Trex Wood-Polymer Lumber

Petra  Decks is a “TrexPro” Contractor!

Trex Wood-Polymer™ lumber brings together some of the best properties of wood and plastic.

Compared to conventional decking lumber, Trex decking offers much more: outstanding durability without the use of preservatives or sealants, workability that wood can’t match, and an elegant natural coloring that stays looking great for many years.

Trex decking is made from reclaimed & recycled materials.

There are two “ingredients” in Trex decking – waste wood fiber and reclaimed plastics, such as grocery sacks and stretch film.

To make Trex Wood Polymer lumber, approximately equal amounts of waste wood fiber and reclaimed plastic are combined. The wood fiber comes primarily from woodworking operations, while the plastic material is reclaimed mainly from stretch film and grocery sacks. During the “mixing” of these elements, the plastic actually surrounds and protects the individual wood fibers, giving Trex decking many of its superior weather-resistant properties.

Trex decking contains no virgin wood or virgin plastics. No preservatives or treatments are added during its manufacture. In addition, Trex is completely recyclable after use through the Trex Recycling Program.

The Ultimate Easy-Care Decking Material!

Structures using composite lumber like Trex decking have been standing up to the toughest environments for over ten years.

Wood Fiber Benefits:

• Increased stiffness
• UV protection
• All the workability of the best grades of lumber
• Slip resistance

Plastics Provide:

• Low moisture absorption
• Chemical and pest resistance

Here are some things you won’t find in TREX Wood Polymer lumber:

• No preservatives
• No chemical additives
• No virgin wood

Additionally:

• No rotting, cracking or splintering
• No need for sealants
• No water, sun or insect damage
• Ongoing weatherometer testing (equaling 20+ years) has shown no deterioration of performance
• All backed by a 10 year transferable limited warranty

Trex Decking is “Family Friendly”

• Splinter-free
• Excellent traction, even when wet (ASTM D2047)
• No hassles with stains or sealants
• Compliments the look of traditional wood
• Will readily accept paints or stains
• Elegant natural coloring

Environmentally Responsible

• Uses no virgin wood
• No preservatives or chemical treatments
• No more flammable or toxic than wood

Characteristics of Trex®Wood

• No sealants/ weatherproofing  required
• Does not splinter
• No splitting, cracking or warping
• Undamaged by rot or termite
• Minimal shrinkage/ swelling from moisture
• Constructed from reclaimed plastics and hardwoods
• Slip resistant (wet or dry)
• National building code listing
• Cuts, fastens, sands and paints easily
• Low thermal expansion/ contraction
• Excellent paint/ stain adhesion
• Natural UV resistance
• Available at thousands of lumberyards nationwide

A Structural Note

• Trex is NOT designed to perform as a one-for-one structural replacement for wood in all applications. It is not intended for primary structural load-bearing elements, such as posts, joists and beams. But for a wide range of uses, Trex provides unmatched durability, easy care and comfort.

Trex in the Long Run

• In terms of performance, Trex does a lot of things that wood just can’t. Because of its mixture of polyethylene and wood, untreated Trex absorbs virtually no water – a range of 1.7% to 4.0% moisture. Compare that to wood, which can absorb up to ten times more!
• Once wood begins to absorb water, it expands and contracts, especially along its width. Cracking, splitting and rotting can follow shortly. Eventually, the cracks and other flaws ruin the structural integrity and the wood must be replaced. To prevent water damage, costly sealants must be reapplied regularly to wood. On the other hand, Trex never needs sealants… and never cracks, splits or rots.
• With Trex, there are no more worries about splinters, costly replacement boards or preservatives like those used in wood.

Weathering

• Both Trex and wood tend to fade with time – but there is a big difference. After 8-12 weeks of exposure to sunlight and moisture, Trex weathers to driftwood grey tones that it naturally maintains. On the other hand, wood continues to change color (and not always evenly) throughout its lifetime.

Costs

• As a rule of thumb, Trex is comparably priced to most premium decking lumber. But when you factor in costs for stains, sealants, replacement boards and other maintenance over the next 10 years and beyond, Trex comes out well ahead.

Trex vs. Plastic

• Don’t confuse Trex’s wood-polymer composition with plastic lumber. There are some very significant advantages to using Trex.
• In terms of traction, Trex meets ADA standards for slip resistance – wet or dry. Trex has natural UV resistance. Plastic lumber doesn’t. Most paints and stains adhere well to Trex, while standard paints cannot be used successfully on plastic lumber.
• Most importantly, Trex maintains a significantly lower rate of expansion and contraction from thermal changes compared to plastic lumber. In hot weather, plastic can expand up to 6 times as much as Trex, causing plastic lumber to buckle and fasteners to shear. Because of this high expansion rate, plastic lumber must be laid down with large gaps between boards.