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FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS
General
Information
Working
with
Trex®
Decking
Product
Characteristics
General
Information
Working
with
Trex
Decking
Product
Characteristics
GENERAL INFORMATION
What is
Trex
decking?
Trex
Wood-Polymer®
lumber
is made
from
reclaimed
plastic
and wood
waste in
approximately
equal
proportions.
Its
durability
makes it
an ideal
choice
for
decking
and
landscaping.
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What
colors
does
Trex
come
in?
Information
on our
colors
can be
found on
our
Colors
page
and our
Weathering
Page.
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Is
Trex
decking
made of
recycled
materials?
Trex
decking
is made
from
post-consumer
and/or
post-industrial
reclaimed
plastic
and
waste
wood.
The
reclaimed
plastic
comes
primarily
from
grocery
sacks
and
stretch
film,
and the
waste
wood is
from
woodworking
manufacturers.
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What is
the
difference
between
Trex
decking
and
"plastic
lumber?"
Unlike
plastic
lumber,
which is
typically
100%
plastic,
Trex
decking
is
approximately
50% wood
fiber
and 50%
plastic.
Because
of the
wood
content,
Trex
decking
has the
advantages
of low
thermal
expansion/contraction,
natural
UV
stability,
good
traction
and
paintability,
and Trex
decking
is just
as easy
to work
with as
wood.
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What
sizes
and
lengths
does
Trex
Wood-Polymer®
lumber
come in?
Trex
Wood-Polymer
lumber
is
available
in
popular
lumber
dimensions.
Standard
items
include
1x6,
5/4x6,
2x2
(balusters),
2x4, 2x6
and 2x8.
Standard
lengths
are 12',
with
5/4x6,
2x4 and
2x6
available
in 16'
lengths.
5/4x6
and 2x6
are also
available
in 20'
lengths.
Special
order
profiles
are also
available
and
include
2x10,
3x6, and
4x6. See
the
Trex
Sizes
page for
details
on our
other
profiles.
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Will the
color of
Trex
decking
change?
Trex
decking
will
change
color
slightly
after
10-12
weeks
exposure
to the
sunlight
and
water.
Please
see our
Weathering
page
for more
information.
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Does
Trex
decking
come
with a
warranty?
Yes,
Trex
decking
has a
fully-transferable
limited
warranty
unmatched
by
competitive
materials.
The Trex
decking
limited
warranty
offers
coverage
against
material
defects
in
workmanship
and
materials,
and
against
splintering,
splitting,
checking,
rot,
decay
and
termite
damage,
for a
full 25
years.
The
total
life
expectancy
for Trex
decking
is
currently
undetermined.
Accelerated
age
testing
is
ongoing
and has
simulated
over 50
years of
exposure
to harsh
weather
with
little
affect
on our
products.
See
warranty
details.
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How do I
dispose
of Trex
decking?
Can it
be taken
to a
landfill?
Trex
lumber
contains
no toxic
preservatives
and can
be
included
and
disposed
of with
normal
construction
debris.
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Where
can you
buy Trex
decking
and how
much
does it
cost?
Trex
decking
is
available
nationwide
through
a
network
of
approximately
2500
lumber
dealers
or
through
your
TrexPro
contractor.
You can
call
1-252-491-8237
for
information.
You'll
find
that
Trex
decking
is very
competitive
in cost
to
premium
grades
of
decking
lumbers.
And,
since
Trex
decking
never
requires
stains
or
sealants
for
protection,
you will
be
dollars
ahead
after
only a
few
years.
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WORKING
WITH
TREX
DECKING
Do
I need
special
tools to
work
with
Trex
decking?
Trex
Wood-Polymer
lumber
is just
as easy
to work
with as
wood, in
some
ways
even
easier.
It can
be cut,
drilled,
routed
and
nailed
using
standard
tools.
Carbide
blades
are
recommended
for best
performance.
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What
types of
fasteners
are
recommended
for Trex
decking?
Do
screws
need to
be
pre-drilled?
Virtually
any deck
fasteners
work
well
with
Trex
decking.
We
recommend
high
quality
screws
or
nails,
such as
stainless
steel,
ceramic
coated
or hot
dipped
galvanized
to take
advantage
of Trex
decking's
longevity.
As with
wood,
spiral
shank
nails
provide
better
holding
in Trex
decking
than do
common
nails.
Pre-drilling
is
generally
not
required
if you
use
self-tapping
or deck
screws.
Nail
guns
also
work
quite
well.
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Can Trex
lumber
be used
for deck
posts or
joists?
No.
While
Trex
lumber
is tough
and
durable,
it does
not have
the same
stiffness
as wood.
Therefore,
it is
not
intended
for use
as a
load
bearing
post,
joist or
any
other
primary
load-bearing
member.
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What
joist
spans
should I
use for
my deck
when
using
Trex
decking?
For Trex
5/4x6
deck
boards,
the
joist
spacing
should
be no
more
than 16"
on
center
for
residential
applications,
which is
the same
span
generally
recommended
for
wood.
Trex 2x
material
should
be
installed
at no
more
than 20"
on
center
for
residential
applications
and no
more
than 16"
on
center
for
commercial
projects.
A high
strength
2x6
product
is
available
for 24"
spans.
When
installing
Trex
deck
boards
on a 45
degree
diagonal
to the
joists,
reduce
spans by
a
minimum
of 4
inches.
Special
applications/loading
conditions
will
require
engineering
analysis
and/or
reduced
spans.
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Does
Trex
decking
require
gapping
between
boards?
Yes, in
both
directions.
While
Trex
decking
will not
noticeably
shrink
or swell
due to
changes
in
moisture,
changes
in
temperature
will
cause
slight
expansion/contraction.
