Trex Decking Installed Right

Five composite tiers plus one PVC fire-rated line. Enhance is the entry tier, priced against pressure-treated wood. Select steps up with a broader color range and is curveable. Transcend is the flagship — thickest boards, deepest grain, highest scratch resistance. Transcend Lineage is identical to Transcend but built specifically around heat mitigation, making it Trex's coolest-running composite. Signature is the luxury tier with the most realistic exotic-hardwood grain. Refuge is a separate PVC product built for wildfire-hazard zones. Warranty length tracks the tier: 25 years on Enhance, 35 on Select, and 50 on Transcend, Lineage, Signature, and Refuge.

Full coverage runs the first 10 years, then it prorates on a sliding scale for the remainder of the term. One detail worth knowing: the fade standard itself loosens after year 25 — meaning a deck can fade more visibly in years 26–50 and still fall inside what the warranty considers acceptable. Labor and freight are never covered under any tier, and proper installation is what keeps the warranty valid at all — improper board gapping is the single most common reason a claim gets denied. We install to Trex's published guide precisely so your warranty stays in force.

For most Northern California homeowners, yes — and the math improves the longer you stay in the home. Trex runs roughly 2–3× pressure-treated wood upfront, but wood decks need staining, sealing, and eventual board replacement every few years. Trex needs soap and water. Over a 10–15 year horizon, the maintenance savings and the absence of splinters, rot, and insect damage make it the lower-total-cost choice — and it looks better for longer while doing it.

The warranty terms tell the story: 25 years on Enhance, 35 on Select, and 50 on Transcend, Transcend Lineage, Signature, and Refuge. Real-world service life typically meets or exceeds the warranty term when the deck is installed correctly and given basic care. The boards won't rot, splinter, or suffer insect damage — the main things that end a wood deck's life. Fading and surface staining are the variables, and they're manageable with the right color choice and routine cleaning.

Sometimes — but only if the existing framing is structurally sound, level, and spaced correctly for composite. Trex boards are non-structural and must bear on at least three joists, so the framing underneath has to meet spec: 16" on-center for standard runs, tighter for angled layouts. We inspect your existing frame before recommending a resurface versus a full rebuild, because a bad frame under good boards is a warranty risk and a performance problem.

Joists at 16" on-center for standard runs, tightening significantly for angled or diagonal decking — a 45° herringbone pattern effectively needs 12" framing, a spacing requirement that's easy to miss if it's not planned from the start. Board gapping is temperature-dependent (the '40°F rule'), and hidden fastener clips set the side gap automatically on grooved-edge boards. We follow Trex's installation guide to the letter, use Trex Protect joist tape on the framing, and plan for the Low-E window hazard — reflected sunlight from energy-efficient glass can char or bow composite boards, so we check sightlines before framing.

Color matters more than any technology — a light board of any tier will run cooler than a dark board of the premium tier. Within that, Transcend Lineage is the answer, because it's the only line that carries Trex's SunComfortable heat-mitigating tech across its entire color range. For a pool deck, a play area, or a Sacramento backyard you'll use barefoot all summer, we typically land on a lighter Lineage color and design shade where we can.

Roughly $25–95 per square foot installed depending on the line — Enhance around $25–55, Select $30–65, Transcend $40–85, and Signature at the top end up to ~$95 on premium framing and railing. Materials are typically only a quarter to a third of the total project cost — labor, substructure, and railing make up the rest, and railing is a separate line item that's easy to underestimate. These are directional industry figures; we'll price your actual project with a free on-site estimate.