Deck replacement: Trex, Azec, something else?

[Anonymous]

I am replacing my deck this spring and have decided to go with a non-wood product. The person who will do it suggested Trex because that's what he's familiar with. Wondering if anyone else has researched this in recent years and has opinions or recommendations regarding which of the various non-wood products/companies to use. Cost is of course an issue but not the only one. I think my budget would allow me to spend a bit more than the cheapest option if it came with better durability in the long run.
Suggestions welcome. Thanks.
P.S. I am in the DC area, so our local weather conditions are at play. No other special circumstances that I can think of, other than the fact that I love to be barefoot in summer, and am tired of dealing with splinters from the old wood.

[Anonymous]

My choices based on budget would be PT lumber (cheapest), ipe, or full on plastic/composite. Trex and the like are basically a combination of ground up plastic bottles and saw dust glued together to form a board. Mold has been a problem and it grows from the inside out. Google the lawsuits they've had.

[Anonymous]

Pressure treated lumber, for sure. Holds it value much better -- and is cheaper. You can always refinish it after 10 years, which you can't do with the plastic products.

[Anonymous]

Trex gets and looks dirty all the time. It's a PIA!

[Anonymous]

If your deck is in otherwise OK condition, I'd try refinishing it first. Sand it and stain it with one of those thick stains. This completely got rid of our splinters.

Wood looks and feels so much nicer than the plastic stuff.

[Anonymous]

We have a trex equivalent at the beach and it works very well there but not sure I would use it here. We do have to clean it with an oxidizing cleanser once a year to get the mold/discoloration off. It also gets grease spots on it (grill, sunscreen, bug spray) that we can't seem to get out.

[Anonymous]

We have Azec and are very happy with it. It is not a composite so no worries about mold and rot. It also does not stain if something like wine spills on it. I was concerned that it would look too plasticy but am happy with it. Great to walk outside and not worry about splinters either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trex gets and looks dirty all the time. It's a PIA!

+1 We have it and I don't like it.

[Anonymous]

Everyone thought that the plastic decking trex etc... is maintenance free but it isn't you still have to clean it and in some cases seal / stain. Terrible give me wood instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have Azec and are very happy with it. It is not a composite so no worries about mold and rot. It also does not stain if something like wine spills on it. I was concerned that it would look too plasticy but am happy with it. Great to walk outside and not worry about splinters either.

Thanks. Do you have any insight on the cost of Azec as compared to Trex or a wood option? All the comments have been helpful, and are making me seriously rethink the Trex option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have Azec and are very happy with it. It is not a composite so no worries about mold and rot. It also does not stain if something like wine spills on it. I was concerned that it would look too plasticy but am happy with it. Great to walk outside and not worry about splinters either.

We also went with Azec. It's been 3 yrs and no problems. So nice to walk out in barefeet (especially the kids) and love how theres no work involved (staining, rot, etc). The Treks was more expensive which is why we went with Azec.