Decking comes in lots of shapes, styles, materials, textures, colors, and variegation patterning. The higher up in price you go, the nicer the board looks, feels, and behaves during installation and its lifespan.
Tier 1 - Entry-level
Decking collections at this level generally have a plain texture, a basic solid color, and some sort of scalloping or channeling on the underside of the board. All boards at this level will be a wood-plastic composite. Everything available at Pro Deck Supply at this level is going to be capped on the top and edges with a plastic cap, but other stores may offer uncapped boards as well. Price per square foot range from $5-$12 per square foot.
Collections: Edge Prime/Premier/Prime+, Terrain+, Good Life, Enhance, Evolution, Perspective, Venture, and Vista.
Pros:
-Low price
-Less painful to replace a damaged board, since 20-foot boards cost less than $100.
Cons:
-Scalloped boards can make stair treads and borders difficult to install, and makes it impossible to secure a drink rail board. Deckorators Vista is the only collection at this profile with unscalloped deck boards.
-Usually a wood-plastic composite, which isn't as nice to work with as PVC or Surestone.
-Depending on the collection, screws with plugs may or may not be available for hidden-fastening your stairs or borders
Tier 2 - Low/Mid-Range
In this $12-16 per square foot range is where you'll see more realistic-looking full profile composites, Surestone boards, and solid-color PVC.
Collections: Astir, Harvest, Horizon, Reserve, Sanctuary, Select, Symmetry, Seaside, Ultra Earthtones, and Voyage.
Pros:
-WPC boards at this level usually have a base color with one or two colors of streaking to make it look more like natural wood than painted wood. They often will have more realistic texturing that looks less repetitive or plastic-like.
-PVC boards at this level are lighter to carry, easier to install, better to screw, and will stay cooler than any WPC decking. You get the look of a basic painted board but with the performance of a PVC material.
-Deckorators Voyage is made of Surestone mineral-based composite, and it's a premium look, composition, and performance at the upper end of this low/mid price range.
Cons:
-Some WPC decking may be more basic in its color with only black streaking, or more basic in texture that looks less realistic.
Tier 3 Premium Mid-Range
This level is where you see most premium wood-like composites, more realistic-looking PVC boards, and other unique boards for specific tastes. These fall in the $16-20 per square foot range, with a 20 foot board typically starting around $150.
Collections: Landmark, Legacy, Promenade, Serenity Tropical, Transcend Tropical and Lineage, Ultra Hardwoods, Vintage
Pros:
-PVC boards at this level have multiple colors of wood-like streaking, more board colors to choose from, and realistic texturing that's more slip-resistant.
-WPC boards at this level have unique color streaking, textures similar to woodgrain or high-end wood flooring, or all the above.
Cons:
-Much higher price, close to four times what an entry-level board costs.
-Some (not all) board textures may show scratches more easily, due to their smoothness
Tier 4 High-End Premium-Level
If you want something unique, like printed woodgrain patterning, water-shedding interlocking boards, or real tropical hardwood boards, you'll be spending $20-35 per square foot.
Due to the uniqueness and special features of these boards, comparing them to other collections would be comparing apples and oranges.
Duxxbak has the appearance of a mid-level composite, but a profile that interlocks to make a waterproof deck surface.
Trex Signature is a standard wood-plastic composite that has a real woodgrain pattern printed on it and covered with an acrylic cap.
Ipe is a tropical hardwood that may outlast some composites, due to its density and hardiness. It can be oiled for a fresh look, or left to gray if you prefer a cool gray color.
