FAQS

Trex composite fencing is a combination of materials, primarily plastics and wood. The thermoplastic content (a type of plastic polymer that can be melted down and recycled almost indefinitely) is primarily polyethylene from reclaimed/recycled grocery bags and stretch film. The wood fiber is typically obtained from furniture makers and/or waste pallets, and is a mix of hardwood and softwood sawdust. The recycled/reclaimed portion of the product makes up approximately 95% of the material with roughly half of that content in plastic and the other half in wood. The remaining 5% is a combination of pigmentation and adhesives (proprietary glues to bind the wood and plastic).  The finished product is a decay-resistant, durable material that are extruded to create the profiles that make up a Trex fence.

Trex Fencing can handle the wear and tear of every day use better than most other vinyl or wood fences. In many cases, a golf ball would not leave any mark large enough to be noticeable. But, if traveling fast enough, it could leave an abrasion of some kind.

In the case of scuffs and abrasions, Trex Fencing offers a unique advantage over other fencing materials. Trex Fencing is dyed from the inside out during the manufacturing process, which mean the color of the material is the same throughout. When scuffs occur, the revealed coloring will eventually weather and blend in with the rest of the material, making scuffs much less visible over time. This is a great benefit over other material, especially vinyl, because scuffs and dents can quickly become eyesores if they are big enough.

The average life of a wood fence is anywhere around 10-15 years. It is important to remember, though, that a wood fence requires a lot in both time and money to keep it maintained. In order to get the most life out of your wood fence, you will need to repaint, restain, and make necessary repairs about every 3-5 years.

Trex Fencing is shipped out of our distributing facility here in the mountains of Provo, Utah. We coordinate with shipping companies to send out orders all the way from California to Maine, and can usually get orders to our customers anywhere from 2-6 business days once it leaves our facility.

Our distributing facility works to get orders out of our facility with 10 business days, which means our total lead time to get you your order is around 2-3 weeks under typical circumstances. Call our team at 877-700-8739 for more information regarding current lead times and shipping information.

The type of fencing that is best for dogs depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If you are wanting to keep your dog from harassing a passerby, then you may want to consider a full-privacy fence. If you are worried about your dog tearing up your fence, then you will want something durable. Fortunately, Trex’s full privacy composite fence system is a durable and beautiful alternative to wood or vinyl. Feel free to check out The Virtues & Benefits of Trex Fencing to see if it is the right fit for you.

Trex is a true neighbor-friendly fence. Both the customer and the neighbor get the nice side of the fence.

When one person puts up a fence, it actually becomes a fence (sometimes indirectly) for others and it can be hard to ensure that everyone is happy. With traditional wood-style fences, the two sides are usually different in appearance; one side showcasing the front of the pickets and trim rails, if applicable. The other side reveals the supporting cross-rails and, in some cases, metal posts and inserts that consist of the framing. This is usually deemed the “ugly side” as it offers considerably less aesthetic appeal. Most of the time, customers elect to have the ugly side facing inward towards their property so the outward look of their property is attractive. In some cases, the ugly side will be turned away from the homeowner’s property, and will instead be facing a neighbor’s property, creating an unfortunate situation for the neighbor.

Trex Fencing is developed with a unique simulated board-on-board design that enables a configuration giving both sides the same look. The pickets of each section interlock and are framed by the top and bottom rails with the finished panel centered between the posts. The result? A full privacy design that both you and your neighbors will love. If you and your neighbors are planning to share costs, the design of the Trex Fence makes it far easier to come to an agreement.

Composite fencing is worth the cost, as long as it fits what you are looking for in a fence. Composite fencing, specifically Trex, offers a beautiful wood aesthetic, without maintenance. Many customers find Trex composite fencing to be worth the cost because they do not have to worry about repairs, staining and painting, and the typical upkeep required by other fence systems.

The best composite fencing system out there is Trex Fencing. Trex Fencing is leading the nation in composite fencing, offering the virtues and appeal of a wood fence, while providing superior durability to most vinyl fence systems.

While there are a couple of different fence materials out there that will last for decades, such as vinyl or masonry, you need to find the longest-lasting fence system that will maintain its aesthetic beauty. While vinyl and masonry fences will crack and break over the years, Trex Fencing is designed to last for at least 25 years with minimal maintenance required.

Trex Fencing is manufactured in Trex’s plant in Fernley, Nevada. From there, the material is placed on trucks and shipped up to our distribution facility here in Provo, Utah where it is sent out to customers all across the country.

From the beginning, Trex has been environmentally responsible. The composite material in its decking and fencing line is comprised of 95% recycled content in the form of reclaimed hardwood fibers and plastic film. Over 400 million pounds of plastic and wood is kept from landfills every year and almost 100% of all factory waste is reclaimed. Energy for manufacturing is primarily produced from natural gas, not petroleum sources, and its closed-loop systems save millions of gallons of water per year. No trees have ever been cut down to manufacture Trex products. Trex is also conscious of the additives used in the manufacturing process and does not use any chemicals harmful to the environment.

One of the easiest ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to reduce the number of miles that trucks haul materials. Trex’s primary manufacturing facilities are located near geographical areas that have large quantities of raw source materials. This supply chain sustainability accounts for the materials used in the majority of all Trex products. Additionally, the manufacturing facilities use methods to reduce energy consumption and eliminate almost all factory waste through reclamation.

