How composite decking makers are boosting aesthetics and quality

The decking manufactured by Winchester, Va.-based Trex Co. Inc. has always been marketed as "good, better and best," but now there's another grade called Signature that was launched as the top-of-the-line product because it achieves the look of interior hardwood flooring.

Trex Signature offers a new level of realism for wood plastic composites, according to Adam Zambanini, president of Trex Residential.

"Trex Signature marks a watershed moment for composite decking," Zambanini said. "Just as Trex Transcend shattered preconceived notions about how composites perform, Trex Signature elevates the premium composite decking category with the achievement of the most authentic wood aesthetics to date."

Trex Signature replicates the graining and color richness of real wood while also withstanding the demands of the outdoors. The decking is made from recycled polyethylene and reclaimed wood and is engineered to endure the rigors of time and nature. It's also backed by an industry-leading 50-year limited residential warranty.

"Signature is a tastefully distinct innovation from the brand that started it all," Zambanini said. "From its impeccably resilient core to its beautifully designed surface, it is a next-generation product that creates a new category for outdoor living."

Trex Signature decking launched with two colors — a dark brown, Ocracoke, and a variated gray, Whidbey — and is available in designated markets across the West Coast, Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S.

The decking is manufactured in Winchester and is selling at the premium (better) price point with Trex-brand Transcend and Transcend Lineage decking, while Trex Select (better) and Trex Enhance Naturals and Basics (good) round out the offering.

"Today's design-savvy consumers seek the highest-style expressions for their homes and are willing to pay a premium for the quality, performance and aesthetic they desire," Zambanini said. "As the pinnacle of style in the composite decking category, Trex Signature offers a seamless transition from indoors to outside with decking that is distinctively durable and luxuriously crafted."

With $1.19 billion in annual sales, Trex ranks No. 6 among North American pipe, profile and tubing producers, according to Plastics News' latest ranking.

New London, N.C.-based Fiberon LLC expanded its Concordia brand of PE composite decking with a new line called Astir, which is distinguished by a rustic grain with four-sided embossing.

The new decking collection is a premium-tier product that launched with three multitonal colors and joins Symmetry and Horizon as Concordia collections. Fiberon's composite decking contains a minimum of 94 percent recycled content while its PVC decking is made from virgin material.

The company also recently announced a partnership with Hixson Lumber Co., a major supplier of wood products, including pressure-treated lumber for deck framing. The partnership expands Fiberon's reach in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma while making it possible for installers to acquire all materials from one source.

"Our new partnership with Hixson Lumber positions us to work with top-tier distributors in these key markets and represents a significant growth opportunity for our business," said Chris Hayn, vice president of sales for Fiberon. "Texas especially has become a big market for composite decking and railing and offers a well-established market for cladding."

With an estimated $275 million in annual sales, Fiberon ranks 22nd among North American pipe, profile and tubing extruders, according to PN data. Fiberon is part of Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc.

MoistureShield decking, a brand of Atlanta-based Oldcastle APG, a U.S. subsidiary of CRH plc of Dublin, added a greige shade that looks like aged shiplap to its Meridian capped composite product line. The plastic-wood composite decking features surface technologies called CoolDeck and TruTexture for comfort and performance.

CoolDeck minimizes heat absorption by up to 35 percent compared with traditional capped composite boards, while the TruTexture surface offers scratch resistance and a wood-grain finish with reduced pattern repetition for an authentic aesthetic.

Like all MoistureShield deck products, Meridian has a proprietary solid core that not only resists moisture absorption, warping, rotting and damage from insects but also is suitable for installation in the ground, on the ground or underwater.

With estimated sales of $115 million, MoistureShield ranks 42nd among pipe, profile and tubing extruders in North America, according to PN data.

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