Fiberon vs Trex: what composite decking is better?

So, you have made the decision to install decking and now you are thinking about which brand is better to choose. After a short search, you realized that there are two leaders in the composite decking market: Fiberon and Trex. Both deckings seem to you of the same quality and aesthetics, but you want to choose the best one. Our article will help you understand which decking, Fiberon or Trex, is best suited to your home. We will examine each property in detail and give an objective assessment of the two brands.

About Trex and Fiberon brands

What is Trex decking?

The Trex company was founded in the year 1996. In the year 2000, Trex developed a revolutionary material, which comprises recycled plastic, wood chips, recycled glass fibres and recycled paper, that is used to manufacture deck materials. Today, Trex is one of the leading manufacturers of deck boards and railing systems across Canada. Trex has also developed industry-leading innovations, including patent-pending technology that allows for decking installation without the use of nails or staples. This patented technology allows homeowners to install decks fast, easy, and without damaging the existing deck.

What is Fiberon decking?

Fiberon has been creating composite decking, railing, cladding, furniture, and accessories since 1997. Since then, the company has gained worldwide recognition for its innovation and quality. Fiberon is a United States Green Building Council (US GBC) certified company. In addition, Fiberon is part of the North American Deck & Rail Association (NADRA), and an active member of the International Builder’s Show trade show organization. Fiberon's commitment to safety led it to develop the hidden fastener system, one of the safest installation systems ever used. Because Fiberon works hard to continuously improve quality and service, they provide lifetime warranties on their products.

In this article, we will compare Trex and Fiberon brands according to 14 criteria. We will evaluate each of the criteria on a 10-point scale, which will allow us to objectively identify the leader, as well as evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each brand.

Material

The ratio of wood and plastic is an important criterion for the quality of the board. The less wooden component in it, the better. This will give the boards the best protection against rot, mold, or termite damage. The recycled plastic is not only eco-friendly but also improves the strength of the board and makes it lighter, making it easier to install.

Trex is 95% recycled. This ratio holds true for all his collections, regardless of price. This is a good thing, as this pricing helps clients on a tight budget get quality decking. The material quality of Trex boards can be rated 9 out of 10 because the manufacturer does not offer fully plastic PVC boards.

The recycled material of Fiberon varies from 94% to 100%. Thus, the Fiberon Promenade and Fiberon Paramount collections are 100% made of plastic and do not contain a wooden component. This property allows them to be installed in rainy areas, near rivers, lakes and pools without fear of rotting or mold. The Fiberon Good Life, Fiberon Concordia and Fiberon Sanctuary collections contain 94-96% recycled material. The quality of the material of Fiberon boards can be rated 10 out of 10 because the manufacturer offers the highest quality plastic PVC decking.

Conclusion: Fiberon board material is better. Both brands are very similar in terms of material quality. However, Fiberon has the advantage of offering to purchase 100% plastic boards, while Trex does not.

Board profile

Knowing the proportions of the board is important for proper installation and selection of accessories. The sizes of boards of different brands may differ in length, width and height. Restrictions in proportions exist for each collection, so you need to be very careful when choosing a decking.

Trex Enhance and Trex Transcend deck proportions are 0.94’’ height, 5.5’’ width and 12’, 16’ or 20’ length both for square and grooved edge boards. Trex Select deck proportions are 0.82’’ height, 5.5’’ width and 12’, 16’ or 20’ length both for square and grooved edge boards. There is also a 2’’ square edge board with 1.3 in x 5.5 in x 12 ft dimensions for the Trex Select collection. A variety of proportions of Trex boards expands the installation possibilities and the realizations of unique designs and can be rated 10 out of 10.

Fiberon Promenade and Fiberon Paramount collections offer square or grooved edge boards with a flat bottom. The height is 1.05’’, width is 5,5’’. The board length can be 12’, 16’ or 20’. Fiberon Concordia collection offers square or grooved edge boards with a flat bottom. The height is 0.92’’, width is 5,4’’. The board length can be 12’, 16’ or 20’. Fiberon Sanctuary and Fiberon Good Life collections offer square or grooved edge boards with a flat bottom. The height is 0.92’’, width is 5,25’’. The board length can be 12’, 16’ or 20’. A variety of proportions of Fiberon boards, which expands the variants of unique designs, can be rated 10 out of 10.

Check the table below to compare the proportions of boards in each collection.