Trex and FDS Distributors have been partners in enhancing the outdoor living experience for close to two decades now. To better understand our relationship, as well as what role Trex company is playing in sustainable manufacturing, visit Trex Company and FDS Distributors.

Sources of Raw Materials and Manufacturing of Trex

All Trex® Decking, Railing, and Fencing products are manufactured in the USA.

If you are wanting to see local installations of Trex Fencing, feel free to call our office at 877-700-8739 and we can check to see what is available in your area.

For obvious reasons, we do not provide any private residential information, but we can direct you to local commercial installations.

Many features of a property add (or detract) from the value. Whether or not a fence will impact the assessed value of a property is debatable. However, a fence can add real value if the prospective owner actually needs one. Even if it doesn’t increase the value of the property, having a quality fence in good condition will not hurt the sale of a property for prospective buyers that are looking for homes with existing fences, but an unattractive or degrading fence could negatively impact the value or sellability of the property when the prospective owner considers the additional expense a new fence will add to the cost of the home after its purchase. On the other hand, if the prospective owner needs a fence and a Trex fence is already on the property, it can add value to the sale of the home both in terms of real dollars and appeal.

A Trex fence requires virtually no maintenance and will last 25+ years. Even an older Trex fence can give the new owner the peace of mind that they will not need to budget for painting, staining, or replacing rotting materials. The name brand alone is a selling feature and the fact that the warranty is transferable from the original owner to the next owner adds even more appeal. Homeowners that purchase Trex fences often look beyond the value of the fence for their own enjoyment and look to the potential of increasing the value of their home for a prospective buyer.

Wood used in our Trex Horizons and Seclusions fence is typically hardwoods and softwoods that perform well in outdoor environments. The wood flour in Trex composite provides a natural look and is perfect for horizontal fences.

Learn more about what comprises Trex’s composite material by visiting https://www.trexfencingfds.com/composite-fencing-material/

Both Trex and Fiberon are manufactured using recycled material, and customers who use either are drawn to the natural aesthetic both products offer. In general, however, Trex is a more durable and versatile fence product.

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When deciding what type of fencing is best, it is important to remember that there are all kinds of fencing materials out there that meet different needs, each with its pros and cons. Are you looking for the low-maintenance of vinyl or more for the natural look of wood? Are you wanting something durable, but you don’t want the hassle of installing a masonry wall? Is saving on cost important to you, or are you ready to pay for a more premium product? Trex Fencing is a high-end composite fence product that tries to offer the best virtues from different materials. Visit Trex vs Other Products for a more in-depth comparison of some of the most common fence types on the market right now. In the end, there is no one fence system that is necessarily the best. But there is the right fencing for your particular needs, and it just takes a little bit of research and comparison in order to find it.

The most durable fencing material out there would probably be a solid slab of masonry wall. However, masonry is a very invasive and foreboding solution for a customer wanting a super durable fence. What’s more, masonry can be quite expensive to repair if cracking occurs due to ground settling. Trex Fencing finds a sweet spot, providing an incredibly durable fence with a relatively easy installation process. While it may not provide the same amount of strength as a masonry wall, most customers find that Trex Fencing suits their needs just fine, and they love all of the added versatility and advantages that Trex has to offer over masonry. Visit Trex vs Masonry for a more in-depth comparison.

The best privacy fence is the one that you can love and that suits your needs. Trex Fencing may be that fence. Trex is a premium composite privacy fence that requires minimal work to maintain. Trex beats out vinyl full privacy designs due to its superior durability and natural beauty. The sad truth about wood fencing is that there are no truly fully-private fences. Even board-on-board wood pickets will warp, bend, and shrink over time, causing gaps in the fence. Trex’s unique interlocking picket design keeps the pickets tight with each other, preventing any spaces that would normally result. Visit The Virtues & Benefits of Trex Fencing for a deeper dive into how Trex offers the best option in full-privacy fencing.

Composite wood fencing is an alternative to wood and vinyl fencing. By blending together wood and synthetic materials, composite fencing becomes a fence that has similar durability as a vinyl fence but has more of a natural look similar to a wood fence. Trex Fencing is a premium composite fence product that is backed by a 25-year warranty, which means we are serious about the quality of our fence.

Because Trex Fencing is shipped on pallets comprising of individual components, many customers want details regarding the quantities and weights of the material on each pallet. This can aid them in coordinating offloading and handling the material during delivery (note: as a rule of thumb, we only coordinate delivery to locations that have either a forklift or capable skid steer on site, as hand-offloading and pallet jacks are usually inadequate to handle the material). The following list provides both the individual weight of each Trex Seclusions component, as well as the total quantity and combined weight once palletized (if applicable). By way of explanation, a Unit is the term used to describe a pallet that has been fully loaded with components, wrapped, and prepared for shipping.

This information is accessible on our website’s Technical Data. Additionally, you can call our team at 877-700-8739 for more details regarding shipping details, product information, or anything else you may need help with.

