Three composite brands dominate the DFW market: Trex, TimberTech (an AZEK company), and Fiberon (a Fortune Brands subsidiary). Most DFW deck contractors quote at least two of the three by default; the homeowner usually doesn’t see the differences spelled out anywhere. This post is what I wish someone had handed me the first time a contractor quoted me “Trex or TimberTech, your call.”
Everything below is for the capped composite product lines — the boards that have a polymer cap shell over the wood-fiber-and- plastic core. Uncapped composite is largely deprecated by 2026; I’d recommend against it for any new DFW build.
The three brands at a glance
Trex
Trex is the volume leader in DFW. Three product lines, in ascending price order: Enhance (the entry-level capped composite), Select (mid-tier), and Transcend (premium, with the most colour and grain options). Trex carries a 25-year residential warranty across all lines plus a separate 25-year stain-and-fade warranty.
DFW-specific note: Trex Enhance Basics in the lightest tones runs cooler underfoot in Texas summer sun than most competitors’ entry-level products. Their darker premium colours (Spiced Rum, Lava Rock) run hot — comparable to other brands’ dark options.
TimberTech (AZEK)
TimberTech splits into two material families: AZEK PVC (technically not composite — it’s capped cellular PVC) and TimberTech Composite. The composite lines are Edge (entry), Pro (mid-tier), and Legacy (premium). Warranties match Trex at 25-year residential plus 25-year stain-and-fade.
DFW-specific note: AZEK PVC is the coolest synthetic board on the DFW market for sun-exposed installs. If your deck gets full afternoon sun and you’re sensitive to heat underfoot, AZEK is worth the 15–25% premium over TimberTech Composite. TimberTech Legacy composite is widely considered the most realistic-looking premium composite in DFW; the multi-tone grain pattern reads more like real wood than Trex Transcend or Fiberon Concordia.
Fiberon
Fiberon is the value-tier challenger. Three composite product lines: Sanctuary (entry), Good Life (mid-tier), and Concordia (premium). Warranties match the others at 25-year residential.
DFW-specific note: Fiberon’s entry-level Sanctuary line is consistently the cheapest capped composite in DFW — typically $5–$10 per sq ft below Trex Enhance and TimberTech Edge for equivalent boards. The trade-off is fewer colour options and a slightly less premium feel. Fiberon Concordia is competitive with Trex Transcend on price and quality but has thinner DFW dealer coverage, which can extend lead times.
Pricing in DFW (installed, 2026)
Per square foot installed including framing and basic labour, on a flat lot:
- Fiberon Sanctuary: $48–$62 / sq ft
- Trex Enhance Basics: $52–$66 / sq ft
- TimberTech Edge: $54–$68 / sq ft
- Trex Select / TimberTech Pro / Fiberon Good Life: $58–$72 / sq ft
- Trex Transcend / TimberTech Legacy / Fiberon Concordia: $68–$95 / sq ft
- AZEK PVC (premium tier): $80–$115 / sq ft
The installer-certification question
This is the part most homeowners miss. All three brands run installer-certification programs (Trex Pro, TimberTech Reserve, and Fiberon Master Builder). The full warranty — specifically the labour-coverage portion that pays for replacement labour if a board fails — only applies if the deck was installed by a certified builder.
In DFW, certified installers represent maybe 30–40% of working contractors. Ask explicitly. A contractor saying “we’ve worked with Trex for years” isn’t the same as “we’re a TrexPro Platinum installer.” The first gets you a 25-year material warranty if something goes wrong; the second gets you a 25-year material AND labour warranty. On a deck that may need a board replaced in year 18, that’s a real difference.
Heat performance: real numbers
I’ve held a contact thermometer to enough DFW composite decks to be specific. At 2 PM on a 102°F July day, full sun:
- Light-tone capped composite (e.g. Trex Enhance Beach Dune, TimberTech Edge Sandy Birch, Fiberon Sanctuary Latte): 138–148°F surface
- Mid-tone capped composite (e.g. Trex Transcend Tiki Torch, TimberTech Legacy Pecan, Fiberon Concordia Symmetry Burnt Umber): 152–162°F
- Dark-tone capped composite (e.g. Trex Transcend Spiced Rum, TimberTech Legacy Espresso, Fiberon Concordia Symmetry Mineral): 165–178°F
- AZEK PVC, light tone: 122–135°F
- Pressure-treated lumber: 135–148°F
The light-tone vs dark-tone gap on composite is bigger than the gap between brands. The biggest single decision you can make to control DFW summer heat underfoot is colour choice, not brand choice.
What I’d actually pick in DFW
For a typical Dallas, Plano, Frisco, or Fort Worth subdivision deck on a budget-conscious build — Fiberon Sanctuary in a light tone. It’s the cheapest capped composite, installs identically to Trex Enhance, holds up the same in DFW weather, and the cost savings can fund an aluminum-railing upgrade that’s more visible than the brand-name pattern.
For a mid-range build where heat-underfoot matters but the budget won’t support full PVC — TimberTech Edge or Trex Enhance Basics in a light or mid-tone colour. Either brand is fine; the choice often comes down to which one your contractor is certified for.
For a premium build with sun exposure and a budget that supports it — AZEK PVC in a light tone. The heat advantage is real, the warranty is best-in-class, and the look ages better than premium composite over 10+ years.
For a high-end project where the look matters more than the engineering — TimberTech Legacy. Most realistic wood-grain pattern in capped composite, deep premium colours, and the AZEK parent company has the strongest DFW dealer network for warranty fulfillment.
Run any of these through the calculator and the per-sq-ft rate will land in the brand-equivalent band above.