Differences Between Trex Composite Decking Lines
Trex is the most popular and well-known decking brand in the world, with decades of experience producing decking, railing, lighting and outdoor living products that combine low-maintenance, long-lasting materials with timeless style.
Trex deck boards come in several different lines, each with different features and price points. Here are the main different types of Trex deck boards:
Below, we'll run through the differences between each of the three lines and the variety of looks, colors, and features in each line to help you pick the board that best fits your deck goals.
DecksDirect’s mission is to help you build a better deck by helping you understand all of your deck design options. Here’s a straightforward breakdown of the differences between the different lines of Trex decking so that you can build the confidence to get your project started, and figure out exactly which Trex board is right for your beautiful deck.
If you need more help, please give us a call! You’ll reach a real person with a passion for deck projects who can guide you through the pros and cons of each Trex decking line and make the best recommendations for your project.
Table of Contents:
What Are The Different Types Of Trex?
The Trex decking brand is divided up into four separate composite deck board lines: Trex Enhance Basics, Trex Enhance Naturals, Trex Select, and Trex Transcend.
At DecksDirect, we carry the largest in-stock selection of deck materials you'll find anywhere. That includes stockpiles of Trex Enhance Naturals, Trex Select, and Trex Transcend deck boards. We believe you shouldn't have to compromise your dream deck look based on what's in-stock, so we carry it all. The value of our in-stock selection is that when you order Trex decking from DecksDirect, we've immediately got boots on the ground pulling your boards off the shelves and starting to carefully pack them up on a pallet to ship to your house. We ship 99.4% of our in-stock orders the very next day, so you can start your deck upgrade as soon as possible.
Trex ranks these boards as “better,” “better” and “best” in terms of value within the company’s decking lines.
The Trex Enhance Naturals and Trex Select lines are considered better value levels. Trex Transcend is billed as the best Trex deck line available.
All three Trex lines are composite boards made from 95% recycled materials. Composite decking is strong, durable and low-maintenance, solving many of the problems of traditional wood.
Differences Between Trex Decking Lines
Trex Enhance Naturals - Good
- Lowest cost
- Lightweight scalloped boards
- Textured streaking
- 4 color options
Trex Enhance Naturals are the lowest-cost of the three Trex decking lines we carry. The most unique feature of Trex Enhance boards are their scalloped bottoms. The undersides of Enhance boards are lined with grooves that help make Trex Enhance lighter and easier to transport before and during your deck build.
Trex Enhance decking features a beautiful, authentic wood-grain appearance, including the same textured wood-grain streaking you’ll find on Trex Transcend boards. Enhance boards check in at one inch thick, the same as Transcend and slightly thicker than Select.
All Trex decking boards are made with a protective shell to guard your structure against the elements. That’s why composite decks require far less maintenance and last much longer than their wood counterparts.
The result is a durable, long-lasting board that looks and even feels like real wood. The rich, organic appearance of the boards is backed by a 25-year fade and stain warranty. Trex’s Enhance Naturals line comes in four color options.
Trex Enhance Naturals Colors:
- Coastal Bluff
- Foggy Wharf
- Rocky Harbor
- Toasted Sand
Trex Select - Better
- Lower cost
- 7/8-inch thickness for lighter boards
- Textured wood-grain - looks like painted or stained wood
- 5 color options
Trex Select finds a different way to accomplish the same lighter-weight decking as Trex Enhance. Instead of scalloped bottoms, Trex Select boards shave a tiny bit of the thickness off, checking in at 7/8 of an inch instead of a full inch like Enhance or Transcend.
A lighter board means easier transport. That can save you sweat if you’re installing yourself, or paid man-hours if you’re hiring a contractor to build for you.
The surface of Trex’s Select line has a different look than Enhance or Transcend. Instead of the wood-streaking look, Select features a textured wood-grain look on the surface of the board, without the deeper grooves of Enhance or Transcend. The overall look will resemble tree rings (as seen in the photo above) more so than a straight, linear wood grain.