Conclusion: both Fiberon and Trex board profiles are good. The deck profiles of both brands let homeowners build a unique and aesthetic deck design.

Price

The cost of decking is often the most important factor when choosing a brand. A good manufacturer must strike a balance between price and quality.

Trex is considered one of the most affordable brands in Canada. The brand offers the cheapest Trex Enhance Basics decks of 12’ length for $30 per board The cost of boards from different collections:

• Trex Enhance price ranges from $30 to $75;
• Trex Select - $50 to $83
• Trex Transcend decking costs from $83 to $123 per board.

Any of the Trex collections will be cheaper than a similar quality collection from another brand. Therefore, for the price, we rate the Trex 10 out of 10.

Fiberon also offers attractive prices for its decks:

• Fiberon Good Life price ranges from $45 to $76;
• Fiberon Sanctuary - from $77 to $128;
• Fiberon Concordia - from $92 to $154;
• Fiberon Paramount - from $98 to $164;
• Fiberon Promenade PVC board price ranges from $107 to $179.

Fiberon is not an expensive brand, it offers value in the mid-price range. Therefore, in terms of cost, we will rate Fiberon at 9 out of 10.

For the convenience of comparing the prices of different collections, we have summarized the data in the table.

Conclusion: Trex decking is cheaper. Any of the Trex collections will be cheaper than the same quality Fiberon collection.

Board capping and scratch resistance

The quality of the board surface determines such parameters as heat, scratch resistance, slip and aesthetic appearance. Each brand develops its own coating.

Boards from any Trex collection are capped on three sides: top and left and right. They are covered with a proprietary coating that protects boards from fading and reduces the slip coefficient and the heating temperature. The quality of Trex coverage can be rated 8 points out of 10.

Fiberon composite boards are also capped on three sides. Only Fiberon Paramount and Fiberon Promenade PVC decks are covered on all 4 sides, allowing these boards to be installed on the upper levels of the deck. The capping reliably protects boards from scratches and keeps saturated color. The quality of the Fiberon coating can be rated 8 points out of 10.

Conclusion: both Fiberon and Trex capping are good. The quality of coating for both brands is high enough to ensure a comfortable stay on the deck and protect boards from scratches that remain from furniture or heels.

Hardness and durability

The hardness of the board determines the force of the load that the deck can withstand. The higher the strength, the more heavy furniture can be placed on the decking without concerns of deformation and cracking. Homeowners who plan to gather large groups, family and friends should also opt for a more durable decking.

The strength of Trex Transcend decks is 4 kN. By this criterion, Trex deserves a 6 out of 10.

The strength of Fiberon decking ranges from 5 kN to 8 kN, depending on the collection. Fiberon gets 7 out of 10 in terms of strength.

Conclusion: Fiberon deck boards are more hard and durable. Fiberon decking is almost 2 times stronger load than Trex. With Trex decking, you need to be careful and try not to put heavy furniture on it.

Ease of installation

Many homeowners install decking on their own to save money. With detailed instructions, this is quite possible.

Both Trex and Fiberon offer their own branded accessories for deck installation. They are designed so that the installation of the boards does not require additional tools and complex actions. In both cases, composite decking can be easily and quickly installed within 3 days. For this reason, Trex and Fiberon each receive 10 points.

Decks Toronto has prepared a detailed guide to help you install Trex or Fiberon decking yourself - A full guide on how to build a deck on your own.

Conclusion: the construction of Trex and Fiberon decks is equally good. It is designed to be easy to install DIY.

Heating

The heating of the boards determines how comfortable it will be to walk on the decking in hot weather. The composition and coating of the board determine how hot it will get. So, plastic boards usually heat up more than traditional composite boards.

Trex offers only composite boards. They warm up noticeably in the sun. According to this criterion, the brand gets 7 out of 10.

Boards from the Fiberon Good Life, Fiberon Concordia and Fiberon Sanctuary collections will heat up about the same as Trex. However, boards from the Fiberon Promenade and Fiberon Paramount collections may get hotter. According to the criterion of heating, the brand gets 6 out of 10.

Conclusion: Trex heats up less. Thanks to the high-quality coating and the presence of a wooden component in the composition, Trex decking can be walked barefoot in summer. Fiberon plastic boards heat up a little more noticeably.

Slipperiness

Your safety depends on the slip of the boards. In snowy or rainy weather, the boards become more slippery, therefore, the risk of injury increases. That is why you need to choose decking taking into account traction. The minimum slip coefficient, which indicates the safety of the board, is 0.5.