Therefore,
gapping
is
required
both
side-to-side
and at
the end
joints
to allow
for
thermal
expansion/contraction.
See the
Installation
section
of our
Product
&
Installation
Guide
for
details.
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Can Trex
decking
be
painted
or
stained?
Trex
decking
readily
accepts
paint or
stain
though
neither
is
required
for
protection.
In
general,
paints
or
stains
which
adhere
well to
wood
will
adhere
as well
or
better
to Trex
decking.
Quality
latex
paints
(water
based)
or solid
color
stains
are
recommended.
Stain
and
paint
applications
should
be
applied
according
to the
manufacturers
instructions
after
the Trex
decking
fading
process
is
complete.
See the
Painting
Technical
Bulletin.
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What do
I need
to do to
care for
my Trex
deck?
Trex
decking
does not
require
stains
or
sealants
for
protection.
All you
need to
do to
your
Trex
deck is
to clean
it
periodically.
See the
Care &
Cleaning
page.
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How do
you
clean
stains
on Trex
decking?
For
stains
caused
by mold,
mildew,
berries
and
leaves,
conventional
deck
washes
containing
sodium
hypochlorite
work
well.
For rust
stains,
ground-in
dirt and
grime,
use
cleaners
containing
phosphoric
acid.
For
grease
and oil
stains,
we
recommend
that you
scrub
with a
detergent
containing
a
degreasing
agent as
soon as
the
stain
occurs.
Cleaning
out your
expansion
gaps
with a
flat
tool
should
be done
along
with any
periodic
cleaning.
For more
information
see our
Care &
Cleaning
page.
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How do
you bend
Trex?
You can
find
information
about
this in
the
Special
Applications
section
of our
Product
and
Installation
Guide.
Other
information
similar
to this
can be
found in
our
Architect's
Binder.
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How do I
make
sure
that my
balusters
are
tight
when
assembling
a Trex
Designer
Series
Railing?
-
When
securing
balusters
to
Bottom
Rail,
use
2"
deck
screws
(Trex
recommends
pre-drilling
to
prevent
splitting)
instead
of
nails.
The
groove
in
the
bottom
rail
indicates
the
center
location
of
the
baluster
for
drilling.
-
When
securing
balusters
to
Top
Handrail,
use
2-1/2"
– 16
gauge
nails
instead
of
2".
This
will
ensure
that
the
nail
fastens
to
both
sides
of
the
railing
channel.
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PRODUCT
CHARACTERISTICS
How
should
Trex
Wood-Polymer
lumber
be
handled?
Trex
decking
weighs
more
than
wood and
is more
flexible.
Do not
attempt
to lift
similar
volumes
of Trex
decking
as you
do wood.
When
storing
Trex
decking
at the
job site
for
extended
periods,
be sure
to keep
the
material
flat.
See our
Usage
Guidelines.
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Will
Trex
decking
absorb
moisture?
Because
of the
plastic
in Trex
decking
that
surrounds
the wood
fiber,
moisture
absorption
is
extremely
low.
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Does
Trex
decking
provide
good
traction?
Trex
decking
provides
a
stable,
firm,
slip-resistant
surface
- wet or
dry.
Slip
resistance
or
traction
is
measured
in terms
of the
coefficient
of
friction.
Trex
scores
high
enough
on these
types of
tests to
be
considered
compliant
with the
American's
with
Disabilities
Act.
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What
happens
to Trex
decking
in cold
weather?
Trex
decking
performs
well in
extreme
cold
weather
environments.
However,
because
Trex
decking
is 50%
plastic,
it will
be
harder
to nail
when
very
cold.
Under
these
conditions,
pre-drilling
is
recommended.
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What
happens
to Trex
decking
in hot
weather?
The span
charts
and
gapping
procedures
are
designed
to
ensure
that
Trex
decking
performs
well in
extreme
hot
weather.
When the
temperature
increases,
Trex
decking
will
become
more
flexible,
and it
will
expand/contract
slightly.
For this
reason,
the span
tables
and
gapping
instructions
should
be
closely
followed.
See the
Installation
section
of our
Product
&
Installation
Guide.
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of page
Can Trex
Wood-Polymer
lumber
be used
in full
ground
contact?
Is
treating
required?
Trex
lumber
is ideal
for
ground
contact
applications
such as
landscaping
timbers
and
edging.
Trex
lumber
is
highly
resistant
to rot
and
insects,
and
absolutely
no
treating
is
required.
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Will
insects
damage
Trex
decking?
Trex
decking
has been
tested
and
found to
be
highly
resistant
to
damage
from
termites,
carpenter
ants and
marine
borers.
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What is
the fire
rating
for Trex
products?
Trex
decking
and
railing
is rated
as a
Class C
(or
Class
III)
building
material.
It burns
similarly
to wood.
In
combustion
property
testing,
Trex
products
were
found to
be no
more
toxic
than
wood.
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How does
the
weight
of Trex
Wood-Polymer
lumber
compare
to
lumber?
Because
of its
density,
Trex
Wood-Polymer
lumber
is
comparable
in
weight
to
hardwoods.
In
comparison
to
softwoods
such as
redwood,
cedar
and
treated
southern
pine,
Trex
products
can
weigh up
to twice
as much.
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Do
building
inspectors
approve
Trex
decking
and
railing?
Trex
products
have
been
approved
for use
in
residential
and
commercial
installations
throughout
North
America.
Trex
decking
has
received
a
listing
with
ICBO
(Report
ICBO ES
ER-5747)
and the
National
Evaluation
Service
(Report
NER-508)
which
covers
BOCA and
SBCCI.
Trex has
also
been
evaluated
for use
in
Canada
by the
Canadian
Construction
Materials
Centre.
Please
see
Evaluation
report
13125-R.
See
these
reports
in our
Technical
Information
section.
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