Deck Boards Compared: Big Box Store vs. Pro Quality Decking

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What's the difference between the deck boards you can buy at Lowes or Home Depot and the decking products that professionals use? In this video we compare a Trex Enhance deck board that you can buy at your local home improvement store, and a Deckorators Voyage deck board, one of our favorite high-end decking lines.

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Looking for more information on this topic? Follow the link below:

3 Things We Love About Deckorators [video]

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Cascade Fence & Deck is an outdoor living contractor serving the Portland Metro area. At Cascade, we're focused on providing the best contractor experience available. If you have a question about fences, decks or outdoor living, follow the links below to learn more!

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TIKTOK: @cascadefenceanddeck

[krehbein]

If anyone’s worried about the trex with the wood fiber based composite core, I wouldn’t be. I’ve had my trex deck for about 15 years now. It’s the kind with wood fiber composite mix throughout and no pvc shell. It’s held up fine, only complaint is it absorbs stains and mold easier. But this is addressed with the thin pvc shell with these new boards. Btw, a 16’ transcend board from my lumber yard is $100(!) The enhance naturals from Lowe’s is about $35-40.

[MrConcord]

lol, nice try. You showed the most basic Trex, against your product. Ever hear of Trex Select, or Trex Transcend

[kinggremlin]

Deceptive video. As others have already mentioned, you're comparing a low end of one brand to a premium from another brand. Also, Deckorator Voyage is available at Lowe's just like the Trex option. They're both big box store options. All you're comparing is cheaper big box vs more expensive big box. Professional grade is one of the most overused terminologies that means nothing.

[rickg]

Look at the cupping of that tree sample.

[badmofo]

I love how you show menards fusion in your teaser then don't bother to mention it at all in your video..

[tylerolivo]

Tell me you've been paid by deckorators without telling me you've been paid by decking.

[billray]

You need to compare apples with apples you’re comparing a cheap tracks versus high-end decorator, not a fair comparison

[hanko]

Deckorator has the wood fiber product also, you offered a very unfair comparison. I guess you video is about spending more or spending less ... not a comparison

[DeniseAthey-ispc]

I have a wood composite deck and after 5 years the seams are buckled- is there any way to fix or repair it?

[bobbray]

One thing not mentioned is thermal expansion. Trex expands and contracts much more than Deckorators mineral based decking. This means if you picture frame your deck and/or miter the fascia, the miter joints will open and get funky looking with Trex and TimberTech wood based composites, all PVC decking like Azek and even all FRP decking (fiberglass reinforced plastic) in climates like the US Midwest. I had a FRP deck and it made popping noise with temperature changes to the point where some boards cracked, even when installed to allow deck movement.

From what I understand, Deckorators uses limestone as the filler instead of wood. It is also 35% lighter than Trex. So water intrusion degradation elimination is only one benefit of the Deckorators Voyage line.

I just build a 16 x 16 deck using Deckorators Voyage. When the hot July sun was directly on the deck, nothing changed dimensionally. So when our cold Minnesota winter comes, I'll get a better idea of how my deck might contract and see how my mitered picture frame joints hold up.

[larrymar]

What is the average life of the pro for all seasons weather?

[Tony-hxfj]

could you install Cascade 24"OC That is what my redwood deck is and would like to just replace decking, not framing wihich is in great shape, Could you install over existing well maintained redwood deck. ( deck is great, just ugly solid cedar color and I tried sanding, chemicals, and it looks awful but in excellent condition)?