Product Description:

8-foot Trex Composite 5”x5” post:

Individual Component Weight – 37 lbs

Quantity in Full Units – 36

Total Unit Weight (w/ Pallet/Box) – 1217 lbs

9-foot Trex Composite 5”x5” post:

Individual Component Weight – 44 lbs

Quantity in Full Units – 36

Total Unit Weight (w/ Pallet/Box) – 1440 lbs

12-foot Trex Composite 5”x5” post:

Individual Component Weight – 50 lbs

Quantity in Full Units – 27

Total Unit Weight (w/ Pallet/Box) – 1440 lbs

Trex Flat Top Post Cap:

Individual Component Weight – 0.8 lbs

Quantity in Full Units – 12

Total Unit Weight (w/ Pallet/Box) – 12 lbs

Trex Pyramid Top Post Cap:

Individual Component Weight – 0.8 lbs

Quantity in Full Units – 12

Total Unit Weight (w/ Pallet/Box) – 12 lbs

Trex Seclusions Top Rail:

Individual Component Weight – 27 lbs

Quantity in Full Units – 52

Total Unit Weight (w/ Pallet/Box) – 1500 lbs

Trex Aluminum Bottom Rail:

Individual Component Weight – 11 lbs

Quantity in Full Units – 52

Total Unit Weight (w/ Pallet/Box) – 640 lbs

91” Trex Seclusions Bottom Rail Cover/Picket:

Individual Component Weight – 8 lbs

Quantity in Full Units – 154

Total Unit Weight (w/ Pallet/Box) – 1150 lbs

67” Trex Composite Picket:

Individual Component Weight – 6 lbs

Quantity in Full Units – 154

Total Unit Weight (w/ Pallet/Box) – 1000 lbs

Trex Seclusions Fence Bracket:

Individual Component Weight – 0.2 lbs

Quantity in Full Units – 96

Total Unit Weight (w/ Pallet/Box) – 13 lbs

Trex Seclusions Angle Bracket:

Individual Component Weight – 0.1 lbs

Quantity in Full Units – N/A

Total Unit Weight (w/ Pallet/Box) – N/A

6×8 Trex Seclusions Fence Panel Kit:

Individual Component Weight – 149 lbs

8×8 Trex Seclusions Fence Panel Kit:

Individual Component Weight – 199 lbs

4×6 Trex Seclusions Standard Gate Panel:

Individual Component Weight – 92 lbs

5×6 Trex Seclusions Standard (Large) Gate Panel:

Individual Component Weight – 115 lbs

9′ Gate Post Stiffener (12 Gauge):

Individual Component Weight – 36 lbs

9′ Heavy Duty Gate Post Stiffener ( 8 Gauge):

Individual Component Weight – 75 lbs

12′ Heavy Duty Gate Post Stiffener (8 Gauge):

Individual Component Weight – 102 lbs

Trex Fencing is not designed as a load bearing fence, and should not be used as such.

A good trash enclosure is one that functionally works, but also adds appeal to a location that would otherwise be unsightly. For these reasons, Trex Fencing is a great option to consider when installing a trash enclosure. Trex Fencing offers superb durability, as well as a natural, wood-like appearance that catches the eye. Not to mention, it’s less expensive and much easier to install than masonry, which is a typical material used for trash enclosures.

While there are a couple of different fence materials out there that will last for decades, such as vinyl or masonry, you need to find the longest-lasting fence system that will maintain its aesthetic beauty. While vinyl and masonry fences will crack and break over the years, Trex Fencing is designed to last for at least 25 years with minimal maintenance required. In the end, Trex offers added benefits and virtues that vinyl and masonry can’t offer, such as a natural aesthetic and easier installation. Trex vs Other Products gives a more in-depth comparison to these and other fencing materials.

The best fence to buy is whatever fence suits your needs. Deciding what you are looking for as far as aesthetic, privacy, function, and cost go are a few examples of important issues to consider. At Trex Fencing, we try to blend beauty and function together to create the best privacy fence out on the market. Visit The Virtues & Benefits of Trex Fencing for more information for more information.

Composite fencing is made of a combination of wood fiber and plastic. The wood in composite fencing gives the product strength and beauty while the plastic in the composite fencing gives it greater longevity, resistance to rot and decay and creates a product that requires little maintenance. Composite fencing and gates never needs painting or staining and typically last over 20 years. Trex Fencing was introduced into the market to meet the growing demand for such a fence, as well as to improve upon the design of composite fencing. With Trex, you have the only fully-private composite fence system in the market that provides much greater durability than other composite fencing can offer. Trex makes the best composite fencing with accompanying gates made from a proprietary blend of 95% recycled wood fiber and plastic. This unique product eliminates the negative attributes of typical wood or vinyl fences and gates and capitalizes on their virtues.

Visit Virtues & Benefits of Trex Fencing to get more details concerning the value that Trex can offer your landscape.

The best vinyl fence to buy is one that won’t ever break or become brittle and crack. Unfortunately, that is a tall order for most vinyl fencing. Composite fencing was introduced as a more durable alternative to vinyl that also had the added appeal of a wood-like aesthetic. Trex Fencing is a top-rated composite fence product that gives you everything you’re wanting in a vinyl fence and more. Feel free to visit Trex vs Other Products to compare Trex against vinyl and other material.

While all three of our Trex Fencing colors sell successfully, Woodland Brown is hands down our most popular color. Woodland Brown looks like darkly stained wood and fades the least from its original color. It provides high contrast against lighter colors creating a defined border. The deep rich color of Woodland Brown is an elegant addition to any landscape. Visit Trex Fencing Colors for more information regarding all three of our colors.

The best type of fencing is the fence that you can put up once and never have to worry about again. Trex Fencing is designed with a beautiful wood-like appeal, and is manufactured to not rot, twist, split, or become lunch for termites. Did we mention that you will never have to repaint or restain it? Visit https://www.trexfencingfds.com/why-trex/virtues-and-benefits/ to learn more about the virtues and benefits of Trex Fencing.

