Rhino Deck. The wood-polyethylene composite used for Rhino Deck products contains 100 percent recycled/reclaimed wood and plastic. Additives resist mold growth. The decking is offered in 5/4 x 6, 2x 4, and 2×6 dimensions in several embossed wood-grain finishes. 800.535.4838. www.rhinodeck.com.
TAMKO Building Products. Both TAMKO decking lines are made of wood fiber and polyethylene, but the amount of recycled content differs: 100 percent in the Elements series and up to 70 percent in the premium EverGrain line. Both types are sold in 1×4, 1×6, 2×4, and 2×6 dimensions. 800.641.4691. www.tamko.com.
TimberTech. TimberTech’s polyethylene-wood composite decking is offered in a variety of profiles and finishes, including 1½ x6 T&G hollow planks (Floorizon) and 5/4 x 6 solid boards (Earthwood and TwinFinish). Earthwood comes in tropical hardwood colors; TwinFinish planks have an embossed wood grain on one side and a brushed finish on the other. 800.307.7780. www.timbertech.com.
Trex Co. The plastic in Trex—the original recycled-content composite lumber—is about 50 percent recycled or reclaimed. The wood content also is 50 percent reclaimed. Recent introductions include Trex Origins, a bendable plank for curved installations, and Trex Accents Fire Defense, which has a Class B fire rating and exceeds California’s fire regulations. 800.289.8739. www.trex.com.
The Cellular PVC Alternative Cellular PVC decking has become the fastest-growing segment of the alternative decking market, thanks mostly to manufacturer claims that it needs less maintenance than wood-plastic composites. Industry leaders AZEK Building Products, Fiber Composites, TimberTech, Trex Co., and VEKA have all recently added cellular PVC decking to their product lines. Touting its low-maintenance appeal, TimberTech named its product XLM for “extreme low maintenance.”
Cellular PVC—essentially the same material used in AZEK’s popular exterior trim boards and moldings—has a weight and workability similar to that of pine and supposedly resists fading, staining, and scratching better than composites. Makers say that because it has a hard outer layer of PVC or acrylic and no wood content, cellular PVC doesn’t absorb stains and won’t support the growth of mold or decay fungi. (That doesn’t mean, however, that wet leaves left sitting on a deck over the winter won’t leave surface stains—on this or any other material.)
The product’s lack of wood content is also one of its drawbacks: It looks more like plastic than most wood-plastic composites do. Manufacturers are trying to address this with less shiny matte finishes, more realistic colors and textures, and darker hues. For example, Fiber Composites’ Sanctuary line and TimberTech’s XLM planks both come in colors that mimic ipe and driftwood, resulting in fairly genuine-looking boards.
While all-PVC decking typically has a higher rate of thermal expansion than wood-plastic composites, manufacturers control movement by including inorganic fillers or additives (or in the case of AZEK Deck, a flax product made from agricultural waste). End-to-end spacing is comparable to that of composites. Though not as strong and stiff as most composites, cellular PVC is generally rated for a 16-inch span under normal residential loads. And despite its mainly plastic content, some cellular PVC decking products have achieved a Class A flame spread rating and have been approved by the state of California for new construction in areas prone to wildfires.
With a price point up to 20 percent higher than wood-plastic composites, cellular PVC decking will appeal to customers whose top priority is low maintenance. It’s particularly well-suited to poolside, beachfront, and similar high-moisture environments.
