Composite Decking Brands Compared: Modwood, Trex, NewTechWood, Ekodeck

Composite decking is a 30–40% premium over hardwood, but you skip the annual oiling and you don’t get splinters. The four brands you’ll see quoted on Sydney decks: Modwood, Trex, NewTechWood, Ekodeck. Here’s how they actually compare.

Capped vs uncapped — the only spec that really matters

Composite is wood flour mixed with recycled polyethylene or polypropylene, extruded into board form. Two construction types:

Uncapped composite. Solid composite throughout. Wood fibres are exposed at the surface. Cheaper, but absorbs water, fades 1–2 shades in the first 12 months, and stains from sunscreen, food and red wine. Older Modwood Natural Grain and standard Ekodeck are uncapped.

Capped composite. A hard polymer shell wraps the wear surfaces. Much better fade resistance, near-zero staining, embossed woodgrain looks more realistic. Trex Transcend, NewTechWood UltraShield, Modwood XS and Ekodeck Designer are capped. This is what we recommend on every coastal job.

Capped costs 15–25% more than uncapped. It’s the easiest spec upgrade in the budget.

Brand-by-brand

Modwood (Australian, Geelong-made)

• Price (supplied): $80–$110 per LM
• Warranty: 10 years on Natural Grain, 25 years on XS (capped)
• Look: Rougher woodgrain texture, slightly less convincing up close
• Range: 8 colours including Black Bean, Jarrah, Silver Gum

Australian-owned, Australian-made, supports local. Natural Grain (uncapped) is the value option but fades faster than imported capped products. Modwood XS is the capped version — competitive on price and quality with Trex and NewTechWood.

Trex (US import, biggest global brand)

• Price (supplied): $110–$150 per LM
• Warranty: 25-year fade and stain (Transcend / Enhance)
• Look: Best-in-class woodgrain emboss, multi-tonal streaks
• Range: 14+ colours, premium tropical and timber tones

The original capped composite. Long-running warranty, well-tested in Australian conditions. Lead time can be 4–8 weeks if your colour isn’t in stock locally. Premium price.

NewTechWood UltraShield (Chinese, capped)

• Price (supplied): $95–$130 per LM
• Warranty: 25-year fade and stain
• Look: Realistic embossed grain, 4-sided cap (some boards), good colour range
• Range: 10+ colours including Teak, Walnut, Antique

Engineered, well-distributed, often better local stock than Trex. The 4-sided cap on certain product lines is a useful detail — protects every face of the board. Our most-specced brand for clients wanting capped composite without the Trex price tag.

Ekodeck (Australian distributed, mostly imported)

• Price (supplied): $70–$100 per LM
• Warranty: 10 years (standard), 25 years (Designer capped)
• Look: Cleaner, more uniform colour — less realistic timber emboss
• Range: 6 main colours

Entry point for composite. Standard Ekodeck is uncapped — not recommended for full-sun decks or coastal areas. Ekodeck Designer (capped) is competitive with Modwood XS. Often used on rental properties or budget jobs.

Heat — the thing brochures don’t tell you

All composite decking gets hot. Dark colours in full sun hit 65–70°C; you cannot walk on it barefoot in January. Light grey, sandstone or pale teak runs 10–15°C cooler. If your deck faces west or sits in full sun all afternoon, do one of three things:

• Pick a lighter colour from the start.
• Build a pergola or shade structure overhead.
• Stick with hardwood — timber runs cooler than any composite.

For shaded or pool decks, this matters less. For full-sun north or west-facing decks, factor it in.

Cost compared to hardwood

Built deck pricing for a 30sqm deck on a flat block:

• Spotted Gum hardwood: $25,500–$36,000 ($850–$1,200/sqm)
• Modwood XS or Ekodeck Designer: $36,000–$42,000
• NewTechWood UltraShield: $39,000–$45,000
• Trex Transcend: $42,000–$49,500

Add 15–30 hours of your time per year for hardwood (cleaning, oiling). Composite is zero. Over 15 years that’s 225–450 hours back — and the price difference disappears.

What we’d put on our own house

NewTechWood UltraShield in a mid-grey or weathered teak. Capped, well-priced, good local stock, looks the part. Modwood XS as a strong second if the client wants Australian-made. We do still build hardwood decks where the client wants the look — but for lower-maintenance coastal jobs, capped composite is the easier sell.

For the broader hardwood-vs-composite question, see our guide on hardwood vs composite decking. For hardwood species details, our decking timber comparison covers Spotted Gum, Blackbutt, Ironbark and Merbau.

Frequently Asked Questions