5.0 on Google · Composite decking, compared
TimberTech vs Trex: an honest comparison from a rainy-climate installer
Both are excellent composite brands. TimberTech’s better lines cap the board on all four sides — which matters in 37 inches of wind-blown rain — while Trex counters with famous scratch resistance and strong entry pricing.
WA Lic. GPGENGC830KD · James Hardie Select Contractor · 5-year workmanship warranty · Permits pulled at cost
What Homeowners Say
Real reviews from our Google profile — unedited, from real projects.
“We recently had Paul with GP General repair a damaged corner protector and sidings. His estimate was reasonable, his availability was timely, and his job was excellent. Our home hadn’t been re-painted in a while and the paint had considerably faded, yet he was able to match the color perfectly. Now we know who to turn to when in need of another repair work.”
“GP General replaced LP siding on our garage. Paul was very thorough when he came out to do the estimate; he listened to my concerns and was able to work out solutions on the spot. His crew did a great job and were very courteous. They also were careful about cleaning up (I didn’t find any nails!). Really happy with the job and can recommend GP General.”
“I highly recommend GP General Corp for siding replacement. We recently had our wood siding replaced with James Hardie lap siding, and Paul and his team did an excellent job.”
The short answer
Two good brands, one wet-climate tiebreaker
You will not ruin your deck choosing either brand — TimberTech and Trex are the two heavyweights of composite decking for good reasons. But they’re built differently, and the differences line up with climate.
We install TimberTech — and since James Hardie bought TimberTech’s parent company in 2025, our siding brand and our decking brand are the same family.
The scorecard
TimberTech vs Trex, category by category
| Category | Edge | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture protection | TimberTech | PRO and AZEK lines cap all four sides of the board, including the underside that lives in Puget Sound’s damp shade; most Trex lines cap three sides. |
| Scratch resistance | Trex | Trex’s shell has a deserved reputation for shrugging off dog claws and furniture drags; TimberTech’s is good, Trex’s is famous. |
| Wood-realistic looks | TimberTech | Complex cascading grain patterns and matte finishes; consistently the one homeowners point to in side-by-side samples. |
| Entry price | Trex | Trex Enhance is the value king of name-brand composite; TimberTech’s entry EDGE line runs close, but Trex usually wins the low bid. |
| Top-end product | TimberTech | TimberTech’s PVC line has no wood fibers at all, a 50-year warranty, and the coolest-running premium boards. |
| Warranty structure | TimberTech | 30-year fade & stain on PRO, 50-year on the PVC line vs Trex’s 25/35/50-year tiers — comparable classes, TimberTech’s paper a notch stronger line-for-line. |
Our verdict for this climate: we standardized on TimberTech, because four-sided capping is the spec that matters most where rain arrives sideways nine months a year — and because our decks now share a manufacturer family with our siding. If your priorities are a dog-proof surface and the lowest name-brand price, Trex Enhance or Transcend is a respectable choice we’ll say honest things about.
Free on-site assessment
See both brands on your actual house
We bring board samples to every free assessment — and include a free photorealistic rendering of the finished deck on your own home, in the boards you’re choosing between.
Clearing it up
“TimberTech vs AZEK” is a trick question
People compare them as if they’re rivals — they’re the same company’s board technologies. The real ladder is EDGE → PRO → AZEK PVC.
TimberTech EDGE
Capped composite · entry line
$$$
- TimberTech’s value composite line
- Runs close to Trex’s entry pricing
- No staining, no splinters
TimberTech PRO
Capped composite · wood fiber + polymer
$$$
- Capped on all four sides, including the underside
- 30-year fade & stain limited warranty
- The sweet spot we quote for most Puget Sound homes
TimberTech AZEK PVC
Capped PVC · now sold as Advanced PVC
$$$
- Zero wood content — lighter and cooler underfoot
- 50-year fade & stain limited warranty
- Where budget allows or the deck bakes in full sun
For most Puget Sound homes we quote PRO as the sweet spot and the PVC line where budget allows — both are priced on our deck cost page.
The 2025 shake-up
James Hardie bought TimberTech’s parent company
In July 2025, James Hardie — the fiber-cement siding company — completed its $8.4 billion acquisition of The AZEK Company, TimberTech’s maker. That put siding, trim, decking, railing, and pergolas under one roof.
For homeowners the practical meaning is simple: a James Hardie Select Contractor installing TimberTech keeps your entire exterior inside one manufacturer ecosystem — one aesthetic system, one corporate warranty infrastructure, one installer accountable for all of it. Trex remains an independent competitor.
To be precise: there is no combined “Hardie deck certification” yet — the contractor programs are still separate. The ownership is the fact; our credentials in each are earned separately.
Cost
Price difference, honestly
Common questions
TimberTech vs Trex — FAQ
Does TimberTech get as hot as Trex?
Dark boards from both brands get hot in full sun — that’s physics, not brand. Line for line, TimberTech’s AZEK PVC boards run measurably cooler than wood-fiber composites, and lighter colors matter more than logos. In Puget Sound’s climate, deck-surface heat is a July-afternoon issue, not a dealbreaker; pick a mid-tone board and both brands stay walkable.
What are the cons of TimberTech?
Honest list: it costs more than entry-level Trex; its scratch resistance is good rather than legendary; the fully-capped boards are heavier to handle (an installer problem, not yours); and the top AZEK line is genuinely premium-priced. None of those outweigh four-sided capping in a rain climate, in our view — which is why we install it.
Is TimberTech more expensive than Trex?
At entry level, slightly — Trex Enhance usually wins the low bid. Mid-tier, they’re within ~10%. At the top, TimberTech AZEK exceeds Trex’s premium lines because PVC costs more to make. On a finished deck, the brand delta is typically $1,500–$3,000 on a $25k project.
How much would a 20×20 Trex or TimberTech deck cost?
In Snohomish County, $28,000–$38,000 installed for either brand — framing, railing, and a stair run included. The structure and labor dominate the price; the brand chooses the surface. Size-by-size totals here.
Which is better for a wet climate like Seattle’s?
TimberTech PRO or AZEK, by the spec that matters: capping on all four sides, including the board’s underside — the face that never dries out over a shaded Puget Sound yard. Three-sided boards perform fine on paper; we just prefer not to leave the wettest face of the board as the unprotected one.
Do you install Trex if I ask?
We standardized on TimberTech for stocking, training, and the Hardie-family alignment, and that’s what we quote. If your project specs Trex — an HOA match, an addition to an existing Trex deck — talk to us at the assessment; matching an existing deck is a legitimate reason we accommodate.
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