What's the difference between Transcend Tropicals, Earth Tones, and Lineage?

Tropicals are the warm hardwood-look colors with streaking — Tiki Torch (warm reddish brown), Spiced Rum (cinnamon), Lava Rock (near-black). Earth Tones are the cool weathered grays + sand — Island Mist, Toasted Sand, Rocky Harbor, Gravel Path. Lineage is the 2024-launched heat-mitigation collection — Rainier, Carmel, Biscayne, Jasper — engineered to run ~35°F cooler at the surface than standard Transcend at the same color depth. All three carry the same 25-yr structural + fade warranty; Lineage is a small per-LF premium ($5.90 vs $5.40).

How much does a Trex Transcend deck cost?

$55-85 per square foot installed depending on color collection + pattern + complexity. A 16×20 (320 sqft) Transcend Earth Tones deck with Trex Transcend Railing and 4 stairs lands around $24,000 nationally; the same deck in Lineage with Trex Signature aluminum rail and DeckLighting lands around $34,000. Multiply by ~0.92× South or ~1.28× West Coast. Calculator outputs a project-low to project-high range.

Is Trex Transcend worth the premium over Trex Select?

For most homeowners, yes — Transcend has the broader palette (14 colors vs Select's 5), the multi-tonal cap that looks more like real hardwood, and the heat-mitigation Lineage option for hot climates. The materials premium is about $0.90/lf (Transcend $5.40 vs Select $4.50), which on a 320 sqft deck is roughly $290 more. The aesthetic upgrade typically justifies the small premium. Select is the right pick when budget is the priority OR you want a monotone modern look.

What is Trex Lineage and why is it more expensive?

Lineage (launched 2024) is Trex's heat-mitigation Transcend variant — a new cap formula engineered to reflect more of the sun's near-infrared spectrum. Dark Lineage colors stay about 35°F cooler at the surface than equivalent dark Transcend colors. Particularly valuable in hot climates (Phoenix, Las Vegas, Dallas) or for barefoot decks. The premium is about 9% per LF ($5.90 vs $5.40). The four colors (Rainier, Carmel, Biscayne, Jasper) are all mid-to-cool tones — there's no Lineage Lava Rock equivalent yet (the darkest colors would still run warm even with the technology).

What's TUHF and how does it compare to other hidden fasteners?

TUHF (Trex Universal Hidden Fastener) is Trex's clip system for grooved boards. Each box ships 90 clips and covers ~50 sqft at 16″ joist on-center. Box price is $89; loose clips $1.25 each. The clip nests into the board's edge groove and screws into the joist, leaving a screw-free surface. Compared to AZEK CONCEALoc (90/$85/50 sqft), TUHF is roughly equivalent price and coverage. MoistureShield CoolClip (180/$132/90 sqft) is the highest per-sqft coverage available.

Can I install Trex Transcend on 24-inch joist on-center framing?

No — Transcend (like every Trex line and every wood-fiber composite) is rated for 16″ joist on-center maximum perpendicular to the boards under AWC DCA-6. The only composite line with a 24″ OC rating is Deckorators Voyage + Vault (mineral-based composite, DCA-6 exception). For Trex installs over older 24″ OC framing, you'll need to add sister joists every 8 ft to bring effective spacing to 16″ OC. The calculator's BoM doesn't include those sister joists since they're an existing-framing remediation cost.

What is Trex RainEscape?

Trex RainEscape is an under-deck drainage system — a sloped EPDM membrane installed between the joists, with downspouts at the perimeter. It turns the space below a raised deck into a dry, finished patio area protected from drips through the deck boards. Adds about $4.50/sqft installed. Useful if you have a walkout basement or want covered storage under the deck. Best installed during the deck build, not retrofitted later.

Why does Lava Rock run hotter than other Transcend colors?

Lava Rock is Transcend's darkest color — a near-black hue that absorbs more solar radiation than any other shade in the line. In 90°F full sun, Lava Rock surface temperatures can hit 170-180°F (uncomfortable barefoot). The calculator flags a heat warning when you pick a Heat-Rating-1 color on a deck below 60″ above grade (where bare feet are most common). For a barefoot-friendly dark deck, switch to Lineage Carmel or Biscayne — same dark visual character, 35°F cooler.

