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Frequently Asked Questions
Trex Company, Inc. is the manufacturer of Trex® decking, railing, fencing and trim and
is the leading brand of alternative decking lumber in North America. A former division of
Mobil Corporation, the company was formed by four Mobil executives in 1995 and went public
in April 1999. Trex Company's headquarters and a manufacturing facility are located in
Winchester, VA. Trex Company also has a manufacturing facility in Fernley, NV.
Trex products offer superior durability and performance that you can’t get from wood.
Trex won’t rot, warp, or splinter; and they never require staining or painting to maintain great looks.
While most of the raw materials used in making Trex are recycled, these materials are
carefully processed to ensure the highest level of quality and performance. If you would
like to learn more about our materials and programs, please review our
Environmentally Friendly page.
Because Trex never rots or warps, painting and staining is not required, however with
pressure-treated wood decks, these costs add up over time. After four years, the total
cost of owning a Trex deck equals the cost of a pressure-treated wood deck. Over the
life of the purchase, Trex offers a far greater value than wood. Clean it twice a year
and you’re done so you can spend more time enjoying your outdoor living space,
rather than working on it.
Because the wood fiber in Trex will be exposed to water and sunlight, the product
will lighten over time. Trex will achieve its weathered color after 12-16 weeks.
Natural Weathering Information
You can find Trex samples at your local dealer, The Home Depot stores, Lowe’s stores
or ask your contractor.
Trex has made a market decision to offer a product that will provide the customer with a
superior walking surface, guardrail system, fencing and trim.
Trex weighs about 50-70% heavier than comparable lumber sections with a specific gravity of about 0.96.
Trex products have been tested to ensure compliance with the 2006 International Building Code.
Check with our local building code department for jurisdictional requirements
In an independent study, Trex was comparable in surface temps to pressure treated
boards.
Most decking systems require multiple railing sections and since only one TrexExpress tool is
necessary, it would drive up the cost of the system. TrexExpress railing assembly tools are
available wherever Trex® railing products are sold.
Yes. Your local fencing contractor can assist you with any attachment to masonry.
Since Trex Seclusions is made of the same material as Trex® decking, the same cleaning methods apply.
Cleaning Guide
No. Coextruded PVC products, like Trex Escapes, should not be sanded or routed.
Yes, TrexTrim can be routed. We suggest leaving the protective film on for cleaner results.
TrexTrim should not be ripped to reduce thickness, but can be ripped to reduce the width.
Use care when fastening, as ripped TrexTrim may require pre-drilling prior to fastening.
For aesthetic reasons TrexTrim should be painted, however it is not necessary for the
structural performance of the component.
With help and considerable patience, Trex can be curved with the proper tools and instructions.
See our Installation Guide.
Trex routs beautifully to give extremely crisp edges. Do not rout balusters or 4x4 profiles.
We do not recommend routing Trex Brasilia® or Trex Escapes®. Routing will change the unique
surface of this product.
Yes, a groove can be cut in the side of Trex wood polymer decking to accept hidden fasteners.
Do not groove Trex Escapes®.
Trex products should not be ripped to reduce thickness, but can be ripped to reduce width.
As long as the board can still be installed per the installation instructions the warranty
will be valid. Please use care when fastening ripped boards, as pre-drilling may be necessary.
We do not recommend sanding. Sanding will change the appearance of the Trex material surface.
Using a power washer with greater than 1500 psi and/or applied closer than 12” from the deck
surface could damage the decking surface. Any issues related to the sanding or power washing
will not be covered under the Trex warranty.
Glue cannot be used as a primary fastener.
Trex can only be installed over a solid surface when using a sleeper system; see the sleeper
system guidelines in our Installation Guide.
Trex Railposts cannot be notched. Trex does not endorse the notching of any post to be
used in a guardrail system application.
Although Trex does not need painting or staining to maintain its looks, it can be done.
Please refer to the painting guidelines to help make the job easier.
Painting Technical Information
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