In article ,
said...
I posted an earlier message about this, but didn't get many responses,
especially from owners of Trex decks. So I'll try again.

We're planning on having a deck built from either Trex or WeatherBest
composite decking.

I'm interested in hearing from people who have tried either of these two
products.

One contractor told us to avoid Trex because mold and mildrew grows on it
more than on other composite materials, and thus it needs to be cleaned with
a mold or mildew remover 2-3x a year. However, Trex's Web site says as long
as you hose down the deck periodically, and keep it clean from pollen and
other debris, then you won't get mold.

I'm also concerned about fading. We're looking at the light brown colors
that simulate the look of wood. Seems like both composite products say they
will fade, but because the inside of the WeatherBest decking is the same
darker color as the outside, I'm guessing it won't fade as much as the Trex,
which has a darker outer coloring and a lighter inside color. Which product
will fade less, and how much do these products typically fade? And because
the WeatherBest is the same color throughout, I'm guessing it doesn't show
scratches as much ... is that correct?

Lastly, this deck will be high up, so we need a good, sturdy railing. We'd
prefer to have the railing match the decking and be made out of the same
material, but some contractors have told us that we should only use wood for
the railings because the man-made composite materials are not sturdy and
durable enough. However, other contractors have said the Trex and
WeatherBest railing systems are much better now, and that they should work
find.

Any advice or suggestions as to which composite decking and type of railing
you'd recommend would be appreciated -- especially from those who have decks
made from either of these two products. Thanks in advance for your help!!

I've helped install a deck with this stuff before and all I can tell you
is - do it on 12" centers. The stuff moves like crazy when it's hot and
bounces like hell when you walk on the spans even at 12".