How does the 3-collection auto-compare work?

Once you set length × width + pattern + fastener + stairs, the calculator prices the exact same deck across all 3 Transcend sub-collections (Tropicals / Earth Tones / Lineage) using each collection's per-LF retail. The side-by-side table shows total range + per-sqft for each. Tap any to switch the calc to that sub-collection; the color picker resets to that collection's first color. Fastest way to see the Lineage heat-mitigation premium on your specific deck.

Is the Trex warranty really 25 years?

Yes — Trex Transcend (all 3 sub-collections) carries a 25-year limited residential structural warranty AND a 25-year limited residential fade & stain warranty. Transferable one-time to a future homeowner at no charge. Register at trex.com/warranty within 30 days of install for full coverage. AZEK Vintage/Harvest/Landmark (50-yr structural / 30-yr fade) and MoistureShield Meridian (lifetime / 50-yr) have longer warranties if that's a priority for you.

Trex flagship · Tropicals + Earth Tones + Lineage

Trex Transcend Calculator

The flagship-line deep-cut for Trex Transcend. All 3 sub-collections — Tropicals (warm hardwood streaks), Earth Tones (cool weathered), and the 2024 Lineage heat-mitigation cap — with the full 14-color palette. Real BoM with TUHF clip-box count, optional RainEscape under-deck, optional DeckLighting, 3-collection auto-compare. 25-yr structural + fade & stain warranty across all three.

2026-Q1 retailAll Transcend collections14 colorsLineage heat-mitigationTUHF + Cortex BoMRainEscape + DeckLighting3D viewer

3·Sub-collections

14·Color swatches

−35°F·Lineage vs standard

$/sqft·Live update

Inputs

Trex line4 Trex lines · 25-yr fade & stain

Color14 colors incl. Lineage heat-mitigation

= hot in sun · = stays cool · = Lineage heat-mitigation cap

Dimensions

Plan-view length × width.

Lengthft

Widthft

Area · 192 sq ft·Perimeter · 56 ft·Stocked in 12/16/20 ft

Footprint shape1.00× complexity

AttachmentShares house structure

Layout pattern7% waste · 1.00× labor

Fastener systemTrex Universal Hidden Fastener · 90/box · 50 sqft/box

Trex railing$95/lf installed

Deck heightinches

IRC R312 requires a 36″ guardrail above 30″.

State2-letter

Stairssteps from grade to deck

Trex accessories

Trex · Trex Transcend·Northeast

$18,659 – $25,584$97–$133 /sq ft installed

Tiki TorchTropicals Hot in sun25-yr structural25-yr fade192 sq ft · parallel

Boards

445 lf · 7% waste

TUHF boxes

90/box · 50 sqft

Materials

Low $5,341

Labor

1.22× region

Project advisories · IRC 2021 + Trex specs

Guardrail included — Trex Transcend Railing

IRC R312

IRC R312 mandates a 36″ guardrail above 30″. 40 lf of Trex Transcend Railing priced at $95/lf installed.

Trex warranty · 25-yr structural · 25-yr fade & stain

Trex Limited Warranty

Trex Transcend ships with a transferable limited warranty covering structural integrity for 25 years and fade/stain for 25 years. Register at trex.com/owners/warranty/register within 30 days of install.

TUHF · 3 boxes + 29 loose clips

Trex install manual

Trex Universal Hidden Fastener — 90 clips per box, 50 sqft coverage at 16″ joist o.c. Required reading: trex.com/install. The clip nests into the board's edge groove and screws into the joist for a clean screw-free surface.

Heat caution — Tiki Torch runs HOT in full sun

Trex Lineage technical data

Dark Trex colors (Tiki Torch, hex #7B3F1F) measure 160–175°F at the surface in direct sun on a 90°F day. Consider switching to a Lineage color (Rainier, Carmel, Biscayne, Jasper) — Trex's heat-mitigation cap runs 20–30°F cooler at the same color depth.

