At homes all over the South, the warming temps and longer days of springtime equal deck time. From cocktails with friends to burger night with the family, there’s no sweeter spot to hang out than your own backyard. But while some homeowners with wooden decks spend precious moments making repairs or doing necessary maintenance, those with decks constructed from Trex’s high-performance composite material can enjoy their outdoor spaces instead of working on them.
The durability of Trex’s wood-alternative decking—which remains hassle-free with no sanding or sealing needed year after year—continues to impress Rob and Lydia Mondavi, who chose the material for the screened-in deck and dock of their waterfront Beaufort, South Carolina, home. “It has outpaced my expectations exponentially,” Rob says. The fourth-generation Napa Valley winemaker and his family spend hours year-round digging into barbecue on the deck, fishing from the dock, and watching sunsets with wine and friends.
“These spaces are extensions of our home,” Lydia says, “and we’ve made so many memories in them.”
They’ve collected more than ten years of meaningful moments; the Mondavis built the house on one of the Lowcountry’s most pristine estuaries in 2014, and in the decade since, the deck has weathered six hurricanes and the daily traffic of their two active boys and Labrador retriever, resisting scratching, stains, warping, splitting, mold, and fading. “It’s held up beautifully against it all, plus the area’s intense sun and salt air,” Lydia says.
Robin Lopez echoes Lydia; the co-owner of Summertime Deck & Dock in Orlando, Florida is a TrexPro (a certified Trex builder) and stresses the material’s benefits. “The sun’s UV rays break down traditional wood’s fibers, but Trex withstands UV, and in coastal environments, that’s important,” he says.
In addition to their deck and dock, the Mondavis’ Trex stairs leading into the water have outperformed wooden stairs, which doesn’t surprise Lopez. “Unlike wood, which swells and warps when immersed in water, when underwater, Trex won’t absorb moisture,” he says. Their Trex outdoor shower, still fresh and splinter-free, also stands out. “It’s a favorite spot,” Rob says, “and since water doesn’t saturate, it hasn’t gotten funky the way some outdoor showers can.”
When their boys’ shrimping adventures and the dog’s shoreline exploring do “dirty up” their dock and deck with sand and the area’s infamous pluff mud, cleanup is a breeze, requiring only a quick hose down. With their jobs and family obligations, simple maintenance despite constant use is another plus for the Mondavis.
And, while their Trex decking has lasted longer and performed better than wood, it looks better doing it, too, showing no wear and maintaining the natural gray hue of “Island Mist” for ten years and counting. “It looks like we just built it,” Lydia says. The decking is available in a wide range of monochromatic and multitone shades, ensuring there’s an option for everyone’s style.
Longevity and simple upkeep are significant Trex advantages, yet they’re not what first attracted Rob. The material’s superior sustainability spoke to the winemaker. “With my roots and ties to the land, it being a ninety-five-percent recycled product was key,” he says. “Throw in how well it works, and it’s an incredible material.”
Now it’s popping up all over their neighborhood; Lydia’s parents built a house down the street and chose Trex for their deck. The Mondavis are doubling down on Trex, too, working with Trex designers to outfit the cottage they bought next door with a new Trex deck and dock. “I don’t know why anyone would build with anything else,” Rob says. “We wouldn’t.”’
To learn more about Trex Decking, visit trex.com
