When it comes to composite decking, Trex is one of the most well-known and trusted brands on the market. They offer several lines of high-performance and low-maintenance deck boards perfect for backyard getaways.
Two of their most popular options are Trex Select and Trex Enhance. But what’s the difference, and which is better for your needs?
This guide breaks down the pros, cons, costs, and key differences between Trex Select and Enhance decking. We’ll compare performance, appearance, price, and more so you can determine the best choice for your space. Let’s dive in!
Trex Decking Lines Comparison
| Feature | Trex Select | Trex Enhance |
| Colors | 3 neutral shades | 8 multi-tonal and natural wood shades |
| Texture | Wood grain on top, solid on bottom | Wood grain on top, grooved bottom |
| Stain/Fade Resistance | Very good | Excellent |
| Mold/Mildew Resistance | Very good | Excellent |
| Splintering | Minimal | None |
| Heat Reduction | Good | Better |
Overview of Trex Select
Trex Select decking offers a balance of beauty, durability, and affordability.
As a mid-range composite deck board in the Trex line-up, Select has excellent fade, stain, mold, and scratch resistance capabilities.
With Select, you have the option of three traditional wood-inspired colors:
- Madeira: Rich brown tones
- Pebble Grey: Subtle and natural grey
- Saddle: Warm, elegant brown
On the top side, Trex Select boards feature a convincing wood grain pattern that looks attractive and natural. The bottom side has a smooth, solid surface. This decking is reversible, so if you ever need to replace a damaged board, you can flip it over to reveal fresh wood grain.
Overall, Trex Select provides:
- Attractive low-maintenance wood look for less
- Resists fading, stains, mold, and mildew
- Minimal splintering and safer for bare feet
- Reversible boards to extend life
- 25-year residential warranty
While beautiful and durable, Select decking does come with some downsides:
- Only 3 color options
- Can show some scratches over time
- Not as slip-resistant as other Trex lines
- Prone to slight heat absorption in direct sunlight
Trex Select offers a great mid-range composite decking choice in terms of beauty, quality, and price. Keep reading to see how it compares to Trex Enhance.
Overview of Trex Enhance
Trex Enhance decking sits at the top of the Trex decking lines as their premium offering. It provides superior fade, stain, scratch, and mold resistance capabilities along with an elegant, realistic wood look.
Enhance boards come in 8 different natural-looking color blends inspired by exotic hardwoods:
- Beach Dune: Golden brown tones
- Clam Shell: Silver grey hues
- Toasted Sand: Rich warm brown
- Foggy Wharf: Cool coastal grey
- Rocky Harbor: Weathered coastal grey
- Coastal Bluff: Multi-tonal earthy brown
- Island Mist: Fresh white and tan
- Tiki Torch: Dramatic reddish-brown
Like Trex Select, the top side of Enhance boards feature an extremely convincing wood grain pattern. But the bottom side has subtle grooves to improve grip and drainage. Trex Enhance also provides enhanced slip resistance and better heat diffusion thanks to its shell color and surface texture.
Key benefits of Trex Enhance include:
- Gorgeous luxury colors and wood grain
- Extreme fade, stain, mold/mildew resistance
- No visible scratches from furniture or pets
- Improved traction and safety
- Reflects less sunlight and stays cooler
- 25-year residential warranty
Downsides of this premium decking line are mainly the higher cost and limited stock availability. Additionally, the bottom grooves can trap debris if not cleaned properly.
For beauty, resilience, and performance, Trex Enhance is a top choice in composite decking, albeit at a premium price point. Keep reading for more details on how the two lines compare.
Key Differences Between Trex Select And Enhance Decking
- Cost Comparison
One of the first things homeowners consider when shopping for decking is cost.
There is a noticeable price difference between basic Trex Select and premium Enhance boards.
On average, Trex Select boards cost $3.50 per linear foot while Trex Enhance boards run $4.75+ per linear foot through retailers.
That’s roughly a 26% price jump from mid-range Select to high-end Enhance.
