This guide puts PVC and composite side by side using the makers' own technical sheets and install guides, USDA Forest Products Laboratory research and 2026 cost data, then applies it to a Dallas deck. Brands are named only as examples of each material. For brand-by-brand tiers and warranty fine print, see our Trex vs TimberTech vs Fiberon comparison.
PVC vs composite decking: the short answer
Pick capped composite if you want the lowest price for a no-stain deck with a wood-like board. Pick PVC if the deck is wet or near a pool or lake, needs a Class A fire rating, or you want the lightest board. TimberTech, which makes both, says composite is usually cheaper up front and calls PVC "great for poolside decks and properties exposed to saltwater."
- Tightest budget: capped composite. Block Renovation's 2026 national installed range is $30 to $60 a square foot for composite against $40 to $70 for PVC.
- Pool, dock stairs or splash zone: PVC. Fiberon says its PVC boards were tested in fresh, salt and chlorinated water and suit spots that may be briefly underwater.
- Fire rating matters: PVC. Trex Refuge, Fiberon Promenade and Paramount, and several TimberTech AZEK PVC lines are listed as Class A, while Trex's rated composites are Class B or C.
- Lightest board to carry and cut: PVC. Trex says its PVC weighs slightly less than its solid composite; Fine Homebuilding put cellular PVC at about 40% lighter than composites in 2019.
If you're also weighing wood or aluminum, our guide to every decking material for Texas heat covers the full field.
What's the difference between PVC and composite decking?
Composite decking is a core of wood fiber and plastic wrapped in a plastic cap, and PVC decking is cellular plastic all the way through with no wood. TimberTech describes PVC as made of polyvinyl chloride with no organic material, and composite as a blend of polymers and wood fibers.
The wood share matters. The USDA Forest Products Laboratory says wood-plastic composites typically contain 50% to 60% wood by weight, and at those levels the wood isn't fully sealed inside the plastic. Trex describes its composite as 95% recycled plastic film and reclaimed sawdust. TimberTech says its AZEK Advanced PVC contains no wood fiber and is made from up to 65% recycled material.
Capped vs uncapped composite
The cap is a hard plastic shell over the core. TimberTech says uncapped boards "may be prone to water and mold damage" and that a four-sided cap improves water resistance from all sides. Capping became the industry's fix: the Journal of Light Construction reported that Trex dropped its last uncapped board in 2014.
Caps come in two styles. Every current Trex composite line is capped on three sides. TimberTech's PRO composites (Legacy, Reserve, Terrain+ and Terrain) are capped on four sides and its EDGE lines on three. TimberTech lists both its own Advanced PVC and Trex's PVC as four-sided. Fiberon's spec lists a four-sided cap on its Concordia composite and its Promenade PVC, which it describes as "cellular foam polymer with co-extruded cap on four sides."
Each big brand sells both. Trex's one PVC board is Refuge, a 0.94 x 5.5 inch square-edge board in 16 and 20 foot lengths and two colors; TimberTech's is AZEK Advanced PVC; Fiberon's are Promenade and Paramount.
Is vinyl the same as PVC?
Not always, which is why price tables disagree. Fixr treats "vinyl or PVC" as a subtype of composite and prices them in one row, and says vinyl decking usually has a vinyl shell around a standard composite core, so its vinyl figures may not describe the solid cellular PVC boards named above.
PVC vs composite decking differences: cost, durability, heat and moisture (2026)
Here are the two materials side by side, using the manufacturers' own technical sheets wherever a number exists. Cells marked "not published" mean no source we opened gives that figure.
