Bare Bones (Inexpensive) Synthetic

Greg Di

What do you guys offer as your lowest cost non-wood option? I install mostly TimberTech with TwinFinish being the cheapest, but with the recent TT price increase, they are pricing themselves out of the market. I may need to offer a lower priced option to people that don't really care about what they are putting down as long as it's not wood.

Evergrain?

I loathe Trex and really don't want to be associated with it, but I know several reputable guys here do install it frequently.

Basically, I'm looking for a sub $2.00 lf board. TT TF is well over that now. I'd offer RDI Endurance Rail with this type of job.

I'm not looking to exclude customers. "Always be selling", right... Some people ain't spending $20k to reskin a deck. Sheesh, some won't spend $10k. Check that, some won't spend $5k!

Obviously, I have a reputation to maintain, surely there must be some product that's tolerable to work with that won't plague me with issues down the road.

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redwood

I've used the thinner evergrain (3/4") and weatherbest, but both were a little over $ 2.00 l.f. in my area. I prefer the Evergrain.

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Mark
Los Gatos, CA
www.creative-redwood-designs.com

BuiltByMAC

TT Valu-Plank is running me less than $2/ln. ft.
only comes in grey, no grooves, but still a decent board from a good company...

Mac

BreyerConstruct

I never thought I'd say it... but look at Fiberon's newer products. or for that matter, one of Fiber Composite's other brands that are rather similar- like Weatherbest, etc... Nothing great, but a basic composite board...

Personally, I use Trex Accents & Contours for my lowest end stuff when price matters. Big company, well-known name, and consistent quality- this year particularly.

OK, off my soap box.

PS, I haven't found anything more affordable than RDI for vinyl that's worth looking at; but railing offers greater cost savings than decking often- as does cutting the fascia from a project. Perhaps staining the framing & using matching stained PT risers on the steps?

~Matt (who needs to stop thinking, and get to bed!)

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Greg Di

That's what worries me about Trex. You say "this year"....Makes me wonder.

All I've ever heard are bad comments about Trex both the product and the company standing (or not) standing behind their product.

I've used Fiberon (Portico) and it's about the same cost as TT TwinFinish, so I'll stick to TF. Never used Evergrain, but I may have to check it out.

The issue becomes how many samples I have to schpiel through on an appointment.

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BergenDECKS.com ::: Decks • Porches • Railings • Pergolas in Bergen County New Jersey
Remodeling and Home Improvements in Bergen County | EPA Approved Lead-Safe Contractor
Techno Metal Post ::: Residential, Commercial and Industrial Helical foundation piles

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John Hyatt

Moisture Shield 5/4 Junipher decking is not too far off that $2 rft.

I my own self would not use trex in this lifetime. J.

MartyCD

I'm a fan of TT and their people. Costs are costs though and I'm sure they did what they had to do. If you can get sub-$2 Evergrain, the molded stuff not the Elements, I see that as a good alternative.

deckman22

I use Ameradeck for lower cost composite decks, cost 1.95 lf here. Plus the company is giving a dollar a board rebate now. Next job 110 boards of Ameradeck, every little bit helps. IMO it's as good at most that sell at the high end & deffinately better than anything on the low end.

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Deckman
www.alscustomdecks.com

hailey

Royal Products has Novations Decking...contractor's buy it from me for 2.35 a L.F....same look as Azek in a solid pvc board