With all of the composite/low maintenance decking companies out there it can be down right overwhelming to choose the proper deck surface for your project. Well I've made your decision easier by taking out all the lower end companies and narrowing the choice downt to the top 4 players in the market. These companies are fiberon, Timbertech, Azek, and Trex. I've chosen these companies because they have to the best contractor reputation, warranty, and product selection.
First lets talk about different lines or grades of flooring materials. They're are 3 different types of flooring and those are composite, pvc wrapped composite, and pvc. All 3 of these products serve a different use and purpose. The composite is made up of recycled plastic and chips of wood, this was the first type of low maintenance decking that was brought to the market. It is a very good lower budget material that will require a little bit more maintenance then other lines mentioned. It also does not do very well in a heavily shaded area. Now the pvc wrapped composite is also made of wood chips and recycled plastic but it has a shell of pvc that encapsulates the material. The major advantage to this product is that it comes in a variety of colors, stain resistance, and does not scratch. I would have to say there are no real draw backs to this material it is a little bit more pricey then just the composite but the overall life and appearance is great, also it is a bit on the heavy side. From there we go into the PVC, now this is a solid pvc piece of flooring that also has a wide range of colors and is stain resistant and does not scratch easily. This product is very light wieght and easy to move around on the job. I am not a huge fan of some of the PVC's as they seem to look fake.
So we've discussed the different types of flooring now lets talk about the brands. This really comes down to what you are looking for in a decking company. Weather it be the warranty, durability, or the overall look of the deck. I personally like the colors that fiberon has come up with but all 4 of the above mentioned make some absolutley great colors. They all 4 offer the same lines/grades that I discussed the major difference comes down to the pvc wrapped colors as the composites are all pretty much the same 3 colors grey, tan, and a red color. So I would say if you want an exotic color any of the 4 will have a great selection it just all comes down to your personal preference.
The best advice I can give is to hire a professional decking company like Erie County Decks or do some research of the 4 major players if you are the DIY type.
