Updated On

December 22, 2023

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    When it comes to decking materials, you have many options. Two of the most common ones include MoistureShield and Trex. While there are differences between the two materials, there are also quite a few similarities. At a glance, both MoistureShield and Trex are composite material options rather than natural.

    Additionally, each of the brands manufactures different lines that cater to different styles and budgets. Both produce accent pieces, including railings and deck lighting. This guide will run through the two manufactures and help you decide whether MoistureShield or Trex is right for you based on your needs and capabilities.

    Both companies offer an alternative to the wood or natural alternative, which is the main basis for their success. While wood may be difficult to keep up with or wither over time, composite decking is manufactured and poses little risk aside from general wear and tear. If you’re looking into composite alternatives such as Trex or MoistureShield, you’re most likely familiar with natural wood risks and look forward to an artificial one instead.

    Highlights
    • MoistureShield does its best to resemble natural wood and offers a wide array of colors and styles, extensively covering every style.
    • Trex company has a comprehensive line of products, including three lines, Transcend, Select, and Enhance ranging in price and overall quality.
    • MoistureShield has far more style options than Trex. Enabling you to truly customize your space.

    MoistureShield Products

    MoistureShield is a vibrant brand with years of experience in the outdoor living space. The brand offers composite decking with a unique Solid Core. This Solid Core allows the MoistureShield decking to be installed into the ground, on top of it, and underwater! As the name suggests, your MoistureShield deck is water-compatible and will not be damaged even if subjected to constant submerged conditions.

    Similar to other composite-based materials, MoistureShield does its best to resemble natural wood. Though, unlike some competitors, MoistureShield offers a wide array of colors and styles, extensively covering every style.

    The MoistureShield brand has many lines, all of which are specific to a particular style. Vision, Meridian, Elevate, and Vantage all offer different colors with unique color palettes, perfect for your backyard.

    A unique feature of MoistureShield is that it offers a CoolDeck option for certain products in their Vision and Meridian collections. As such, your deck works to keep you comfortable by reducing temperatures by up to 35%. That means no burning feet in the summer months!

    Trex Products

    Trex is a dependable brand that offers eco-friendly, high-quality composite materials for your backyard. Whether you’re planning to purchase the materials for laborers to install for you or plan to install yourself, Trex is adaptable and easy to work with.

    The Trex company has a comprehensive line of products, including three lines, Transcend, Select, and Enhance. Ranging in price and overall quality, these pieces were designed to fit any home’s style and every homeowner’s price range.

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    The company boasts a durable and sustainable business model that provides a real woodwork without the hassle of upkeep. And it’s true, Trex’s materials are impeccably similar to the natural grain-look and color of wood.

    You can expect Trex products to stand up to severe weather well, including the constant effects of sun exposure, snow, and rain. Your Trex deck will shine all year, something you can’t guarantee with natural alternatives or even fellow composite brands.

    MoistureShield vs. Trex Products: Cost Comparison

    Per industry norm, the exact cost of your products will depend on the facilitator your purchase from. Compared to a small flooring company in your hometown, the costs from a home improvement store may vary greatly. It will also vary depending on your location and which line of products you choose from.

    For the purpose of cost comparison, it’s best to look at the same types of stores because their upcharge will be similar across the board. However, it’s difficult to compare MoistureShield and Trex when MoistureShield is more difficult to locate than Trex. Instead, we turn to MoistureShield’s online calculator, which generalizes prices without the inevitable uptick in price by the seller.

    Pricing for MoistureShield according to website is as follows for a 12×12 (144 Sq ft) deck without a railing or pre-existing substructure:

    • $2,800 for Vision
    • $2,400 for Meridian
    • $1,900 for Elevate
    • $2,100 for Vantage

    For a 12×12 (144 sq ft) deck built with Trex materials without a substructure or railing, the following pricing is applicable:

    • $2,206.08 for Good
    • $2,620.80 for Better
    • $3,147.84 for Best

    Overall, this means that the least expensive MoistureShield option is cheaper than Trex’s least expensive option. This means that MoistureShield is the cheaper decking material, even so, when scaling upward to the best option the brand has to offer.

    MoistureShield vs. Trex Products: Warranty Comparison

    MoistureShield’s Warranty Policy:

    MoistureShield offers a zero field failures warranty option. This means that the brand is confident enough in their decking materials that they backed their products up with a 50-year structural warranty.

    Additionally, MoistureShield offers a fade and stain warranty that scales upward in time as price scales. For example, the most expensive option, Vision, has a 50-year fade and stain warranty. On the other hand, the least expensive option, Elevate, has a 30-year warranty. It’s important to note that the Vantage product line does not come with a fade and stain warranty guarantee.

    Trex’s Warranty Policy:

    Trex also offers a warranty option, a limited residential 25-year warranty. All products also come with a 25-year residential fade and stain warranty. Trex does service commercial properties as well, which are excluded from the warranty. If your Trex deck is installed by an approved laborer, Trex also warranties the labor cost should your new deck need to be replaced because of laborer error. Contrary to MoistureShield, the Trex warranty is unanimous across the board.

    MoistureShield vs. Trex Products: Style Inclusivity

    MoistureShield offers a wider variety of products, both in styled and colors and the lines that they have produced. While Trex offers three different products, Transcend, Select, and Enhance, MoistureShield offers four. Additionally, within each line, MoistureShield has more options. For example, the Mediterranean-themed line has ten options while Trex has five. While any variety is a great bonus when selecting a decking company, MoistureShield has far more when compared to Trex.

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    Final Thoughts

    Trex is a well-established brand in the decking industry, and its products are available across the country. On the other hand, MoistureShield’s products are a bit more difficult to come by but can reap major rewards for homeowners if they can get their hands on them.

    Both options are eco-friendly composite materials making use of recycled materials, but each maintains its own specialties. If you’re looking for an affordable and dynamic material, especially so if you live in a wet climate, MoistureShield can be the perfect choice for your home.

    On the other hand, if you’re looking for a widely available product and perhaps a range in quality that best fits your budget, Trex may be the best product for you. It’s important to consider your location, intended use, and overall stylistic desires before making a choice. We can unanimously say that both or good choices, but MoistureShield presents more flexibility, a longer warranty, and more style choices, perhaps making it the better option of the two.

    Editorial Contributors
    avatar for Alora Bopray

    Alora Bopray

    Staff Writer

    Alora Bopray is a digital content producer for the home warranty, HVAC, and plumbing categories at Today's Homeowner. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of St. Scholastica and her master's degree from the University of Denver. Before becoming a writer for Today's Homeowner, Alora wrote as a freelance writer for dozens of home improvement clients and informed homeowners about the solar industry as a writer for EcoWatch. When she's not writing, Alora can be found planning her next DIY home improvement project or plotting her next novel.

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    photo of Roxanne Downer

    Roxanne Downer

    Editor

    Roxanne Downer is a commerce editor at Today’s Homeowner, where she tackles everything from foundation repair to solar panel installation. She brings more than 15 years of writing and editing experience to bear in her meticulous approach to ensuring accurate, up-to-date, and engaging content. She’s previously edited for outlets including MSN, Architectural Digest, and Better Homes & Gardens. An alumna of the University of Pennsylvania, Roxanne is now an Oklahoma homeowner, DIY enthusiast, and the proud parent of a playful pug.

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