(The biggest cost is installation, running for a product that size at just over $10,000.) Today, Trex's price hasn't budged, but wood's gotten almost as expensive, rising two-fold to $1,100. Put simply, a composite deck that a year ago sold at twice the price of wood now goes for just 10% more.

Is composite decking more expensive in 2021?

Composite decking is resistant to UV light, pests, weather conditions, and just generally lasts longer. Composite decking adds more value to a home than a wooden deck and requires much less maintenance. But the cost was always a sticking point. This year composite decking may actually be the cheaper option.

Why are lumber prices so high 2021?

Home prices are soaring, pushed higher by a combination of record-low mortgage rates, strong demand from buyers and a lingering lack of new construction. In 2021, a new factor put pressure on home prices: Month after month, lumber prices jumped to new highs. Lumber costs soared more than 30% from January through May.

Is Trex cheaper than wood 2021?

Trex Decking can be slightly more pricey than wood decking, depending on the features you choose. A Trex deck costs on average $5 to $12 per square foot, compared to wood decking which costs $3 to $7 per square foot. Pressure treated wood will be more expensive, costing between $6 and $14 per square foot.

Why is composite wood so expensive?

The first reason why composite decking is expensive is that they're not an expenditure. They're an investment. They require much less maintenance over time as compared to normal decks. Composite decking materials are designed to be resistant to mold, mildew, and rot.

Why The Fake Wood Decking Business Is Booming

38 related questions found

Is composite cheaper than wood?

Cost Comparison

Are composite decks still more expensive than wood decks? ... A $1,375 price difference—about 14 percent—on a $10,000 project isn't pocket change, and is enough of a difference that some homeowners will stick with pressure-treated wood to minimize costs.

Is Trex going out of business?

"T-Rex Engineering went through bankruptcy on February 21, 2019 and the company was offered for sale.

Is there a cheaper version of Trex?

Generally speaking, Trex and Fiberon offer the least expensive options while TimberTech and AZEK come in on the higher end. However, keep in mind that the higher-tiered grades of Trex are more expensive than the lower-tiered grades of Timbertech so it's important to make sure you're comparing apples to apples.

Did Trex decking go up in price?

To offset those surging expenses, Trex will increase prices an average of 5% starting on August 1. Still, a hike that size will still leave its composite offerings highly competitive versus wood.

Is there a shortage of composite decking?

Contractors, composite deck board manufacturers and consumers are feeling the price and supply squeezes caused by an intense lumber shortage, increased building demand and COVID-19. ... But according to Waste Management, most composite boards can't be recycled in curbside pickup programs.

Are lumber prices dropping yet?

In a matter of three months, lumber has gone from exorbitant to relatively affordable levels. Prior to the pandemic, the price usually ranged from $350 to $500. It's now at the lower end of that spectrum. These wholesale price cuts continue to trickle down to the retail side and, in recent weeks, they've accelerated.

Are lumber prices going back up?

Lumber prices are back on the rise. The integral homebuilding material has surged about 50% from its mid-August bottom of $448 per thousand board feet. ... Lumber prices are still 70% higher than their pre-pandemic levels of around $400 per thousand board feet. That price difference is being felt by everyday Americans.

Will building costs go down in 2022?

The greatest downward impact from a -20%, year-long loss of starts on nonresidential spending will be felt throughout 2021 and into 2022. Over the next 9 months, every sector will post more down months (in spending) than up months, although the declines will be most noticeable in nonresidential buildings.

How much should a composite deck cost?

Let's get down to it: how much is composite decking? On average, a composite deck costs between $30 and $60 per square foot, including installation. Natural decks, on the other hand, cost about $23 to $42 per square foot installed, especially for high-end wood like cedar and redwood.

How much does a 400 sq ft deck cost?

The most pressing question is how much does it cost to build a deck? Surprisingly, this is a reasonably priced construction project, with average costs ranging from $5,000-8,000 for a 250 to 400 sq. ft. deck.

Is Trex decking worth the cost?

Yes, worth it!

Yes, composite materials on decking and trim are worth the money. The labor to install composite is the same as the labor to install wood, which will rot and require a lot of maintenance. For example, the labor to replace a deck with Trex or wood might both be $4000.

Is composite decking more expensive right now?

It is now significantly more expensive to build anything that uses wood, including traditional decks. ... Alternative materials, such as aluminum and composite decking, which are typically priced at a high premium over wood, are now more viable options, even if they're still more expensive.

How much does a 20x20 deck cost?

New Deck Installation Cost

The average homeowner spends $2,200 to build a 10x10 foot deck, $6,160 to build a 14x20 deck, and $8,800 to build a 20x20 deck. The cost to build a deck with pressure-treated wood, hardwood, or composite is about $25 per square foot, for both materials and installation.

Is azek more expensive than Trex?

There's no getting around this one—Trex and Azek decking is significantly more expensive than traditional wood decking. Price out Azek decking vs Trex for an identical project, and you'll quickly find Trex is the cheaper option, with Azek coming in at 2 to 3 times the cost, per linear board foot, of Trex.

Is Timbertech more expensive than Trex?

Another thing you'll want to consider is the price of both materials. Timbertech is more expensive than Trex, but that doesn't mean Trex isn't a quality product, because it is. Lastly, Trex doesn't scratch nearly as easy as Timbertech.

Why is Trex decking out of stock?

Trex management expects 20% year-over-year net-sales growth in the upcoming first quarter of 2021. And for the year, it expects net sales to grow by double digits. However, that sounds like slower growth than what it enjoyed in 2020 and it's likely why the stock is down today.

Why is Trex decking in short supply?

Contractors unable to find pressure-treated wood began to stock up on composite decking instead, increasing demand and reducing availability of the already popular decking material. ... As you might expect, the shortage of lumber combined with increased demand caused prices to skyrocket.

What composite decking is best?

8 Best Composite Decking Brands Reviewed

1. Fiberon. Fiberon is a brand that specializes in composite decking materials. ...
2. MoistureShield. MoistureShield has a great product that is definitely worthy of your attention. ...
3. Cali Bamboo. ...
4. Trex. ...
5. Duralife. ...
6. Lumberock. ...
7. Envision. ...
8. TimberTech (AZEK)