Trex buys approximately 300 million pounds of used polyethylene and an equal amount of hardwood sawdust each year. Depending on your preferences, the average cost is $15 to $35 per square foot for parts and labor.Ībout 95 percent of the raw materials come from recovered plastic grocery bags, plastic film, and waste wood fiber. Trex offers three thickness levels for their products and can accommodate special decking features. Trex composite decking is made from reclaimed plastic and wood materials, manufacturing solid planks, and tongue-and-groove planks. This Virginia-based company has been around since 1996 and sells its products to over 40 countries. Trex offers one of the largest selections of outdoor composite lumber and products of any manufacturer and has some of the least expensive options, too.

Here are eight popular brands of composite lumber for decks and other outdoor construction projects. Made of materials that include recycled and new plastic, bamboo, and wood fibers, these synthetic or composite decking products have evolved as an essential alternative where green or eco-conscious materials are desired, such as LEED-qualified or certified construction. It is typically used only for surface decking or visible railing parts, not structural components. Although composite lumber is usually denser and heavier than natural wood lumber, it does not have the structural strength of wood. Some synthetic or composite lumber is hollow, requiring end-caps to cover the ends of boards, while others are dense, solid boards that are cut and fitted like lumber boards used for decking. Two types of manufacturing processes are used: compression molding which creates solid planks and extrusion processes which form planks by pressing raw materials through shaping molds.

So-called composite decking comes in several forms, from solid PVC plastic boards to solid composites using 100 percent recycled plastics to products that blend plastics and natural wood or bamboo fibers. With natural lumber supplies dwindling-especially for the types of lumber with natural resistance to decay and pests, such as redwood, cedar, and teak- composite decking is becoming an increasingly popular choice for decks and other outdoor structures. The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.

Trex boards