The average life of a wood fence is anywhere around 10-15 years. It is important to remember, though, that a wood fence requires a lot in both time and money to keep it maintained. In order to get the most life out of your wood fence, you will need to repaint, restain, and make necessary repairs about every 3-5 years. Trex Fencing offers a strategic solution to full-privacy wood fence systems, because it offers all of the virtues of wood without the woes of painting, staining, rotting, splitting, warping, fungal decay, and insect damage. In fact, when it comes to the costs associated with a high-end full privacy fence, Trex often-times becomes more cost efficient over time than wood. Not to mention, you won’t have to spend your Saturdays doing all of the up-keep with your Trex Fence like you would with a wood system. Trex vs Wood offers a more in-depth comparison of the two materials.

Trex adds color during the manufacturing process so it exists inside the material as well as outside. The color (pigment) is added early on in the manufacturing process while the plastic and wood are being mixed together and heated. The same concentration of pigment exists in the core of the board as there is on the outside.

The outer surface does appear to be darker initially than the inside of the material. This is due to the size of the wood fibers, as the material goes through the die during extrusion, most of the larger fibers are forced deeper into the core of the board, with only a small part of it exposed to the surface. If you sand away more of the outer surface, which is mostly plastic and very fine wood fibers, more of the larger wood fibers will be exposed. Those larger fibers don’t accept as much pigment, so it will look lighter. As the fence weathers, the exterior becomes lighter and that is why exposed inner material more closely matches the outer surface over time. In the case where your fence has been affected by abrasions during installation, scrapes and dents will become much less visible after a season.

You can learn more about Trex Fencing’s durability here.

Yes, Trex Horizons is generally a more expensive product than Trex Seclusions. The reason for this is twofold: First, Trex Horizons utilizes a galvanized and powder-coated steel frame that serves to orient the pickets horizontally, which adds tot he material costs. Second, Trex Horizons typically takes a little longer to install per section because the steel components require more assembly than the Trex Seclusions components. That being said, a section of Trex Seclusions (2 posts and all of the material in-between) costs about $510, while a Trex Horizons section costs around $560. As far as labor costs, that would depend on what the contractor decides to charge. You can visit our Online Shop to compare prices, as well as our Seclusions and Horizons pages to see which style best fits what you are looking for.

One of the many benefits of Trex Fencing is that is designed to be insect resistant. Termites can quite commonly begin eating up wood fences, effecting both the beauty and integrity of the fence. With Trex, bugs will not be able to find a meal with your fence. Insect resistance is covered under Trex’s 25-year residential warranty, so you can have peace of mind when going with Trex. There are a number of critical advantages that Trex boasts over wood. Insect resistance is just the tip of the iceberg. Trex vs Wood gives a more in-depth comparison.

There are various styles of fencing commonly sold throughout the U.S. One of them is called a “Shadow Box.” It is typically a semi-privacy wood fence that is a modification of the traditional stockade privacy style. Trex is not a shadow box fence. It is more aptly described as a board-on-board fence with a cap-and-trim top and a trim bottom. A shadow box fence alternates pickets on both sides of a rail with gaps between the pickets. Because of this, shadow box styles would not be considered privacy fencing.

A shadow box fence is a design used to help give a wood fence the same look on each side as opposed to the one-sided look of an exposed framing style like a wooden stockade style fence. A fence that looks the same on both sides without exposed framing is something that is already integral to the design of a Trex fence. A shadow box fence requires airflow to help reduce pressure on the fence and compensate for the relative weakness of a standard 4×4 wood post. Some places like communities in Florida require this type of fencing if it is built from wood materials because a wood fence may not be sturdy enough to hold up to high winds. Trex, on the other hand, handles high wind loads without needing spaces between pickets.

This is an example of a Shadow Box wooden fence.

Trex Fencing has an upscale look based on (and approved upon) a wood fence style of fence called board-on-board, cap & trim.

Here is an example.

The Trex Fence system takes this style of fence to a new level:

• The pickets of a wood board-on-board fences can warp because wood pickets have a propensity to distort as they age and dry out. Trex pickets don’t overlap — they interlock. The interlocking system is an ingenious way of eliminating screws or nails while still fastening the fence together. The interlocking method creates the illusion of an overlap so the fence gives the appearance of a board-on-board design without the flaws.
• The “cap-and-trim” aspect of the fence is also superior with Trex. Rather than using three pieces (a “cap” rail such as a 2×4 or 1×6 lying horizontally on top of the fence, and boards running underneath the cap on both sides to create the “trim”), Trex extrudes a one-part T-shaped top rail which slides over the tops of pickets. On a wood fence, it is common to see the cap rail curl up as it weathers or have the trim pieces pull off of the fence. With Trex, the top rail won’t separate into pieces so it always has the clean look with its beautiful shadow lines and dimensions.
• Trex systems also include a bottom trim piece, which is not necessarily included with all wood fences. The bottom trim serves the functional purpose of hiding the heavy-duty aluminum bottom rail which supports the pickets while also contributing to the design of the fence. The picture frame appearance of the fence draws attention to the body’s shadow lines and dimensions.

Perhaps the most appropriate way of fully describing a Trex Fence would be …

A picture-framed, board-on-board, cap & trim composite fence system.

This graphic illustrates how a Trex fence design accomplishes the appearance of a board-on-board, cap & trim look.