Trex bill of materials

Item

Qty

Total

Trex Transcend — Tiki Torch

23 boards · 445 lf · 26 rows · 7% waste · 12/16/20 ft stock

Home Depot Lowe’s

23 board

$2,404

Trex Transcend — Tiki Torch

23 boards · 445 lf · 26 rows · 7% waste · 12/16/20 ft stock

Home Depot Lowe’s

23 board

—

$2,404

Trex Transcend Railing kit

40 lf · top rail + balusters + posts (composite)

Home Depot Lowe’s

40 lf

$1,710

Trex Transcend Railing kit

40 lf · top rail + balusters + posts (composite)

Home Depot Lowe’s

40 lf

—

$1,710

Framing — 2×10 PT joists

13 joists × 12'

13 joist

$491

Framing — 2×10 PT joists

13 joists × 12'

13 joist

—

$491

Trex Universal Hidden Fastener

3 boxes (270 clips · 150 sqft coverage) · TUHF-90BX

Home Depot Lowe’s

3.0 box

$267

Trex Universal Hidden Fastener

3 boxes (270 clips · 150 sqft coverage) · TUHF-90BX

Home Depot Lowe’s

3.0 box

—

$267

Stair materials (composite)

4 steps · stringers + Trex composite treads + landing pad

4.0 step

$243

Stair materials (composite)

4 steps · stringers + Trex composite treads + landing pad

4.0 step

—

$243

Framing — 2-ply 2×10 PT beam

2 beams × 16' (5% built-up assembly)

2.0 beam

$212

Framing — 2-ply 2×10 PT beam

2 beams × 16' (5% built-up assembly)

2.0 beam

—

$212

Hardware — joist hangers + post bases + caps

13 hangers · 3 ABU66Z bases · 3 PC6Z caps

19 pc

$163

Hardware — joist hangers + post bases + caps

13 hangers · 3 ABU66Z bases · 3 PC6Z caps

19 pc

—

$163

Posts — 6×6 PT (8' stock)

3 posts × $52

3.0 post

$156

Posts — 6×6 PT (8' stock)

3 posts × $52

3.0 post

—

$156

Ledger bolts + Z-flashing

16' ledger · 1/2" lag bolts + flashing

1.0 lot

$63

Ledger bolts + Z-flashing

16' ledger · 1/2" lag bolts + flashing

1.0 lot

—

$63

TUHF — loose clips (partial box)

29 loose clips at 1.20 each

29 clip

$35

TUHF — loose clips (partial box)

29 loose clips at 1.20 each

29 clip

—

$35

Materials subtotal

$5,744

Trex retail pricing 2026-Q1 (Home Depot Pro Desk + Lowe's Pro + Trex Pro Platinum channel). Each line includes Trex part numbers where applicable.

Live preview

Visualize your Trex deck

Photoreal 3D · plan view · framing breakdown. Color matches the Trex Transcend Tiki Torch variant.

PBR materialsHDR lightingTrex Transcend

Loading 3D scene…

DeckMath·16′ × 12′·192 sq ft

Trex Transcend·composite

Drag · pinch / scroll

Joists

13 × 12′

Beams

2 × 2-ply 2×10

Posts

6 × 6×6

Boards

27 rows

Same deck, every Trex line

tap to switch

Project all-in

Materials (Trex BoM + framing + hardware)

Trex Transcend retail · 23 boards · 3 TUHF boxes

$5,341 – $5,744

Labor (installed)

Northeast · 1.22× national · 1.25× composite premium

$9,582 – $12,400

Add-ons

Trex railing install · stairs · DeckLighting · RainEscape (only included items)

$3,416 – $4,795

Soft costs

Permit · demo (only included items)

$320 – $320

Contingency reserve (10%)

Industry-standard cushion for unforeseen scope

$2,326

Project total (low – high)

Plan around the high. Get 3 Trex Pro Platinum bids — DeckMath should land within ±15%.

$18,659 – $25,584

Find a Trex Pro Platinum installer

Trex's vetted installer network — same calculator inputs ready to share. Opens trex.com.

Within 30 days of install. Need board serial numbers from your contractor + install date.

Comparing other brands?

Open the Composite Deck Cost Calculator to A/B Trex against TimberTech, Fiberon, Deckorators, and 3 more brands at the same dimensions.

Open

Estimates use 2026-Q1 national-median pricing (Home Depot, Lowe's, Trex Pro Platinum channel). Expect ±15% variance vs your local market. Always get 3 contractor bids before signing. DeckMath is not affiliated with The Trex Company; Trex® and product names are trademarks of The Trex Company, Inc.

