The Advantages Of Composite Decking With Evette Rios

Evette Rios lives a busy life. When she's not making guest appearances on the Today Show, hosting TV shows about food and lifestyle trends, or contributing to best-selling magazines, this Emmy-nominated lifestyle expert and interior designer is focused on combining style with easy living.

When Rios embarked on renovating the outdoor space at her own Colonial home built in the late 1700s that she shares with her husband and two boys, she turned to Trex^® to design and build her backyard deck. Attracted to the stylish composite decking and railing that outperforms wood in looks, performance and durability, Rios wanted to use products strong enough to live up to the challenges of real life. 

1. The Charm of Wood - without the worry

There's no time for laborious home maintenance when you have such a demanding schedule. With all the beauty of wood but none of the hassle, Trex composite decking, made from up to 95% recycled material, lasts for decades with minimal maintenance requirements. Moisture and UV resistant, Trex doesn't rot, warp or splinter. It resists the fading and staining common with wood. That's why all Trex decking comes with warranties ranging from 25 to 50 years.

"If you are building or renovating an existing deck, consider using Trex high-performance composite materials because it offers all of the charms of real wood without any of the maintenance," Rios says.

Rios chose a streaked grey decking board for her deck. The natural grain pattern of the Trex Transcend^® Island Mist board with its silvery tones and high-end wood-like appearance blended naturally with the weathered wood surrounding her historic Pennsylvania home.

"My only hesitation was that it would not look like real wood and would seem a little plastic-y," shares Rios, who was convinced by the "gorgeous" colors and patterns after reviewing Trex decking samples.

"The deck boards feature the natural streaking and color variation that you would get with real wood," she says. "The texture also helps combat any issues with the feel of the product being too slick or slippery."

Rios complemented the grey decking with the contemporary design of Trex^® Signature aluminum railing in Classic White and glass panels that retain a view of the trees and plants in her backyard.

Known for her cooking prowess, Rios prioritized an outdoor kitchen area on the deck built with components from Trex^® Outdoor Kitchens in a mossy green color. With access right off her indoor kitchen, these stainless steel cabinets come with a powder-coated finish that withstands even the harshest weather.

2. Green to the Core

Trex is one of the largest recyclers of plastic film in the U.S., saving about 1 billion pounds of plastic film bags, wraps and packaging and post-industrial wood scraps from going to the landfill every year. Since our founding more than 30 years ago, we have diverted and recycled more than 5.5 billion pounds of polyethylene film.

These sustainable properties drew Rios to the product.

Rios was especially attracted to the composite material as an alternative to the direct and indirect deforestation that results from the production of hardwoods such as teak, mahogany and ipe.

"What I love about Trex is that it is made from up to 95% recycled materials like plastic film and wood scrap," she says. "In fact, Trex has never had to take down one tree to make any of its products, which is important because we should all be concerned about deforestation."

From products to manufacturing and a nationwide recycling program, Trex is committed to being an environmentally responsible choice for homeowners looking for value and the peace of mind that comes from partnering with a long-time leader in eco-friendly practices.

3. Durable Beyond Belief

What makes Trex decking so durable is the protective polymer cap that encapsulates three sides of each decking board. The cap gives Trex decking its unyielding performance qualities, making it resistant to insects, fading, staining and splintering.

Trex was the first in the industry to sell wood-plastic composite decking with this innovative product development starting around 2009. It was a solution to early-generation composites that were prone to stain, fade, and disintegrate.

Today, Trex decking requires only a periodic soap and water clean-up to keep it performing like the day it was installed. With warranties ranging from 25 to 50 years, a Trex deck will outlast about everything a busy family throws at it. That was important to this mom of two active boys.

"Trex composite decking will stand up to decades of day-to-day use without the back-breaking work of sanding, staining, and painting a traditional deck. It won't warp, crack, or splinter and it's mold resistant," Rios points out.

"With Trex, you can spend less time stressing over every spill or storm and more time enjoying your outdoor space."

4. Better Investment For Your Home

Building a Trex composite deck initially costs more than one built from pressure-treated lumber, but it can be equal to or even less than one built from expensive hardwoods. The investment in Trex quickly pays off when you compare maintenance costs, longevity and resale value of Trex versus wood.

When renovating and adding onto her 18th-century home, Rios sought products that would enhance her home's charm and value.

"I try to use sustainable and environmentally friendly products for my home whenever possible, and Trex decking was the ideal solution because it is extremely durable and almost completely made of recycled content," Rios reiterates.

Wood decks require regular sealing, staining or painting every 1 to 2 years which quickly becomes both expensive and burdensome. This is especially true when staining and sealing railing balusters, an often overlooked task. Trex decking and railing, on the other hand, never need staining or sealing, saving thousands of dollars - and back-breaking work - over a deck's lifetime.

While the lifespan of wood decks varies from 10-15 years for pressure treated and 20 or more years for hardwoods - if well maintained - Trex composites easily last 25 to 50 years with consistent performance.

While composites generally cost more upfront, they quickly pay off in durability, beauty, and peace of mind.

5. Build Without Compromise

Trex decking is performance-engineered for life outdoors. With options that include fire-resistant boards, 100% submersible marine-grade decking, and SunComfortable™ Technology in select colors, Trex delivers solutions built to outlast and outperform wood.

With two children and a dog, Rios values that she doesn’t have to compromise on design to get the performance her family needs. It's an investment that will keep this 1700s-era home around for many more years.