Composite fencing is made of a combination of wood fiber and plastic. The wood in composite fencing gives the product strength and beauty while the plastic in the composite fencing gives it greater longevity, resistance to rot and decay and creates a product that requires little maintenance. Composite fencing and gates never needs painting or staining and typically last over 20 years. Trex Fencing was introduced into the market to meet the growing demand for such a fence, as well as to improve upon the design of composite fencing. With Trex, you have the only fully-private composite fence system in the market that provides much greater durability than other composite fencing can offer. Trex makes the best composite fencing with accompanying gates made from a proprietary blend of 95% recycled wood fiber and plastic. This unique product eliminates the negative attributes of typical wood or vinyl fences and gates and capitalizes on their virtues.

Visit Virtues & Benefits of Trex Fencing to get more details concerning the value that Trex can offer your landscape.

Privacy fences are fence systems designed in such a way that it eliminates any spacing between fence pickets. This design makes a privacy fence system your best choice if you are not wanting any neighbors or passersbys to be able to see into your property. Trex Fencing is the leading brand in composite fence privacy systems. For more information regarding the benefits of Trex composite privacy fencing, visit Trex vs Other Products.

Trex is not just plastic. It is a wood-plastic composite and benefits from the best attributes of both materials. The plastic provides rot and insect resistance and the wood gives it density, pigmentation, and a natural look. Trex fencing components are also much thicker and more resistant to damage than plastic fences (typically called vinyl or PVC fencing).

Check out the differences between Trex and Vinyl for a more in-depth comparison.

We make Trex eco-friendly composite fencing and gates from an innovative blend of 95% recycled wood and plastic. Trex has been this way for more than 25 years, well before ‘green’ was a buzzword. In the end, all of us want to look out on our fences and gates, and know that we’ve done our part. As one of the largest plastic recyclers in the U.S., Trex saves 400 million pounds of plastic and wood from landfills each year.

Trex’s commitment to environmental sustainability extends beyond the the actual content of the material. Trex takes an active role to ensure our supply vendors operate with ethical and responsible business practices. Approximately 95% of their supply vendors are based in the U.S. Trex conducts supply chain assessments, including in-person reviews, operating facility tours, and work with their suppliers to reduce environmental impact across the supply chain.

As a result, Trex makes it a practice to use post-consumer and post-industrial content wherever possible. Can you find any other fence that does more for the environment than that?

When deciding whether vinyl or composite fencing is better, it is important to remember that both types of materials meet different needs. Vinyl is a low maintenance product that generally comes at a cheaper price than Trex. Many consumers, however, do not like the unnatural and shiny look of vinyl and would prefer to have something more natural-looking. That is where Trex comes in, sporting superior durability and a wood-like aesthetic. Additionally, Trex stands up to the elements better than vinyl. Vinyl will blow out at high wind speeds, whereas Trex has been tested to withstand 130 mph winds. Vinyl notoriously can become brittle and crack over time, something that you won’t need to worry about with Trex.

Customers need to weigh the pros and cons and decide what fence product best suits their needs. Visit Trex vs Vinyl for a more in-depth comparison of the two fencing materials.

Height limitations vary depending on local codes or HOA restrictions, etc. Most privacy fences range anywhere from 4-8 feet, however. Before installation of any fence or privacy screen, we strongly recommend reaching out to local authorities to make sure you obtain the necessary paperwork and to make sure your project meets code requirements.

Trex privacy fencing is designed to be built as tall as 12 feet high. Fences up to 8 feet tall do not require mid-rails. Fences above 8 feet tall are created by stacking panel kits (one mid-rail for 9-10 ft. tall and two mid-rails for 11-12 ft. tall). You can view shop drawings for Seclusions, with vertical pickets, and Horizons, with horizontal pickets, illustrating placement of brackets, dimensions, and materials needed for the various heights.

We make Trex eco-friendly composite fencing and gates from an innovative blend of 95% recycled wood and plastic. We’ve been this way for more than 25 years, well before ‘green’ was a buzzword. In the end, all of us want to look out on our fences and gates, and know that we’ve done our part. As one of the largest plastic recyclers in the U.S., Trex saves 400 million pounds of plastic and wood from landfills each year. Get to know Trex a little more and see how much they do to provide a sustainable product for the environment.

Trex could most aptly be described as a board-on-board fence with a cap & trim top and a trim bottom. Trex Fencing has an upscale look based on (and approved upon) a popular wood fence style of fence.

Here is an example of a board-on-board, cap & trim wooden fence with the addition of a trim piece at the bottom.

The Trex Fence system takes this style of fence to a new level:

• • The pickets of a wood board-on-board fences can warp because wood pickets have a propensity to distort as they age and dry out. Trex pickets don’t overlap — they interlock. The interlocking system is an ingenious way of eliminating screws or nails while still fastening the fence together. The interlocking method creates the illusion of an overlap so the fence gives the appearance of a board-on-board design without the flaws. Learn more about how the unique design of Trex pickets can enhance your fence.

• • The “cap-and-trim” aspect of the fence is also superior with Trex. Rather than using three pieces (a “cap” rail such as a 2×4 or 1×6 lying horizontally on top of the fence, and boards running underneath the cap on both sides to create the “trim”), Trex extrudes a one-part T-shaped top rail which slides over the tops of pickets. On a wood fence, it is common to see the cap rail curl up as it weathers or have the trim pieces pull off of the fence. With Trex, the top rail won’t separate into pieces so it always has the clean look with its beautiful shadow lines and dimensions.

