Composite Decking Brands Compared

Trex offers the best balance of quality and value at £60-90/m² for materials. Eva-Last is also competitively priced at £50-80/m². TimberTech sits in the mid-premium range at £70-110/m². Millboard is the premium option at £90-140/m² but offers the most realistic timber appearance. All are significantly more expensive than pressure-treated softwood (£20-35/m²) but require virtually no maintenance.

Trex offers a 25-year limited residential warranty covering fade and stain resistance, plus a 25-year structural warranty. Millboard offers a 25-year limited warranty. TimberTech provides 25-30 years depending on the range. Eva-Last offers a 25-year warranty. All warranties are conditional on proper installation and maintenance. Structural warranties (against rot, split, termite) are more robust than fade/stain warranties.

Very important in the UK climate. All composite decking should be tested to BS 7976-2 for slip resistance. Millboard scores highest with Pendulum Test Values (PTV) above 65 (low slip potential) even when wet. Trex Transcend achieves PTV 36+ (moderate-low risk). Look for boards with textured surfaces and check PTV values — anything above 36 is considered "low risk" for public areas.

All composite decking experiences some initial fading in the first 3-6 months as UV stabilisers settle. After this, premium brands (Trex, Millboard, TimberTech) maintain colour well for 15-20 years. Budget composites can fade significantly. Capped boards (with a protective polymer shell) resist fading much better than uncapped boards. All the brands compared here use capping technology.

Composite boards can be fixed to existing timber subframes provided the joists are in good condition, level, and at the correct spacing (typically 300-400mm centres depending on board profile and manufacturer). Some brands (Millboard) recommend their own proprietary subframe. Always check the specific manufacturer installation guide — incorrect joist spacing voids the warranty.