| What you're comparing | Capped composite (wood-plastic core) | Cellular PVC |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Wood-plastic composites typically 50% to 60% wood by weight (USDA FPL); Trex 95% recycled film and sawdust | No wood fiber (TimberTech) |
| Cap | 3-sided (all Trex, TimberTech EDGE) or 4-sided (TimberTech PRO, Fiberon Concordia) | 4-sided (TimberTech's table; Fiberon spec) |
| Weight | Trex 1.53 to 2.51 lb per linear foot across all its lines | "Slightly less" (Trex); about 40% less (Fine Homebuilding, 2019) |
| Expansion coefficient | Trex Transcend 0.000019 in/in/°F (1.9E-05) | AZEK 0.0000337 in/in/°F (3.37E-05) |
| Water absorption (maker sheets) | Trex under 1% | AZEK under 1.2% by mass |
| Fire rating (examples) | Trex Select, Transcend, Lineage Class B; Trex Enhance and TimberTech Reserve, Premier Class C | AZEK Vintage, Landmark, Harvest+ Class A; AZEK Harvest Class B; Trex Refuge Class A; Fiberon Promenade, Paramount Class A |
| Heat (maker claims) | Trex Lineage up to 35°F less heat buildup than Trex's original boards | TimberTech AZEK up to 30 degrees cooler than competitive composites; "cools off quicker" |
| End gaps at butt joints | Trex 1/8 to 3/16 in; TimberTech 1/32 to 3/16 in, by install temperature | TimberTech AZEK none; Trex Refuge 3/16 to 5/16 in; Fiberon Paramount 0 to 1/16 in (2019 guide) |
| Joist spacing | 16 in on center (Trex Transcend, Fiberon Concordia) | 16 in on center (AZEK, Fiberon); 24 in for AZEK MAX boards |
| Top warranty | 50 years (Trex Transcend, Signature); lifetime plus 50-year stain and fade (Fiberon Concordia) | 50 years (Trex Refuge); lifetime plus 50-year fade and stain (AZEK, Fiberon PVC) |
| Retail price per linear foot (Advantage Lumber, 2026) | TimberTech $3.43 to $7.36; Trex $2.30 to $9.96 | TimberTech AZEK $5.28 to $7.68 |
| National installed cost per sq ft | $30 to $60 (Block, 2026); $28 to $40 (Fixr, 2023) | $40 to $70 (Block, 2026); "vinyl" $17 to $33 (Fixr, 2023) |
| Dallas installed cost per sq ft | $25 to $50 (Block, 2026) | Not published |
| Expected life (source estimates) | 25 to 30 years (Block; TimberTech) | 30 years or more (Block); 50 years or longer (TimberTech claim) |
These are maker figures from different test methods, not an independent lab comparison. Check the sheet for the exact line on your quote.
Expansion and contraction: how much each board moves, and the end gaps makers require
Both composite and PVC grow and shrink along their length with temperature, not across the width like wood, and PVC moves more. TimberTech says capped polymer and capped composite boards expand along their length, while wood moves across its width. On the makers' own sheets, AZEK lists a thermal expansion coefficient of 0.0000337 in/in/°F (3.37E-05) and Trex lists 0.000019 in/in/°F (1.9E-05) for Transcend, so AZEK's figure is about 1.8 times Trex's. The two sheets cite different test labels (AZEK ASTM D696, Trex ASTM D1037), so treat this as what the makers publish, not a head-to-head test.
What that means for a 16-foot board, calculated from the makers' published coefficients for a 100°F change in board temperature: an AZEK PVC board would move about 0.65 inch (about 5/8 inch) if it were loose, and a Trex composite board about 0.36 inch (about 3/8 inch). Fastened boards move less, and color, sun and fastening all change it. Fine Homebuilding reported in 2019 that PVC expands and contracts more than wood-plastic composites and that builders leave up to 1/4 inch at the end of a long board.
End gaps by install temperature
Butt joints are where two board ends meet. The makers don't agree on the gap.
| Board (material) | Cold install | Mild install | Hot install | Side gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trex composite (2026 guide) | 3/16 in below 40°F | 1/8 in above 40°F | 3/16 in minimum (3/8 in in heavily wooded areas) | |
| Trex Refuge (PVC) | 5/16 in below 40°F | 3/16 in above 40°F | 3/16 in | |
| TimberTech composite | 3/16 in at 32°F and below | 1/8 in at 33 to 74°F | 1/32 in at 75°F and above | 1/8 to 7/32 in |
| TimberTech AZEK Advanced PVC | No end gap at any temperature | 1/8 to 1/4 in | ||
| Fiberon Paramount PVC (2019 guide) | 1/16 in at 35°F and under | 1/32 in at 36 to 89°F | 0 at 90°F and up | Not in this table |
| Fiberon composites such as Sanctuary, Good Life (2019 guide) | 1/4 in at 35°F and under | 3/16 in (36 to 69°F), 1/8 in (70 to 89°F) | 1/16 in (90 to 109°F), 1/32 in (110°F and up) | Not in this table |
TimberTech says not to leave any gap at AZEK butt joints, splices or miters, and Fiberon's 2019 guide asked for little or none on Paramount. Trex asks for a bigger end gap on its PVC (3/16 to 5/16 inch) than on its own composite (1/8 to 3/16 inch). Follow the install guide for the exact board on the quote; a crew used to one brand can get another's gaps wrong. No gap on any Trex board should exceed 1/2 inch.