Accounting for installation labor on a 500 square foot deck, you can expect to pay around $5,750 for Trex Select decking compared to $7,625+ for Trex Enhance. The premium Enhance line carries at least a $1,875 price premium over entry-level options.
However, the higher initial investment in Trex Enhance can pay off over time when factoring in durability, longevity, and lack of maintenance needed. We’ll analyze additional differences below.
- Appearance Comparison
When evaluating composite deck boards, aesthetics are key. You want an attractive, natural wood look that enhances your home’s curb appeal without constant upkeep.
In terms of colors, Trex Enhance provides more variety with 8 multi-tonal options ranging from warm brown to weathered gray and coastal blue hues. Enhance better replicates the depth and dimension of real exotic hardwoods.
Comparatively, Trex Select only comes in 3 neutral wood-inspired tones —although the colors are quite elegant and versatile for design needs.
For surface texture,both Trex lines feature convincing wood grain patterns on top for beauty and traction. However, Select has a flat underside while Enhance incorporates subtle grooves to improve drainage and grip. The ribbed bottom side is an advantage of the Enhance boards.
Over time, Trex Enhance truly outshines Select in appearance retention. The premium Enhance formula and shell technology maintain rich coloration and wood grain pattern longer without fading or discoloration from sun exposure. Enhance also resists ugly mold/mildew growth better in damp areas.
- Performance & Durability Comparison
Alongside aesthetics, performance is a major factor that separates Trex Enhance decking from more affordable Select boards.
Trex Enhance offers superior scratch, stain, and fade resistance thanks to proprietary Trex technology innovations like the PermaTech protective polymer shell and TractionBack textured bottom surface.
Where basic Trex Select boards may show some visible light scratches, water stains or color loss after a few years exposure, Trex Enhance maintains pristine, flawless beauty much longer term without costly upkeep treatments. You’ll enjoy durability and resilience on par with exotic hardwood.
Enhance boards also diffuse heat better than Select, staying cooler under hot sunlight. The textured bottom provides excellent wet/dry traction for improved safety and slip resistance. Debris can get trapped between the grooves though, requiring occasional cleaning.
Both Trex Select and Enhance carry 25-year residential warranties against defects, decay and termites. So you can expect decades of worry-free performance with proper installation. However, Enhance better retains visual charm over decades.
While Trex Select offers beautiful, reliable composite decking at a reasonable price point, discerning homeowners who prioritize resilience and enduring curb appeal will appreciate the superior technological innovations and warranty protections of premium Trex Enhance boards.
Which Is Better For Your Needs?
Now that we’ve compared the pros and cons, costs, appearance and performance differences between Trex Select and Trex Enhance decking lines, which is the better choice for your backyard project?
Here are a few key questions to consider:
What’s Your Budget?
Trex Select provides attractive composite boards at $3.50 per linear foot, roughly 26% less than premium Enhance. If sticking to a budget, Select hits the sweet spot of beauty, durability and affordability.
However, paying more upfront for Enhance can save long-term via exceptional resistance to scratches/stains, better traction, efficient heat diffusion and durable color/grain retention.
What Visual Style Do You Prefer?
Trex Enhance offers a wider, more dynamic range of colors from weathered coastal greys and warm exotic wood tones to unique modern hues like Tiki Torch. Enhance better replicates the rich dimension of real hardwood.
But for homeowners preferring traditional, neutral wood-inspired shade options, Trex Select provides a pleasing pebble grey-brown palette at excellent value.
What Climate Conditions Will Your Deck Face?
In hot sunny locales like Florida and Texas, Trex Enhance makes more sense as the premium boards reflect heat better thanks to the multi-tonal shell treatment. Enhance also resists mold/mildew remarkably well in humid environments near water.
In dry mountain states with abundant sun but less moisture, affordable Trex Select handles UV rays reasonably well. Fading/discoloration happens slower than lesser-grade composites.
How Much Upkeep Are You Willing to Do?
