Pioneering the Future of Outdoor Living

For more than three decades, Trex has consistently set the benchmark for innovation, performance, and sustainability. Since its inception in the mid-1990s, when Trex first created the composite decking category, the company has led the market in sales and innovation with an ever-evolving portfolio of high-performance products that have defined and redefined what’s next in outdoor living.

Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, forward-thinking approach and a relentless pursuit of excellence, Trex stands as the undisputed leader in its category. Holding the largest share of the North American composite decking market, and boasting the industry’s most extensive distribution network with products available in more than 40 countries around the world, Trex generates annual sales surpassing $1.2 billion, making it the world’s largest manufacturer and leading brand of composite decking and railing.

This category leadership is underpinned by a forward-looking vision that comes straight from the top. Bryan Fairbanks, president and CEO of Trex, articulates the company’s mission and values with clarity and conviction. “Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Trex,” says Fairbanks. “Our commitment to developing sustainable, high-performance products drives us to continually push boundaries in the composite outdoor living category.”

Leveraging Market Dynamics

Current housing trends, notably rising mortgage rates, are encouraging homeowners to defer selling and, instead, invest in renovations. This presents a unique opportunity for Trex, with the majority of its current business tied to repairs and remodeling.

“Families who have locked in lower mortgage rates, and plan to stay in their homes for the foreseeable future, are investing in renovations that increase value and livability,” says Fairbanks. “We’re seeing a desire to bring the indoors out and living space expanding into the backyard via decks that are fully outfitted with furniture, lighting, pergolas, and even kitchens. With this in mind, we’ve focused on expanding our product portfolio to include all the elements needed to create a completely customized outdoor space.”

Fairbanks also highlights the adaptability of Trex in uncertain economic conditions, noting that the company is poised to thrive regardless of fluctuations in interest rates, new home sales or renovations, thanks to its diverse product offerings that cater to varying consumer needs and budgets.

“Trex saw explosive growth throughout the pandemic when people were turning their homes into personal sanctuaries, and we’ve held onto that momentum,” he says. “In 2024, Trex has experienced growth driven by composite conversion from wood, higher railing sales, and growing demand for our adjacent outdoor living products.”

Leading by Example

Trex is so confident in the continued potential for growth driven by homeowner renovation that its building a factory in Little Rock, Ark., to boost its manufacturing capacity and enable the company to provide customers with better access to Trex products.

“Market leadership is not just about the numbers; it’s about how you influence the industry as a whole,” Fairbanks notes. “Even though there is speculation of an impending recession, we won’t accept the risk that comes with doing nothing. We’re still betting on homeowners continuing to renovate, which means we need to have products on the ground and ready to meet demand. Overall, we’re hearing positive indicators from both our home center and contractor customers that they’re back to where they were pre-pandemic in terms of product volume and sales.”

And, if as predicted by many industry experts, there’s an easing of interest rates over the next couple of years, Trex is still in a prime position to capture consumers who take advantage of that increased affordability to move up to larger homes or invest in vacation properties.

“Right now, we’re getting our tailwind from people who are staying in their homes and making outdoor additions. Once the resale market picks up again, homebuyers will be looking to repair the deck that is already on the house – or add more outdoor living space. Every potential scenario presents opportunities for growth.”

Trex also isn’t shying away from introducing new premium products during times of economic uncertainty. While the brand has strategically positioned itself to cater to a wide range of consumer preferences, ensuring strong demand across different price points, the introduction of high-end products during times of consumer anxiety exemplifies that company’s confidence that homeowners are still willing to pay a premium for decking, railing, and other outdoor living items that truly elevate their lifestyles.

“Understanding what homeowners want from their outdoor spaces is crucial,” says Fairbanks. “We've honed our insight into consumer needs and expectations through analyzing market trends, listening to customer feedback, and investing in research and development. Trex’s market leadership is tied directly to our ability to innovate and create products with technological advancements that exceed consumer expectations. We’re not just keeping pace; we’re setting the pace for the future of our category.”

And the future of composite outdoor living, as seen through the lens of Trex, is one where sustainability and innovation go hand-in-hand. Trex’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality, eco-friendly outdoor living products has established the brand as a thought leader, dedicated to developing solutions that enhance the outdoor living experience while minimizing environmental impact. This dual focus on innovation and sustainability positions Trex uniquely in the marketplace, catering to a growing demographic of consumers who prioritize eco-friendly products without compromising on quality or aesthetics.

“From Trex’s beginnings, sustainability has been at the core of our manufacturing processes and business practices,” Fairbanks explains. “As an industry leader, we’re very aware of our corporate and social responsibilities, and we put great weight on supporting environmental conservation. Products that align with that values of eco-conscious consumers will continue to grow in demand year-over-year, and we are proud to be a company that is consistently recognized for our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint.”

Trex has been voted the most sustainable decking brand by the readers of Green Builder magazine for 14 consecutive years and recently earned a spot on Newsweek’s list of “America’s Most Responsible Companies” for 2024. Trex was also named to Barron’s prestigious list of the “100 Most Sustainable Companies for 2024” – the only decking manufacturer with a presence.

Engineering What’s Next

Although Trex has long-since evolved from solely a decking brand to become a one-stop supplier of almost everything needed to create a high-performance, low-maintenance outdoor living space, it remains at the leading edge of composite decking innovation – with an unwavering focus on deliver top-quality products that cater to today’s lifestyles.

In 2009, Trex disrupted the decking category with the launch of its revolutionary Trex Transcend^® decking, which boasts deep wood-grain patterns and luxury colors for an ultra-realistic look, coupled with superior shell protection against fading, staining, and scratching. With its unprecedented aesthetics and performance, Transcend has remained the industry’s leading composite decking product for more than a decade.

Then, in 2022, Trex built on the incredible pedigree of Transcend by introducing Trex Transcend® Lineage™ decking. In addition to trend-forward colors, Lineage is engineered with heat-mitigating technology in the shell to reflect the sun and keep boards cooler.* Not only did Lineage mark the next generation of composite decking, engineered with a proprietary, high-traffic formulation and an ultra-durable integrated shell, but its composition of 95% recycled and reclaimed materials earned it recognition by Green Builder Media as a 2023 “Sustainable Product of the Year.”

More recently, Trex launched what it describes as a “watershed” moment for the composite decking industry with Trex Signature^® decking, a next-generation product that elevates the premium composite decking category with the achievement of the most authentic wood aesthetics to date.

“A strategic combination of technological innovation, sustainability initiatives, and consumer-centric research and development will continue to propel Trex forward over the next decade and beyond, both within the decking category and with adjacent products that complete our outdoor living portfolio,” says Fairbanks. “The proprietary engineering methods that we develop push the entire industry forward by raising the bar on performance and aesthetics, but they especially insure that Trex is able to withstand economic fluctuations, while still achieving sales growth and maintaining our position as the market frontrunner.”

*Disclaimer: Although Trex Transcend Lineage is designed to be cooler than most other composite decking products of a similar color, on a hot sunny day, it will get hot. On hot days, care should be taken to avoid extended contact between exposed skin and the deck surface, especially with young children and those with special needs.