How to limit movement in Dallas heat
- Install boards cool. AZEK says full sun makes boards longer, so keep them as cool as possible and cut and fasten right away. Fiberon says to keep boards shaded before cutting because dark colors swing more.
- Use top-down screws on PVC. AZEK says face screws over the whole deck minimize movement, with 2 screws per joist at board ends within 1/2 inch of the end.
- Break up long runs. AZEK suggests shorter boards or breaker boards on long runs.
- Pin hidden-clip boards. Fiberon says to pin each board with two face screws near mid-length when using hidden fasteners. Fine Homebuilding noted in 2019 that PVC on standard hidden clips has been known to make audible pops as it moves.
- Give it air. AZEK says more airflow under the deck reduces heat-driven movement and gapping.
Is PVC decking hotter than composite in Texas sun?
Neither stays cool in a Dallas July. TimberTech and Trex both say darker colors feel hotter, and TimberTech claims its PVC runs up to 30 degrees cooler to the touch than competitive composites and cools off faster once the sun moves. No independent, like-for-like test of the two was found, so don't treat any brand as the coolest.
Each maker uses its own baseline:
- TimberTech (PVC): AZEK Advanced PVC stays "up to 30° cooler to the touch" than competitive products, and the TimberTech FAQ names the baseline as competitive composites. Its own footnote says all decking gets hot, darker colors feel hotter, and to pick a lighter color for hot climates.
- Trex (composite): its Lineage boards have up to 35°F less heat buildup than Trex's original boards in a lab test. Trex says all decking gets hot in direct sun and recommends a lighter color or Lineage for hot climates.
Color can matter as much as material. In an informal 2012 test reported by KSAT (Colorado, air at 86.5°F, read with an infrared thermometer after a few hours of sun), four PVC colors ranged from 150.1°F (Cedar) to 162.1°F (Redwood). That's a spread of 12°F within one material (calculated: 162.1 minus 150.1).
Dallas heat, UV and window glare
Dallas summers regularly run past 100°F from June through September, and the National Weather Service says DFW July and August highs often reach or exceed 100 degrees, with Gulf moisture keeping humidity high.
Glass is a hidden risk on both boards. AZEK's guide warns that sunlight reflected from low-E windows can make its boards "melt, sag, warp, discolor," and recommends joists at 6 to 8 inches maximum and top-down fastening only in those spots. Trex's 2026 guide says the same glare can char or discolor its decking or make it bow. Trex also says its boards can soften at temperatures as low as 176°F.
Shade is the real heat fix
Block Renovation says a covered patio drops the temperature underneath by 15 to 25 degrees compared with an exposed surface. A covered deck or pavilion over part of the deck keeps the boards and the people on them cooler. Still weighing wood? See composite vs wood in Dallas heat.
Moisture, mold and rot: does composite decking absorb water?
Both boards absorb very little water on the makers' own sheets (about 1%), but composite has wood inside, and the Forest Products Laboratory found that the wood is what lets moisture and decay in over time. AZEK lists water absorption under 1.2% by mass for its PVC, and Trex lists under 1% for Transcend. Some guides say PVC "absorbs no moisture" (Block Renovation's wording); the tech sheets show a small number for both, and the real difference is what sits under the cap.
What the Forest Products Laboratory found
The USDA Forest Products Laboratory's 2024 summary of 20 years of research found that in field tests, mold or stain and color change began in the first year, and cracking, decay and termite attack showed up 1 to 10 years after exposure depending on the site. It concluded that sealing wood in plastic didn't protect it for the whole life of the board: after about 1 to 7 years, swelling wood particles created microcracks that let decay fungi reach the wood.
An important caveat: the lab mostly tested its own formulations, not today's capped boards from Trex, TimberTech or Fiberon. The report says it made its own composites "rather than investigating commercial WPCs." So this research explains why caps exist and why the core matters. It does not mean a capped composite deck will rot in a set number of years.