• Trex systems also include a bottom trim piece, which is not necessarily included with all wood fences. The bottom trim serves the functional purpose of hiding the heavy-duty aluminum bottom rail which supports the pickets while also contributing to the design of the fence. The picture frame appearance of the fence draws attention to the body’s shadow lines and dimensions.

Perhaps the most appropriate way of fully describing a Trex Fence would be …

a picture-framed, board-on-board, cap & trim composite fence system.

This graphic illustrates how a Trex fence design accomplishes the appearance of a board-on-board, cap & trim look.

To learn more about using Trex Fencing pickets with wood rails and posts, visit our product page.

One of the virtues of composite fencing is that most brands out there are insect resistant. For example, Trex Fencing is designed to be insect resistant and even backs it up with a 25-year residential warranty.

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SimTek (now called Bufftech Molded Composite Fence) is not a composite fence in the same sense as Trex. SimTek is made fully of synthetic materials (plastic) and thus falls more in line with vinyl fence systems. Trex composite combines wood flour and polyethylene plastic, which gives the fence the unique benefits of both materials, primarily the natural look and density of wood with the low-maintenance benefits of non-organic plastic.

To solve this solution, many homeowners elect to install skirting around the deck, usually out of wood boards to create an appealing barrier.

Of course, if you use wood to skirt your deck, you will need to factor in the time and cost to maintain the skirting’s beauty and function. If you’re using a composite material to build your deck, let’s say, oh I don’t know – Trex – for example, the last thing you’re looking for is probably maintenance.

Fortunately, this is yet another area where Trex Fencing really shines.

Trex Fencing offers full privacy to keep animals out from under your deck, as well as the wonderful low-maintenance qualities to compliment your composite deck. You will never need to paint or stain the fencing, and it can handle the elements much better than wood, or even vinyl, can.

Trex Pickets interlock, greatly decreasing the installation time when compared to wood as well.

Height limitations vary depending on local codes or HOA restrictions, etc. Most privacy screens range anywhere from 4-8 feet, however. Before installation of any fence or privacy screen, we strongly recommend reaching out to local authorities to make sure you obtain the necessary paperwork and to make sure your project meets code requirements.

When it comes to full-privacy, wood claims to give that to you at a low cost, but the reality is that no wood fence is full privacy. Overtime, wood boards will warp and bow, creating gaps that defeat the purpose of a full-privacy fence. Not to mention, the costs associated with maintaining your wood fence begin to pile up over the years. Vinyl fencing is an effective full-privacy solution that is more expensive than wood and decidedly less natural-looking. If durability and aesthetics are important factors for you, than vinyl fencing may leave you wanting. Trex is the high end solution for full-privacy. Trex’s board-on-board design offers the same look on both sides, and the interlocking pickets create tension that eliminates warping. While more expensive than wood and vinyl fencing, many customers still ultimately decide that the low maintenance, beauty, and the durability of the fence make it well worth the added cost. As you can see, there are a lot of factors to consider when trying to decide on a fence. Visit Trex vs Other Products to get a better idea of how Trex compares with the competition. Feel free to call our team at 877-700-8739 if you have any additional questions.

A hole that is 2 feet deep may be enough for your fence posts, but the depth of a post hole depends on several factors. A depth of 2 feet may not be sufficient for the most common fence height of 6 feet tall if your soil is loose, you have high winds, or you have a frostline that’s deeper than 24″. If you aren’t sure if a hole that is 2 feet deep is enough, ask professional installers in your area. They will have enough experience to know the optimal depth.  In general, a depth of at least 30″ is common for a 6-foot tall privacy fence. A lower depth may be necessary if you have a frost line because the ground may heave when it freezes and thaws which will cause the posts to lean. If you are considering a Trex fence and want to make sure you get 30″ in the ground for 6-foot tall fencing, be sure to order the 9-foot posts. If you do not need to go that deep, we sell 8′ posts. And, if you need to go deeper, we also offer 12′ posts. As a rule of thumb, we also recommend consulting our Installation Guides, as well as consulting with local installation experts.

Trex posts are quite heavy due to the fact that they are designed to withstand a beating from the elements, including hurricane force winds. The 8′ tall post weighs 37 pounds, the 9′ tall post weighs 44 pounds, and the 12′ tall post weighs 50 pounds.

As you can see from this comparison, Trex is designed to give you the durability that you can’t quite get from other fence systems, especially most vinyl fencing.

Your fence is only as strong as your post. With Trex Fencing, you can have peace of mind knowing that Trex Posts designed with Strength and Versatility in mind.

A 6-foot vinyl privacy fence can cost between $100 to $400 per 6×8 section of fence. The price variance is due to the differences in quality and brand. Higher-end vinyl fences will last longer. Upgrade to Trex composite fencing as an alternative to a 6-foot vinyl privacy fence. The price is similar to high-end vinyl fencing, but the material is much thicker and more natural-looking. The Trex brand has also been in continuous production for almost three decades and its success makes it the world’s leader in outdoor building materials. Check out Trex vs Vinyl for a more in-depth comparison.

Our Trex Seclusions system is designed to be 8 feet (96 inches) wide on center of the posts. Our Trex Horizons system is designed to be 97 inches on center, so just over 8 feet. Trex Fencing is not offered in any other widths, but the material cuts like regular lumber, allowing you to shorten the span of your fence if desired.

One 6 ft high section of Trex Fence, which includes two posts, pickets, rails, and everything else in between, weighs about 240 lbs. Trex Fencing materials are designed with strength, durability, and versatility in mind, which is why the material is heavier than many other fence systems.