The slip resistance of Trex Transcend boards in dry weather varies is 0.52. When wet boards traction is reduced to 0.39. The slip of Trex boards can be estimated at 7 points out of 10.

For Fiberon Concordia, the slip factor in dry weather is 0.4, and during rainy weather, it drops to 0.31. However, it is worth considering that the situation is fundamentally different for PVC boards. Boards from the Fiberon Promenade and Fiberon Paramount collections are the safest. In dry weather, the slip coefficient is 0.8, and in rainy weather - 0.75. For this, the brand receives 8 points out of 10.

Conclusion: Fiberon decking is safer. Trex and Fiberon сomposite boards have approximately the same slip coefficients. However, for those who want to protect themselves as much as possible, only Fiberon has a solution.

Ease of maintenance

When choosing a material for decking, you need to consider how much time you are willing to spend caring for it. Composite decking of any brand is not demanding in maintenance.

Both Trex and Fiberon decks do not require painting, sanding or sealing. Boards should be washed with warm soapy water every 6-12 months. For ease of maintenance, both brands get 10 out of 10.

You can learn in detail about how to properly wash composite decking and how to get rid of difficult stains in our guide - How to clean composite and wood decking?

Conclusion: both Fiberon and Trex decking are easy to maintain. Both brands are easy to wash and take no more than an hour to clean.

Collection variety

The more diverse the collection, the more unique design you can create. In addition, the availability of different collections means more choice of decking for a specific budget.

Trex offers 4 collections to choose: Trex Enhance, Trex Select, Trex Transcend and Trex Transcend Lineage. All of them offer only composite decking. Trex can be rated 4 out of 10 points for various collections.

Fiberon has 6 collections: Fiberon ArmorGuard, Fiberon Good Life, Fiberon Sanctuary, Fiberon Concordia, Fiberon Promenade and Fiberon Paramount. The first 4 collections offer composite decking, while the two newest collections offer PVC decking. Fiberon can be rated 6 out of 10 points for various collections.

Conclusion: Fiberon offers a greater variety of collections. At Fiberon you can choose from 6 collections of composite and PVC decking, while at Trex only from 4.

Possibility to install deck railings

If a railing is placed along with the decking, then any homeowner wants them to be in harmony with each other. This is easier to achieve if you buy deck railings and decking from the same brand. This approach will also simplify the installation, as deck railing accessories are often customized to fit the profile of the boards.

Both Trex and Fiberon offer their own composite railing collections. Manufacturers themselves offer a specific type of railing for each collection. Both brands get 10 out of 10 for making it easier to make a decision and make a purchase convenient.

Conclusion: Fiberon and Trex make it possible to install railings. Each brand offers a collection of composite railings in white and black.

Aesthetics and color variety

When choosing a brand, not only the quality of the board is important, but also its appearance. How well the color of the decking matches the house, whether the shade of the board meets your expectations, whether the decking looks natural - all these questions should be considered when choosing a board. The decisive factor may be the variety of patterns on the board or the solidness of the color.

All Trex collections offer 22 colors in total:

• Trex Transcend Lineage - 2 colors: Biscayne and Rainier;
• Trex Transcend - 8 colors: Scipced Rum, Island Mist, Vintage Lantern, Tiki Torch, Havana Gold, Lava Rock, Gravel Path and Rope Swing;
• Trex Select - 5 colors: Pebble Grey, Winchester Grey, Select Saddle, Woodland Brown and Madeira;
• Trex Enhance - 7 colors: Foggy Wharf, Rocky Harbor, Toated Sand, Coastal Bluff, Beach Dune, Enhance Saddle, Clam Shell.

In terms of the variety of colors, Trex can be rated at 7 out of 10. Separately, it is worth noting the Trex Transcend Lineage collection, which presents delicate light colors of decking, which is very rare on the market.

The Fiberon collection includes deck boards in 34 colors:

• Fiberon ArmorGuard - 3 colors: Sandcastle, Brazilian Walnut, Nantucket Grey;
• Fiberon Good Life - 6 colors: Cabana, Tuscan Villa, Bungalow, Beach House, Cabin, Cottage;
• Fiberon Sanctuary - 5 colors: Moringa, Espresso, Latte, Chai, Earl Grey;
• Fiberon Concordia - 8 colors: Warm Sienna, Burnt Umber, Cinnabar, Graphite, Ipe, Tudor Brown, Rosewood, Castle Gray;
• Fiberon Paramount - 4 colors: Brownstone, Sandstone, Clay, Mineral;
• Fiberon Promenade - 6 colors: Natural Reef, Russet Dune, Sandy Pier, Shaded Cay, Weathered Cliff, Moonlit Cove.