For hands-off homeowners averse to yearly deck staining/sealing, premium Trex Enhance is virtually maintenance free.
Enhance better retains exquisite coloration and wood grain for decades without refinishing treatments required.
While Trex Select still performs better than most composites, the boards do show slight scratches/dulling faster than Enhance.
Occasional soap and water cleansing is recommended to keep Select boards closer to new condition.
How Long Do You Plan to Live There?
If designing a forever-home to enjoy for decades, investing extra in ultra-durable Trex Enhance is highly worthwhile. In 20+ years, Enhance still outperforms Select with unrivaled mold, scratch and fade resistance. This translates to higher long-term curb appeal and resale value.
For a shorter 5-10 year stay, handsome affordable Trex Select offers plenty of quality and charm at excellent overall value. While Select won’t age quite as gracefully long-term, the mid-grade decking sufficiently ups your home’s lifestyle and equity.
FAQ Comparing Trex Enhance and Select Decking
Below are answers to common questions homeowners have around choosing between Trex Select and Trex Enhance for their composite decking project.
The main differences between Trex Enhance and Trex Select deck railing are:
Appearance: Trex Enhance railings feature a wider selection of colors to match your premium deck boards. Trex Select rails only come in 3 neutral wood shades.
Durability: Trex Enhance railings offer excellent scratch, fade and stain resistance like the matching decking. Trex Select railings are prone to some scraping and color loss over time.
Price: Enhance railing costs roughly 20% more than mid-grade Select railing. Expect to invest $85+ per linear foot installed for Enhance versus $70 per linear foot for Select railing.
Performance: Both meet rigorous ASTM safety standards for strength and rigidity. However, Enhance rail incorporates enhanced UV protection and cleaning abilities versus Select.
Trex makes 3 main lines of composite decking rising in durability and price:
Trex Transcend: The most affordable Trex boards at $2.30 per linear foot. Offers fade and stain resistance for 10 years.
Trex Select: Mid-grade boards at $3.50/ foot. Improved fade resistance for 25 years. Nice wood grain pattern.
Trex Enhance: Their premium decking at $4.75+ per foot. Features unrivaled scratch, stain and mold resistance for decades. Luxurious exotic hardwood look.
No, Trex Enhance offers superior scratch resistance and is difficult to scrape or scratch thanks to the protective polymer shell. This also provides excellent resistance to food/drink stains.
Less expensive Trex Transcend and Trex Select do show light surface scratches more easily over time from furniture drag or active pets. But Enhance basically shields the underlying wood-plastic core to maintain flawless beauty year after year.
With proper installation, expertly manufactured Trex Enhance boards will last over 50 years in residential applications before needing replacement.
The premium Enhance decking features weather-shielding technologies to prevent moisture damage, plus unrivaled fade/stain/mold resistance capabilities. This translates to decades of enduring performance and charm that far outpaces wood or cheaper composites.
Under their Residential Limited Warranty, Trex warranties Enhance against material defects, splintering, rotting and termites for 25 years from purchase. This protects your investment significantly longer than the 10 years covered for basic Trex Transcend boards.
Bottom line — gorgeous, resilient Trex Enhance decking will retain its beauty and function at a high level for your home’s entire lifecycle. The premium boards are built to last decades while requiring no costly refinishing or repairs.
The Bottom Line
When choosing between Trex Select and Trex Enhance composites, weigh your priorities of budget, visual tastes, climate conditions, maintenance preferences and tenure timeframe in the home.
While Trex Enhance does cost more upfront, the superior durability and technology pays dividends over your deck’s entire 25-year lifecycle. For a truly low-maintenance, forever-home project, Enhance is worth the investment.
That said, Trex Select still elevates your outdoor living space tremendously while keeping project costs reasonable. Ultimately, you can feel confident either Trex option provides decades of hassle-free performance unmatched among leading composite decking manufacturers.
Now that you know the key comparative differences, you can determine whether handsome affordable Trex Select or ultra-premium Trex Enhance makes the best choice to realize your dream deck and outdoor retreat!