Key takeaways
- Modwood $480-$720/m2 fitted; Trex $620-$920/m2 - Trex is typically $100-$200/m2 dearer
- Both are capped composites - a polymer shell that resists fade, scratch and stain
- Trex carries a longer fade-and-stain warranty and a wider colour range
- For any barefoot area, choose a lighter board in either brand - dark composite gets hot in Adelaide sun
What both brands have in common
Modwood and Trex are both capped composite decking. The board has a wood-plastic core and a co-extruded polymer shell - the cap - that protects it. Capping is the single most important quality feature in modern composite: it resists fade, scratching and staining far better than first-generation uncapped boards, which chalked out within years.
Both never need oiling, staining or sanding. Both need only an occasional wash. Both are good products from established manufacturers. The choice between them is not good versus bad - it is mid-tier versus premium.
Modwood: the Australian mid-tier
Modwood is Australian-made and the composite most Adelaide builders stock and quote by default. At $480 to $720 per square metre fitted it is the more affordable capped option. It has a solid colour range, a sound warranty, and a long local track record in Australian conditions.
For most Adelaide homeowners who want a maintenance-light deck without reaching for the premium tier, Modwood is the sensible choice. Being widely stocked locally also helps with supply and with matching boards later if a repair is ever needed.
Trex: the premium tier
Trex is the premium US composite brand, at $620 to $920 per square metre fitted - typically $100 to $200 more than Modwood. What the premium buys: one of the longest fade-and-stain warranties in the category, a wider and often more sophisticated colour range, and a board many builders and homeowners consider more refined in finish and texture.
Trex suits a homeowner who wants the top of the composite market, a specific premium colour, or the reassurance of the longest warranty. It is a genuine step up - whether it is worth the gap depends on budget and how much the colour range and warranty matter to you.
Heat - the factor that applies to both
Neither brand escapes the Adelaide heat problem. Dark composite, Modwood or Trex, reaches 60 to 70 degrees in direct summer sun and is uncomfortable barefoot. The fix is the same for both: choose a lighter board colour for any area used barefoot, and allow for afternoon shade.
When you compare Modwood and Trex quotes, make sure they specify the same board grade and a sensible colour for your deck's sun exposure. Decking Adelaide gets you 3 itemised composite quotes from BWC-licensed builders so the brand, capping grade, colour and warranty are all there to compare.
Modwood vs Trex - frequently asked questions
Trex is the premium tier and Modwood is the mid-tier - both are good capped composites. Trex carries a longer fade-and-stain warranty, a wider colour range and a more refined finish, for $100 to $200 more per square metre fitted. Whether Trex is better for you depends on budget and how much the warranty and colour range matter.
Fitted in Adelaide, Trex typically costs $100 to $200 more per square metre than Modwood. Modwood runs $480 to $720 per square metre fitted; Trex $620 to $920. On a 40 square metre deck that is roughly $4,000 to $8,000 difference - the premium for the longer warranty, wider colour range and more refined board.
Yes, both do. Dark composite boards in either brand reach 60 to 70 degrees in direct Adelaide summer sun and are too hot for bare feet. The fix is the same for both: choose a lighter board colour for any barefoot area and allow for afternoon shade. Heat is a property of dark composite generally, not of one brand.
Modwood is Australian-made and the composite most Adelaide builders stock and quote by default, so it is generally the easier of the two to source locally and to match later for a repair. Trex is available through builders who carry the premium range. Both are obtainable - Modwood is simply the more common local default.
Ready for real quotes?
We connect you with 3 independent, BWC-verified Adelaide deck builders. Free, no obligation.
Get 3 Free Quotes