This is important to keep in mind when ordering Trex Fencing, as this is not typically something that can be off-loaded by hand from the truck. We require shipping locations to have a forklift on-sight to handle the material. If you’re a homeowner and don’t have access to a forklift, don’t panic! In most cases, we are able to arrange for the shipping company to provide a forklift service. Keep in mind though that this will add to your shipping costs. In other cases, we can ship the material to a nearby freight terminal. If you have access to a double-axle trailer, you can pick up your order there and the terminal service will load the material for you at no extra charge.

Fortunately, the weight of the material means that your Trex Fence is designed to last. Trex Fencing can take a beating from kids, animals, the elements, and time. The Benefits & Virtues of Trex Fencing gives more detail concerning the advantages of Trex over other common fencing materials.

Trex privacy fencing is designed to be built as tall as 12 feet high. Fences up to 8 feet tall do not require mid-rails. Fences above 8 feet tall are created by stacking panel kits (one mid-rail for 9-10 ft. tall and two mid-rails for 11-12 ft. tall). You can view shop drawings for Seclusions, with vertical pickets, and Horizons, with horizontal pickets, illustrating placement of brackets, dimensions, and materials needed for the various heights.

The cost of a 6-foot privacy fence depends on the type of material used and if you are installing it yourself or paying someone else to do it. Where you are located can also make a difference, primarily for the cost of labor. For materials, a simple 6-foot wood privacy fence can cost as low as $25 a foot, although these types of wood fences won’t last very long. If you upgrade to high quality, pre-stained wood, you may pay $40+ per foot for materials. Vinyl fences also have ranges depending on quality, color, and brand. A cheap vinyl 6-foot privacy fence can be similar to a cheap wood fence in price, whereas a high-end vinyl fence can cost more than $50 per foot. Trex composite 6-foot privacy fence costs about $55 per foot for materials. Since it is the sturdiest low-maintenance alternative to wood fencing, it tends to be the best overall value if you are looking for a long-lasting fence. For installation, you can expect to add $10-$25 per linear foot for any style of fence in most areas of the country and more than that in high-cost markets. When deciding how much you’re willing to spend on your fence, keep in mind that there are other costs in maintenance as well as hours spent keeping your fence looking great. This is where Trex stacks on the value. Trex never needs to be stained or painted, and you don’t have to worry about replacing rotted posts or sections that have been eaten up by insects. Not to mention, it’s durability far surpasses that of vinyl and wood. Trex vs Other Products goes into a more detailed comparison of fencing materials.

Wooden fence panels can be quite inexpensive initially. Until recently, some were as low as $100 per 6×8 panel. However, many dealers are moving away from pre-built wood panels as availability, price, and quality get progressively worse. A major consideration when looking at how much wooden fence panels are going to cost you is the long-term expectation of ongoing expense. Most wood panels will require yearly maintenance in the form of painting or staining and repairs. Wood fences are made from materials that will eventually rot, after all, so making sure they last longer will require costly upkeep. You can improve the longevity of a wooden fence panel by buying pre-stained, unassembled high-quality materials, but at some point, buying an alternative becomes the more logical choice. If you are already going to pay more than $250 for materials to make a wooden panel for example, you might as well buy a manufactured product like Trex that doesn’t require painting or staining and is resistant to rot and insect damage. A 6×8 Trex fence panel retails for approximately $340 per panel and includes all the materials you need to build an entire section other than posts and caps. Over the lifespan of your wood fence spent painting and replacing a few broken posts or pickets, Trex can actually end up being more cost effective. Visit Benefits & Virtues of Trex Fencing to better understand the overall value that Trex has to offer.

Trex Fencing comes with a 25-year manufacturing warranty, which means that our fence is built to last. Trex posts are 1 1/4” thick, which is over 3 times that of a vinyl post. This means that Trex posts will be able to withstand the elements, and the general wear and tear over time much better than vinyl fences can.

When you put a wood fence in the ground, it immediately begins to depreciate. Wood rots, splits, and decays, making it significantly less beautiful 10-15 years down the road, especially if it has not been properly maintained.

Trex’s wood and plastic blend marries the best of both wood and vinyl together to create a fence that can withstand the natural depreciation that other fence materials experience.

Of course, no fence will last a long time if proper care of the fence is neglected. However, Trex Fencing requires little work to maintain and thus makes it easy for our customers to be able to enjoy their Trex Fence for years and years to come.

In the early 2000’s, vinyl and wood fencing were flourishing in our market. However, there was not a product that was durable, low maintenance, and also beautiful and functional. Wood and Vinyl fencing fit some of these requirements but not all of them. Seeing the success that we were having in the decking market with Trex composite decking, we approached Trex with an idea of creating a composite fence. The rest is history.

For the next several years, we worked hand in hand with Trex’s R&D department creating a composite fence that mimicked the look and strength of our most popular wood fence style at that time, only now with a material that would not rot, split, need painting or staining and could withstand extreme climates. With our expertise in fencing and Trex’s expertise in manufacturing, it was the perfect partnership for creating a fence product that was sure to be successful.

Introduced in 2005, Trex Seclusions® fencing has lead the way in establishing composite materials as high end alternatives to wood and vinyl. As the most successful first generation of composite materials and the leading generation in fencing, Trex composite combines a natural look with low maintenance.

