Composite and low-maintenance decking
Composite decking costs more up front but never needs staining. Here is how the big brands compare and how they handle a Minnesota winter.
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92 Twin Cities deck builders name composite decks on their own website. A to Z.
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About these listings. We list local companies whose own websites show they build decks, after checking each website and phone number (last checked November 3, 2026). Services are the ones each builder names on its website. A license number shows only when it matches Minnesota DLI records. No one pays to be listed, and a listing is not an endorsement. More about the listings
| Trex | TimberTech | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Composite boards made from 95% recycled plastic film and reclaimed sawdust, with a protective shell on three sides. Refuge is a PVC line. | Composite boards with a protective cap, and Advanced PVC boards (sold earlier as AZEK) with no wood at all. |
| Residential warranty | Signature and Transcend: 50 years. Select and Trex Composite Decking: 35 years. Enhance: 25 years. | Advanced PVC Landmark: limited lifetime, plus 50-year fade and stain. Composite fade and stain: 30 years for Legacy, Reserve and Terrain; 25 for Prime+, Prime and Premier. |
| Snow and ice | Plastic shovel. Calcium chloride or rock salt are OK. | Plastic or rubber-bladed shovel. Calcium chloride is OK. Avoid rock salt and sand. |
From each brand's own product, warranty and care pages, November 2026. Warranties are limited; read the terms for the exact board you choose.
Both brands say no metal shovels or sharp-edged tools, and a metal shovel can void the Trex warranty. TimberTech also rules out plastic shovels with a metal edge. Calcium chloride is fine on both, though it can leave a white residue on TimberTech. The brands disagree on rock salt: Trex allows it, TimberTech says to avoid it.
Some cities check composite boards before they go in. Bloomington requires approval of composite or plastic decking, Maple Grove does not accept unlabeled composite decking, and Woodbury wants the brand and style of the boards on your plans. Your builder handles this.
Sources: HomeBlue, cost to build a deck in the Twin Cities · Trex, how long does a deck last · TimberTech, deck lifespan · InterNACHI, life expectancy of home components · Trex, decking · Trex, residential warranty · Trex, care and cleaning · TimberTech, decking overview · TimberTech, Landmark collection · TimberTech, composite fade and stain warranty (PDF) · TimberTech, care and cleaning guide (PDF) · TimberTech, snow and decking
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See what each one does, from composite decks to screened porches, and whether its Minnesota license shows up in state records.
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There is no single best. Both Trex and TimberTech make capped boards with long warranties. Compare the warranty on the exact line, the look, and winter care: if you want to use rock salt, Trex allows it and TimberTech does not.
It costs about twice as much up front ($37 to $39 a square foot installed versus $19 to $23 for wood in the Twin Cities). In return there is no staining or sealing, and the boards last longer than wood by most estimates.
Going by warranties, Trex Signature and Transcend carry 50 years, and TimberTech Advanced PVC Landmark carries a limited lifetime warranty. A warranty is not a promise of lifespan, so read the terms.
Calcium chloride is OK on both Trex and TimberTech. Rock salt is OK on Trex but TimberTech says to avoid it. Never use a metal shovel.
About $37 to $39 a square foot installed in the Twin Cities (HomeBlue). A 12 x 16 ft composite deck is about $7,100 to $7,500. Try the cost calculator.