Mold, termites and water contact
Both makers' sheets report "no decay" on the ASTM D1413 fungus test. AZEK rates termite resistance as equivalent to preservative-treated lumber, and Trex lists a termite rating of 9.6 (AWPA E1-72). Trex says its decking resists mold and can be submerged for extended periods.
In humid DFW summers, buy a capped board and keep air moving under the deck.
Weight, stiffness and feel underfoot
PVC is the lighter board, but it's also less stiff. Trex says all its decking weighs 1.53 to 2.51 pounds per linear foot, with its PVC slightly lighter than its solid composite boards. Fine Homebuilding put cellular PVC at about 40% lighter than wood and composites in 2019. The sources disagree on how much.
Fine Homebuilding also said cellular PVC is less stiff than composites, so uneven joists show through more, and it feels "a bit spongier underfoot." AZEK prefers 12-inch joists for a stiffer feel, and Fiberon's 2019 guide recommended 12 inches for Paramount PVC "to increase stability and reduce the flexing."
Scratch, stain and fade: what the makers promise
Both materials carry 50-year fade and stain warranties at the top tier, but no maker publishes a side-by-side scratch test of its PVC against its composite. TimberTech says its decking is "engineered for exceptional scratch resistance" without comparing the two. Trex says chlorine and bromine don't fade its boards.
Block Renovation says composite eventually fades and wears under standing water and sun, while PVC holds its finish in wet conditions. Our Trex vs TimberTech vs Fiberon comparison, linked above, covers how much color change each fade warranty allows.
PVC vs composite decking cost per square foot and per linear foot (2026)
PVC usually costs more. Block Renovation's 2026 national installed range is $40 to $70 a square foot for PVC against $30 to $60 for composite. Fixr's 2023 national table shows the reverse ("vinyl" $17 to $33 installed vs composite $28 to $40), but Fixr lumps vinyl and PVC together, so compare quotes line by line.
Board prices, tier by tier
These are retail starting prices from Advantage Lumber, 2026, for standard boards. They change often. The per-square-foot column is calculated from those prices (a 5.5-inch board with a 3/16-inch gap needs about 2.1 linear feet per square foot) and covers boards only, before framing, fasteners, waste and labor. TimberTech composite boards are 5.36 inches wide, so they need slightly more footage than shown.
| Line | Material | Retail per linear foot | Boards only per sq ft (calculated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TimberTech EDGE Prime+ | Composite | $3.43 | About $7 |
| TimberTech PRO Terrain | Composite | $4.36 | About $9 |
| TimberTech PRO Reserve | Composite | $6.12 | About $13 |
| TimberTech PRO Legacy | Composite | $7.36 | About $16 |
| TimberTech AZEK Harvest | PVC | $5.28 | About $11 |
| TimberTech AZEK Harvest+ | PVC | $6.65 | About $14 |
| TimberTech AZEK Landmark | PVC | $6.81 | About $14 |
| TimberTech AZEK Vintage | PVC | $7.68 | About $16 |
| Trex Enhance Basics | Composite | $2.30 | About $5 |
| Trex Transcend (incl. Lineage) | Composite | $7.15 | About $15 |
| Trex Signature | Composite | $9.96 | About $21 |
Advantage Lumber doesn't list Trex Refuge or Fiberon PVC prices, so they aren't shown.
Within one brand, the PVC premium shrinks as you move up. Calculated from those prices, TimberTech's entry PVC (AZEK Harvest, $5.28) costs about 54% more per foot than its entry composite (Prime+, $3.43), while its top PVC (Vintage, $7.68) costs only about 4% more than its top composite (Legacy, $7.36).
What a whole deck costs
Boards are a fraction of the job. Trex says materials are up to one third of a pro-installed total, and TimberTech puts decking and fasteners at about 20% of total project cost. Calculated from Block Renovation's national ranges, a 300-square-foot deck would run $9,000 to $18,000 in composite and $12,000 to $21,000 in PVC, a $3,000 gap at both ends.
In Dallas, Block Renovation puts installed composite at $25 to $50 a square foot. No source we found gives a Dallas installed price for PVC. See what a deck costs in Dallas for the rest of the job.
Warranties and lifespan: how long does each last?