The variety of colors in the Fiberon collections can be rated at 9 out of 10. The homeowner can choose bright tropical tones or light noble ones. Boards from the Fiberon Paramount and Fiberon Promenade collections are finished with a pattern that is unique to each board. Due to this, the Fiberon decking looks more natural.

Conclusion: Fiberon offers a greater variety of colors. High-quality patterns and non-solid color allow the boards from the new collections to look as natural as possible. Trex is limited in colors, although its decks are also aesthetically pleasing.

Warranty

The warranty is one of the first criteria that people pay attention to when choosing a decking. Every homeowner wants to install decking once and for all. In this regard, both brands offer pleasant warranty periods.

All Trex collections come with a 25-year residential warranty. For a commercial installation, the warranty term is 10 years. Limited Residential Fade & Stain Warranty for Trex is offered for 25 years. The Trex decking warranty can be rated at 7 out of 10 points, as the manufacturer offers the shortest warranty periods among all manufacturers.

The Fiberon Good Life warranty is 30 years and during this time the manufacturer promises that the deck will not deform. Limited Residential Fade & Stain Warranty for Fiberon Good Life is 25 years. Fiberon Sanctuary is backed by a 40-year warranty against damage and a 40-year warranty against fading. Fiberon Paramount, Fiberon Promenade and Fiberon Concordia come with a Lifetime Service Warranty and a 50-year Limited Stain and Fade Warranty. The Fiberon decking warranty can be rated 10 out of 10, as the manufacturer offers one of the longest warranty periods for their decking.

Conclusion: Fiberon decking has a longer warranty. Any Fiberon collection has a longer warranty than Trex.

Reviews

Impressions of the brand from other homeowners can help guide the decking decision. People who have already installed the deck can tell in detail and honestly about all the pros and cons of the brand.

Trex is rated 4.3 out of 5 on Homedepot based on ratings from 142 people. Fiberon is rated 4.5 out of 5 on Homedepot based on 80 people. As you can see, homeowners rate the quality of the brands about the same. According to this criterion, both manufacturers receive 8 out of 10.

Conclusion: people equally appreciate the quality of Trex and Fiberon. In general, homeowners are satisfied with the installed decking.

So, which composite decking is better: Fiberon or Trex?

So, we compared brands according to 14 criteria - you can see the results in the table below. Indeed, Trex and Fiberon are very similar in quality and the difference in the final score between them is not so great. Trex scored a total of 113 points, in Fiberon - 121. Therefore, in the Trex vs Fiberon race, the latter wins.

Fiberon is good because it offers 4 collections of composite boards and 2 collections with 100% plastic decking. The homeowner can choose from 34 colors. Fiberon boards are quite durable, and the coating protects them from scratches. In addition, Fiberon offers one of the longest warranties on the market for any collection.

Trex compares favourably with Fiberon price. Any Trex collection will cost less, which is ideal for those who want to save on decking installation. Also, Trex boards heat up less.

At the same time, both Fiberon and Trex are equally good in terms of ease of installation, ease of maintenance and rating among homeowners.

Fiberon and Trex pros and cons

Order Trex and Fiberon decking at Decks Toronto online store

You can purchase Fiberon or Trex deck boards with delivery to GTA across Canada. Decks Toronto is a reliable decking contractor and guarantees fast delivery directly to your home within 3-5 business days. You can buy branded accessories for installing composite decking from our online store. In addition to decking, you can order railings from us to complement your exterior design.

If you wish, you can independently take out the goods from our warehouses. We are located at the following addresses:

• 71 Buttermill Ave Vaughan, ON, L4K 3X2;
• 234 Hood Rd. Markham ON L3R 3K8;
• 49 Truman Rd, Barrie, ON L4N 8Y7.

If you have any questions about a product, need help choosing quantities or advice on installing and delivering - call us at 416.623.7158 or email info@deckstoronto.com.

To see if the chosen brand and color suits your needs, you can order Fiberon or Trex sample and test it. So you can personally verify the quality of the selected collection and evaluate its aesthetics.