If you love the classic look of painted or stained wood, then Trex Select is the board for you. It delivers that traditional look, without requiring you to repaint or restain your boards to keep them looking good.
Trex Select is also considered slightly more scratch-resistant than Enhance, and the line comes in one more color. Trex Select’s five color options have a bit more range to them, from the warm, reddish Madeira to the rich, cool Winchester Gray.
Like all Trex deck lines, Select comes with a high-performance shell that prevents water damage, stains, insects and mold. Trex’s 25-year warranty for fading and staining means you’ll get to pick a look you love and rest easy that it will continue to look good for decades to come.
Trex Select Colors:
- Madeira
- Pebble Grey
- Saddle
- Winchester Grey
- Woodland Brown
Trex Transcend - Best
- Best-quality decking line
- Most (8) color options
- Textured-streaking
- Highest scratch-resistance
- Widest range of looks, including exotic, tropical wood looks
Trex Transcend decking is the best-quality option for both style and function - a true showstopper visually with the highest durability. Trex Transcend boards feature the brand's best scratch-resistance, with a tough outer shell that can handle pet claws and furniture legs without scuffing or scratching.
Transcend decking comes in eight different eye-catching colors. Transcend’s huge color range allows you to reap the low-maintenance, long-lasting benefits of composite decking while matching the looks of even exotic or tropical wood decking.
Trex’s Transcend line features three classic earth tones and five premium tropical colors, including lava rock, island mist and tiki torch. The surface graining is deeper than Trex Select, with realistic ridges in a wood-grain pattern.
Trex Transcend combines eight stunning colors with textured wood streaking for an appealing, natural look. One-inch thick boards are tough and durable, with the three-sided capstock shell that protects all Trex boards from water damage, staining, insects and mold. Trex supports Transcend with its 25-year fade and stain warranty so the brilliant look you choose is the brilliant look you get for years to come.
Trex Transcend Colors:
- Gravel Path
- Havana Gold
- Island Mist
- Lava Rock
- Rope Swing
- Spiced Rum
- Tiki Torch
- Vintage Lantern
Trex Transcend Lineage
- Trex's newest and highest-quality decking collection
- A specialized, premium collection with all the benefits of standard Trex Transcend deck boards plus more
- Luxurious, on-trend colors
- Trex's best scratch-resistance
- New capping technology stays cooler in the sun than other composite boards
In 2022, Trex introduced a new collection of decking: Trex Transcend Lineage. It's a separate collection of extra-premium boards that carry all the benefits of Trex Transcend decking, plus a few more.
This is the best-looking and highest-quality Trex decking line yet, featuring lighter, trendy colors and the brand's smoothest color mixes. The result is a range of totally on-trend looks that skew a little more modern than the traditional Trex aesthetic found in the rest of the Transcend line.
Functionally, the big change is a breakthrough in Trex's capping technology. Trex Transcend Lineage uses a new type of cap on the outside of each composite board, and the new capping helps the boards stay cooler than other composite deck boards in direct sunlight - hello barefoot deck days!
As with the rest of the Transcend line, Lineage features the brand's best resistance to scratching, and the tough, capped composite material resists mold and mildew and doesn't warp, split, or crack the way wood does. The Lineage collection comes in four cool, tranquil color options.
Trex Transcend Lineage Colors:
- Biscayne
- Carmel
- Jasper
- Rainier
NEW IN 2024: Trex Signature
In 2024, Trex is upgrading its decking offerings with Trex Signature, a new ultra-premium decking line designed to deliver unmatched luxury looks. Trex Signature Decking isn't yet widely available, but if you'd like to learn more, give us a call at 1-888-824-5316 to learn more about becoming one of the very first to use Trex Signature when it launches.
Trex Signature Decking Colors:
- Whidbey
- Ocracoke