How to use

Three steps. Permit-ready output.

Pick a Transcend sub-collection

Tropicals (warm hardwood looks), Earth Tones (cool weathered), or Lineage (the 2024 heat-mitigation cap — pick this for dark colors in hot climates). All three carry the same 25-yr structural + 25-yr fade warranty; Lineage is a small premium per LF.

Choose a color

6 Tropicals (Tiki Torch / Spiced Rum / Lava Rock / Havana Gold / Tree House / Vintage Lantern), 4 Earth Tones (Island Mist / Rocky Harbor / Toasted Sand / Gravel Path), 4 Lineage (Rainier / Carmel / Biscayne / Jasper). Heat-rating icons show surface-temperature expectation in 90°F sun.

Enter dimensions + pattern

Length × width in feet. Pattern: parallel (7% waste, 1.0× labor), picture-frame (12%, 1.18×), diagonal (15%, 1.12×). Calculator quantizes board count using Trex's stocked 12/16/20 ft.

Pick a fastener

TUHF (Trex Universal Hidden Fastener) is the default — 90 clips/box, $89/box, ~50 sqft coverage. Face-screw + Cortex color-matched plugs is the exposed-but-clean alternative.

Pick a railing

Trex Signature (aluminum, $188/lf installed — slimmest sightline), Trex Transcend Railing (composite, $95/lf — color-matched to your deck), or no railing.

Add accessories (optional)

Trex RainEscape under-deck drainage (turns deck-below space into a dry patio) and Trex DeckLighting (post-cap + riser LED kit + 100W transformer + low-voltage wiring) are toggles.

Read your Transcend BoM

Materials with Trex part numbers, 3-collection auto-compare, project all-in totals, IRC compliance flags. Save link, export PDF, embed.

Material guide

Wood, composite, or PVC?

Three honest paths. Composite wins the 25-year math for most homeowners, wood wins on upfront cost, and PVC is unbeatable around water. Each card below answers in one glance — recalculate the bill of materials by clicking a brand in the picker above.

Pressure-treated wood

Best for · DIY budget builds

Upfront: $1.85 – $4.10/lf
Lifespan: 10 – 15 years

Pros

Lowest upfront cost ($15–25/sq ft installed)
Universally available — Home Depot, Lowe's, lumberyards
Workable with standard fasteners and tools

Cons

Annual stain/seal needed (~$0.45/sq ft/yr)
Splinters, splits, and warps over time
Higher 25-year ownership cost than composite

Try in calculator: PT 2×6 or 5/4×6 deck boards

Composite

Best for · Most homeowners

Upfront: $3.20 – $6.40/lf
Lifespan: 25 – 30 years (warranty)

Pros

Wash-only maintenance ($0.05/sq ft/yr)
Capped polymer surface resists stains, mold, fade
Lowest 25-year total cost for most builds

Cons

Higher upfront ($28–40/sq ft installed)
Hidden-fastener systems take 25% longer to install
Can run warm in direct sun (lighter colors mitigate)

Try in calculator: Trex Enhance · TimberTech Prime+ · Fiberon Good Life

PVC (capped polymer)

Best for · Pool & coastal decks

Upfront: $4.65 – $7.20/lf
Lifespan: 30+ years (lifetime warranty)

Pros

Zero rot, zero mold — fully synthetic core
Coolest underfoot of the synthetics (mineral-core lines)
Best moisture and salt-spray performance

Cons

Highest upfront cost
Can move slightly more with temperature swings
Color palette narrower than composite

Try in calculator: TimberTech AZEK Vintage · Wolf Serenity

How we calculate

The math, fully transparent.

The Trex Transcend Calculator is the flagship-line deep-cut for homeowners who've decided on Trex Transcend specifically. Transcend is Trex's hardwood-look premium line — 25-yr structural + 25-yr fade & stain warranty, deeply pigmented multi-tonal cap, and the broadest color palette of any Trex line. This calc breaks Transcend into its three sub-collections: Tropicals (warm hardwood streaks — Tiki Torch, Spiced Rum, Lava Rock), Earth Tones (cool weathered grays + sand — Island Mist, Toasted Sand, Gravel Path), and the 2024-launched Lineage (heat-mitigation cap — Rainier, Carmel, Biscayne, Jasper — runs 35°F cooler than standard Transcend at the same color depth). You get a real BoM with TUHF clip-box count, optional Trex RainEscape under-deck, optional Trex DeckLighting, and a 3-collection auto-comparison. Pricing reflects 2026-Q1 retail.