At the top tiers the warranties match: 50 years, or lifetime plus 50-year fade and stain, for Trex, TimberTech AZEK and Fiberon PVC alike, as well as for the best composites. Entry and mid composite lines carry 25 to 40 years.
| Brand | PVC line warranty | Top composite warranty | Entry and mid composite warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trex | Refuge: 50 years | Signature, Transcend (incl. Lineage): 50 years | Select 35 years; Enhance 25 years |
| TimberTech | AZEK Vintage, Harvest: limited lifetime product plus 50-year fade and stain | PRO (Legacy, Terrain): up to 30 years | EDGE Prime: 25 years |
| Fiberon | Promenade, Paramount: lifetime performance plus 50-year stain and fade | Concordia: lifetime performance plus 50-year stain and fade | Sanctuary 40/40; Good Life Escapes 30/30; Good Life Weekender 25/25 |
Trex prorates its residential warranty from year 11 and doesn't cover labor.
Lifespan estimates follow the same pattern. Block Renovation puts composite at 25 to 30 years and PVC at 30 years or more. TimberTech, which sells both, rates composite at 25 to 30 years and says PVC "can last 50 years or longer" (a maker claim).
Best uses: pools, docks, waterfront, ground-level decks and full sun
PVC is the makers' pick for pools, docks and salt or chlorine splash, while either board works on a standard raised backyard deck. Low decks need at least 1-1/2 inches of airflow under the frame whichever board you choose.
Pools
TimberTech calls PVC great for poolside decks, and Fiberon says its PVC was tested in chlorinated water and suits pool stairs that may be briefly submerged. Composite isn't ruled out: Trex approves its boards for all water-contact uses. Fiberon reports slip values of 0.85 dry and 0.82 wet for Paramount (ASTM F1679) and notes there's no building-code minimum for decking slip resistance. For concrete, travertine and Dallas pool rules, read our guide to the best pool deck material in Texas.
Docks and waterfront
TimberTech says salt water speeds the breakdown of wood fibers and that its Advanced PVC has no wood, and it recommends 316 stainless steel fasteners near salt water. Fiberon says its PVC suits installs that may be temporarily submerged, such as dock stairs.
Ground-level and low decks
AZEK asks for at least 1-1/2 inches where airflow is blocked and allows no floating substructures. Trex's 2026 guide sets a 1-1/2 inch minimum sleeper height and recommends 3-1/2 inches or more where debris collects. Fiberon asks for at least 1.5 inches from joist bottom to ground, and 6 inches of clear ventilation where ventilation is limited.
Fire-conscious builds
PVC lines dominate the Class A listings: TimberTech AZEK Vintage, Landmark, Solstice and Harvest+, Trex Refuge, and Fiberon Promenade (flame spread index 15) and Paramount (30). Trex's rated composites are Class B or C, and TimberTech Reserve and Premier are Class C.
Installation differences: fasteners, joist spacing and handling
Both boards install on the same 16-inch-on-center frame in most cases, but AZEK says never to nail its PVC, each brand handles butt joints differently, and Trex's PVC comes only as a square-edge board for face screws.
| Board | Material | Joist spacing (perpendicular) | Angled boards or notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TimberTech AZEK | PVC | 16 in max, 12 in preferred; 24 in for MAX boards | 12 in max on angled decks (16 in for MAX) and on commercial decks; solid blocking every 4 to 6 ft |
| Trex Transcend, Lineage | Composite | 16 in on center | Rated for 100 lb per sq ft at that span (spec sheet); Trex's Refuge guide adds that boards must span at least three joists |
| Fiberon Promenade, Paramount | PVC | 16 in | 12 in at up to 45 degrees |
| Fiberon Concordia | Composite | 16 in | 12 in at 45 degrees |
Fasteners and handling
- No nails on AZEK. AZEK says not to nail its boards. With CONCEALoc or FUSIONLoc hidden clips it requires double joists or double blocking at butt joints and says to expect larger gaps there.
- Screws on Trex Refuge. Trex calls for two screws per joist and pre-drilling with a 1/8-inch bit near board ends.
- Salt and pool water. TimberTech recommends 316 stainless fasteners near salt water.
Re-decking an old frame? It has to meet the new board's joist spacing. See the cost of new boards on an old frame.
Archetex Outdoor Design Co. designs and builds custom composite and wood decks across Dallas and nearby towns, and gives a free site visit and written price. If composite fits your plans, see our composite deck builder in Dallas page.
