than extruded) groove for hidden fasteners can be inconsistent, sometimes making installation difficult
- Composite fascia is more difficult to than PVC fascia, and screws require predrilling and have large heads
Colors: Castle Gray, Ipe Compare with Trex Transcend, Timbertech Reserve, Fiberon Symmetry, and Trex Select
- 50-year fade-and-stain warranty
- Fully-capped with coloring and texture on top and bottom of board
- Textured and colored on top and bottom of board
- Gentler gradient texturing (no streaking lines)
- 8" boards are also available for deck stair fascia and riser.
- Flat texturing is not as realistic as other boards of this class
- Routed (rather than extruded) groove for hidden fasteners can be inconsistent, sometimes making installation difficult
- Composite fascia is more difficult to than PVC fascia, and screws require predrilling and have large heads
Colors: Mountain Ash, Prairie Wheat, Seaside Mist Comparable to: Timbertech Reserve, Trex Transcend Tropical, Fiberon Sanctuary
- 50-year fade-and-stain warranty
- Fully-capped on top and bottom of board
- Textured and colored on top and bottom of board
- 8" boards are also available for deck stair fascia and riser.
- Only available in 3 colors
- Routed (rather than extruded) groove for hidden fasteners can be inconsistent, sometimes making installation difficult
- Composite fascia is more difficult to than PVC fascia, and screws require predrilling and have large heads
Colors: Burnt Umber, Graphite, Warm Sienna Compare with TimberTech Reserve, Fiberon Sanctuary, Trex Transcend, and Trex Select
- 50-year fade-and-stain warranty
- Fully-capped on top and bottom of board
- Textured and colored on top and bottom of board
- 8" boards are also available for deck stair fascia and riser.
- Uniform texturing does not have any longer woodgrain texturing
- Only 3 colors, with very little variegation (mainly one color)
- Routed (rather than extruded) groove for hidden fasteners can be inconsistent, sometimes making installation difficult
- Composite fascia is more difficult to than PVC fascia, and screws require predrilling and have large heads
Colors: Antique Leather, Dark Roast, Driftwood, Reclaimed Chestnut Compare with Fiberon Symmetry, Fiberon Sanctuary, and Trex Transcend
- 30-year fade-and-stain warranty
- Fully-capped on top and bottom of board
- Multi-tone variegation coordinates well with other decking colors and home colors
- 8" boards are also available for deck stair fascia and riser.
- Matching fascia is only available in composite material, making installation more difficult than PVC fascia
- Screws used near the ends of the boards need to be pre-drilled so they don't break out the end
- Composite fascia is more difficult to than PVC fascia, and screws require predrilling and have large heads
Premium Variegated-Color Composite Decking
Compare with TimberTech Reserve, Fiberon Sanctuary, and Fiberon Symmetry
- 50-year fade-and-stain warranty
- Top-capped, full profile board
- 8" boards are also available for deck stair fascia and riser.
- Not capped on underside of board
- Composite fascia is more difficult to than PVC fascia, and screws require predrilling and have large heads
- An expensive premium board for only two-tone variegation
Colors: Ashwood, Espresso, Mocha, Pecan, Tigerwood, Whitewash Cedar Compare with TimberTech Reserve, Trex Transcend, and Fiberon Sanctuary
- 30-year fade-and-stain warranty
- Fully-capped on top and bottom of board
- Unique hand-scraped finish is similar to many indoor flooring textures, which works well if trying to coordinate flooring inside and out
- Coloring can vary greatly between boards, which is a great natural look, if you're expecting it
- 8" boards are also available for deck stair fascia and riser.
- Smooth texture can get quite slippery, and smaller scratches are more visible
- Coloring can vary greatly between boards, which (intentionally) looks natural but less uniform.
- Composite fascia is more difficult to than PVC fascia, and screws require predrilling and have large heads
- Cortex screws must be pre-drilled so that screws don't mushroom the decking around it
- Fascia does not have the same hand-scraped texture as the decking
Colors: Ocracoke, Whidbey
- 50-year warranty
- Full profile composite board with acrylic top cap for better scratch resistance
- Realistic woodgrain printing
- 8" boards are also available for deck stair fascia and riser.
- Not capped on underside of board
- Shallow texturing looks less 3-D and is more slippery
- Though it looks exactly like wood, the wood pattern is repetitive and must be decked strategically.
- Formula contains more wood than most other composites
- Composite fascia is more difficult to than PVC fascia, and screws require predrilling and have large heads
