Why Enhance is where most composite budgets start
Enhance is Trex's lightest composite board. The underside is scalloped, which takes weight and material out of each board without changing the 0.94 x 5.5 inch face you walk on. Lighter boards are quicker to carry and cut, and that shows up in the labor line of a deck quote as well as the material line. If the goal is an affordable deck installation that never needs staining, this is the board we price first.
Basics or Naturals
Enhance comes in two looks at the same size. Basics are solid colors in the tans and browns of a freshly stained deck. Naturals blend two or more tones with a wood grain pattern, which hides pollen, leaves and footprints better on decks under the heavy tree cover common in older DC-area neighborhoods. Ask for samples of both; the color list above shows the current names.
What the 95% recycled figure means
Trex states that Enhance is made from 95% recycled material: reclaimed sawdust and recycled plastic film, the stretch wrap and bags that would otherwise go to a landfill. That is the manufacturer's figure for the board, and it is why Enhance is also listed under eco decking. It is still a plastic composite, and like every composite it gets hot in full sun, darker colors more so. See WPC decking vs WPC flooring for how composite boards are made.
Enhance or Transcend Lineage?
Trex Transcend Lineage steps up to a 50-year fade and stain warranty and a shell Trex engineered to reflect heat. Enhance carries a 25-year warranty and costs less. On a shaded rear deck, Enhance is usually the better value; on a south-facing deck with no shade, the Lineage shell is worth pricing.
Installation notes
Grooved boards take hidden clips, so the surface has no screw heads; square-edge boards are face screwed and are used where a board edge is exposed, such as a stair tread or picture frame border. Joist spacing, gapping for temperature and fastener choice follow Trex's installation guide for the exact board, and we check the existing framing before quoting a resurface.
Common questions
Can Trex Enhance go on my existing deck frame?
Often, if the joists are sound, correctly spaced for composite and attached properly to the house. We inspect the framing, ledger and footings on the measurement visit and tell you what, if anything, needs to be replaced first.
Does Trex Enhance need to be sealed or stained?
No. Trex states Enhance needs no sanding, staining or painting. Clean it with soap and water, and clear leaves and pollen so they do not sit on the surface.
Where these facts come from
- Trex Enhance product pages and profile cut sheet: dimensions, lengths, edges, recycled content, colors
- Trex limited residential warranty: 25-year fade and stain terms
Specifications can change. We confirm them against the current manufacturer data sheet on every order.