IRC references

IRC 2021 R507 — Decks
IRC 2021 R312 — Guards (railing required when deck > 30″)
Trex Transcend install manual — TUHF clip spacing (1 per board per joist crossing)
Trex Transcend warranty terms — 25-yr structural + 25-yr fade & stain

Per-LF retail prices reflect 2026-Q1 Trex Transcend pricing at Home Depot + Trex Pro Platinum channel. TUHF + Cortex specs from Trex install manuals. Lineage heat-mitigation surface-temperature claims from Trex Lineage technical data sheets. 25-yr structural + fade & stain warranty per Trex published terms.

Deck-board linear feet

rows × length × (1 + waste%)

Rows = ceil(width × 12 ÷ (5.5 + 0.125)) — Transcend boards face 5.5″ with 1/8″ install gap. Waste % is pattern-driven.

TUHF box count

boxes = floor(total_clips ÷ 90)

Each TUHF box ships 90 clips and covers ~50 sqft at 16″ joist on-center. Total clips = boards × (length × 12 ÷ 16 + 1). Loose remainder priced at $1.25 each.

Lineage heat-mitigation premium

lineage_lf_cost = standard_lf × 1.09

Trex Transcend Lineage carries a ~9% premium per LF vs standard Transcend Tropicals/Earth Tones for the cooler-touch cap. Worth it for dark colors in hot climates; less critical for light colors or northern climates.

Composite labor premium

$35/sqft × 1.25 × pattern × shape × region

Transcend installs are 25% slower than face-screwed PT (TUHF clip-system sequencing). Pattern + shape multipliers compound. Region multiplier from RSMeans 2026-Q1.

RainEscape coverage

underdeck_sqft = deck_sqft × 0.95

Trex RainEscape covers the area between joists with a sloped EPDM membrane + downspouts. Effective coverage is ~95% of plan area (perimeter trim reduces effective area). Adds about $4.50/sqft installed.

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Frequently asked

Questions, answered.

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Trex Deck Calculator

Trex deck cost + BoM. All 4 lines (Transcend incl. Lineage, Select, Enhance), full palette, TUHF box count, RainEscape, DeckLighting.

Trex Enhance Calculator

Trex Enhance entry composite — Basics + Naturals tiers (Beach Dune, Saddle, Clam Shell). Home Depot stocked, 25-yr fade & stain warranty, Trex's most affordable line. 2026 retail.

Composite Deck Cost Calculator

Trex, TimberTech, Fiberon, Deckorators by line + color. Real installed cost + 25-yr TCO vs pressure-treated. 2026 retail pricing.

Trex vs TimberTech Comparison Calculator

Side-by-side: Trex (Enhance/Select/Transcend/Signature) vs TimberTech (EDGE/PRO/AZEK/Advanced PVC). 25-yr TCO, warranty, lifespan, heat, weight, recycled content — 9-dimension scoreboard.

Trex Transcend Calculator

Inputs

Project advisories · IRC 2021 + Trex specs

Guardrail included — Trex Transcend Railing

Trex warranty · 25-yr structural · 25-yr fade & stain

TUHF · 3 boxes + 29 loose clips

Heat caution — Tiki Torch runs HOT in full sun

Trex bill of materials

Visualize your Trex deck

Same deck, every Trex line

Project all-in

Comparing other brands?

Three steps. Permit-ready output.

Pick a Transcend sub-collection

Choose a color

Enter dimensions + pattern

Pick a fastener

Pick a railing

Add accessories (optional)

Read your Transcend BoM

Wood, composite, or PVC?

Pressure-treated wood

Composite

PVC (capped polymer)

The math, fully transparent.

IRC references

Don’t lose this estimate.

Questions, answered.

One line. Any site. Free.

More calculators you'll need.

Trex Deck Calculator

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Composite Deck Cost Calculator

Trex vs TimberTech Comparison Calculator