TimberTech vs Trex: Which Decking Is Better?
If you're shopping for a low maintenance deck, two names come up first: TimberTech and Trex. Both are big, established brands. Both make good products. And homeowners ask us which one is better almost every week.
We'll be upfront. We're a TimberTech Gold Pro, and TimberTech is what we install. But this isn't a post about why Trex is bad, because it isn't. It's about the real differences, so you can decide for yourself.
For the full picture on TimberTech materials, start with our complete TimberTech decking guide.
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The biggest difference: TimberTech gives you a PVC option
This is the part most comparisons miss.
Trex is a composite brand. Its boards are a blend of recycled plastic and reclaimed wood fiber with a protective shell on the outside. The Trex lines sold here are Enhance, Select, Transcend and Signature.
TimberTech makes composite decking too, and it also has a full lineup of Advanced PVC, a board with no wood fiber at all. That means several collections, a wide range of colors and board widths, and a lifetime product warranty. So with TimberTech you're choosing between two materials, not just two price levels.
Why does that matter here? Minnesota decks sit under snow for months, go through freeze and thaw all spring, and get hammered by summer sun. A board with zero wood fiber is about as moisture proof as decking gets. That makes it a great fit for lake homes, pool decks, and shaded yards where the deck stays damp.
If you want the deeper breakdown between the two TimberTech materials, read our TimberTech Composite vs Advanced PVC: Which Is Right for Your Deck?.
Warranty comparison
Both brands back their boards with long warranties. Here's how they line up today.
Trex Enhance: 25 years.
Trex Select: 35 years.
Trex Transcend and Signature: 50 years.
TimberTech Composite (Prime, Premier, Prime+): 25 year product and fade and stain warranty.
TimberTech Composite (Reserve, Legacy, Terrain): 30 year product and fade and stain warranty.
TimberTech Advanced PVC (Vintage, Landmark, Harvest): limited lifetime product warranty plus a 50 year fade and stain warranty.
On paper, Trex's top lines and TimberTech's composite lines are close. The real step up is TimberTech Advanced PVC with its lifetime product coverage.
One more thing to know: a manufacturer warranty covers the boards, not the labor to build your deck. That's where the installer matters, and we'll come back to it.
How they look
Both brands make good looking boards, and this one really comes down to taste.
TimberTech's Reserve collection, the one we install most, has a rich, reclaimed wood look with a multi tone, cathedral grain. TimberTech's Advanced PVC collections lean toward exotic hardwood looks like teak, mahogany and walnut. Trex's Transcend and Signature lines have nice multi tone colors too.
Our advice: don't pick from a website. Look at real samples outside, in sun and in shade, next to your siding and railing color. We bring samples to every consultation.
Which one gets hotter?
All decking gets hot in direct sun. That's true for both brands and for wood, too. Darker colors run hotter than lighter ones.
TimberTech says its Advanced PVC stays cooler to the touch than many composite boards, and in our experience PVC cools down faster once the sun drops. Trex has its own heat answer in the Transcend Lineage line, which uses heat mitigating technology. If your deck faces south or west, ask to compare light colors from both brands before you decide.
How much do they cost?
Both brands have a range of lines from entry level to premium, so neither is always cheaper. Trex Enhance and TimberTech's Prime collections sit at the budget friendly end. TimberTech Advanced PVC and Trex Signature sit at the top.
Here's what matters more: the boards are only part of your deck's price. Framing, footings, stairs, railing and labor make up most of it, and those cost about the same no matter which brand of board goes on top. For real numbers from our last 20 TimberTech decks, read our guide on how much a TimberTech deck costs.
Why we build with TimberTech
We've installed plenty of decking over the years, and here's why TimberTech is the brand we stand behind.
A full composite and PVC lineup. We can put a homeowner in TimberTech composite for great value, or step them up to Advanced PVC when moisture or longevity is the priority, with plenty of colors either way. Same brand, same installer, same details.
We're a TimberTech Gold Pro. That status is earned through training and installation volume. We know the product, the fasteners and the install requirements inside and out.
Extra labor coverage for you. As a Gold Pro, our TimberTech decks qualify for 10 years of replacement labor coverage from TimberTech, or 12 years when you choose TimberTech railing. That's on top of our own 10 year labor warranty.
Built for Minnesota. We set our decks on helical piers and frame them with 2x10 joists, which also lets us build all winter. A great board deserves a structure that lasts as long as it does.
When Trex might be the right call
Trex can be a good fit if you already have Trex on part of your property and want it to match, if you've fallen in love with a specific Trex color, or if a contractor you trust installs it and backs the work. It's a solid brand with decades behind it.
Whichever brand you choose, the most important decision is who builds it. A premium board on a weak frame isn't a premium deck.
Ready to compare in person?
Book a free deck consultation and we'll bring TimberTech samples to your home in Plymouth, Maple Grove, Minnetonka or anywhere in the west metro. Want a ballpark first? Try our online deck estimate tool. You can also see more of our deck replacement work.
FAQ
Is TimberTech better than Trex?
Both are good brands. TimberTech's big advantage is its Advanced PVC lineup: several collections of boards with no wood fiber and a lifetime product warranty, alongside its composite. For most Minnesota decks, that range of options is why we build with TimberTech.
Is Trex cheaper than TimberTech?
It depends on the line. Both brands have entry level and premium options. The decking is also only part of the total price, since framing, footings, stairs and railing cost about the same either way.
Which has the better warranty?
Trex's top lines and TimberTech's composite lines are close, ranging from 25 to 50 years. TimberTech Advanced PVC goes further with a limited lifetime product warranty and a 50 year fade and stain warranty.
Does Trex or TimberTech get hotter?
All decking gets hot in full sun, and darker colors run hotter. TimberTech Advanced PVC is cooler to the touch than many composite boards and cools down quickly once the sun drops.
Does my railing have to match my decking brand?
No. Railing and decking don't have to match brands. We install Westbury, Kadenz, RDI and TimberTech railing. Choosing TimberTech railing does extend your TimberTech replacement labor coverage from 10 to 12 years.
Which brand does MWCR install?
We're a TimberTech Gold Pro, so TimberTech composite and Advanced PVC are what we build with.
Related reading
TimberTech Composite Decking: Everything Minnesota Homeowners Should Know
How Much Does a TimberTech Deck Cost?
TimberTech Composite vs Advanced PVC: Which Is Right for Your Deck?
How Long Does TimberTech Decking Last?
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