Trex has sound barrier attributes and has been shown to suppress noise. The interlocking picket system and dense material create an effective sound barrier to mute traffic noise or other environmental noise. While a masonry wall is superior for this specific function, Trex Fencing is frequently used as a barrier because it provides a level of sound abatement needed for moderate reduction without the cost, construction limitations, and lack of appeal inherent in a concrete or block wall. Trex vs Masonry provides a more in-depth comparison of these two materials.

Trex finds a sweet spot, so to speak. So while masonry may be the best noise reduction on the market right now, Trex can provide you with additional benefits that you can’t find with masonry.

If you’d like more details concerning Trex’s noise reduction capabilities, you can review the official acoustical testing for more details.

Horizontal fences can last as long as vertical fences. The longevity of any fence is more dependent on the material used and the installation method than on the orientation of the boards. For example, a horizontal Trex fence will last longer than a horizontal wood fence. Trex does not rot and is resistant to insects, whereas a wood fence is not. Properly installed, a horizontal Trex fence in most climates will last 25+ years.

Visit Trex Horizons to learn more about the advantages and virtues of our horizontal fencing.

The lifetime of a privacy screen varies depending on quite a few factors. Four big ones are 1) the material used to build the screen, 2) how it was installed, 3) the climate and natural conditions of the area, and 4) how well the screen has been maintained.

Wood, for example, looks beautiful but quickly depreciates over time.

Vinyl screens trade natural beauty for low maintenance. However, over time, vinyl becomes brittle and does not stand up well to extreme weather conditions. It may last forever, but it won’t look pretty while it does.

Masonry walls are effective and durable, but unless you’re building a castle, they may seem a bit foreboding as a privacy screen. And if they do crack, they are a beast to repair.

Trex Fencing has been used by many customers as a privacy screen because of its low maintenance and it’s durability over time. Trex Fencing sports a 25 year warranty, which means it is built to last. What’s more, Trex was designed to be a DIY product, so you can tackle it as a summer project, saving you on installation fees. The fence can easily be installed in the ground, or as a screen on top of your deck or patio. Our website provides detailed Installation Resources for both our Seclusions and our Horizons fencing styles, and our team of product experts can be reached during normal business hours Monday-Friday at 877-700-8739.

The Virtues of Trex Fencing extend well-beyond its durability and ease of installation, however. For one thing, it is a beautiful fence. Our 3 rich colors complement any landscape, providing a natural wood aesthetic. The product is dyed during the manufacturing process, which means you’ll never have to paint or stain your fence.

Trex Fencing has a unique board-on-board design that will not only set it apart from other fences in your neighborhood, the neighbors themselves will love the fact that the fence looks the same on both sides. No one gets the ugly side of the fence, because both sides are beautiful.

As mentioned previously, there are many factors that go into determining how long a privacy screen will last. While no one type of material is perfect, you can minimize the effort needed to maintain your screen while maximizing its beauty and aesthetic by going with Trex Fencing,

How long a composite fence lasts depends on the quality, design, and installation of the brand. There are only a few manufacturers that have successfully designed a composite material that will last for at least a couple of decades. However, only one has designed a system that can also handle the requirements for durability in high winds, harsh heat and cold, and incidental contact that can cause damage. Trex introduced its fencing system in 2005, making it the fence with the longest track record. A Trex composite fence is expected to last at least 25 years without requiring any significant maintenance. It is a rot and insect resistant fence and is designed intelligently for longevity while also maintaining an elegant appearance.

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Trex Fencing has not been discontinued and is actually a leading brand in composite fencing in the nation. When it comes to design, function, and durability, no other composite fencing compares! Virtues & Benefits of Trex Fencing goes into more details as to how Trex Fencing can beautify your landscape. Trex vs Other Composites gives an in-depth comparison of multiple fence systems out on the market right now. Peruse our website and see if Trex Fencing is a good fit for you. If you have questions, you can try typing your question into the search. If that doesn’t get you the answer you need, you can call our team of experts at 877-700-8739.

Trex Fencing does not offer self-closing hinges for various reasons but one of the most important reasons is that self-closing hinges much more prone to malfunction than non-self-closing hinges. Having said that, there are multiple third-party products on the market that could be added to a Trex gate. Some of our clients have used products from Locinox and Lockey. While we do not endorse any particular client and are unable to provide any warranty or support for their usage on our products, other companies’ self-closing hinges can work with Trex gates. We recommend doing your own research and reviewing installation guides before settling on a product.

If you decide to use non-self-closing hinges fabricated specifically for our pre-built gates, they can be ordered from our Online Shop.

TREX FENCING FDS HINGES FOR PRE-BUILT GATES

A mid-rail is not necessary for an 8′ tall Trex fence. Adding one is an option if so desired, but the fence is designed to be built up to 8′ tall and 8′ wide without mid rails. For commercial applications or places where an even stronger fence than the standard Trex configuration is required, a mid-rail will provide even more support and can easily be added by cutting the pickets in half and placing brackets midway up the post with a second bottom rail, which serves as the mid-rail. Our Architectural Drawings provide more details on our fencing components, including how to incorporate midrails.

While vinyl technically lasts longer than composite fencing, you want to make sure that the beauty of your fence is what lasts. Sure, plastic will sit in a landfill for a hundred years, but Trex composite fencing is designed to maintain its aesthetic appeal with higher durability than most vinyl fencing for at least 25 years. Visit Trex vs Vinyl for a more in-depth comparison.

Composite fencing will usually experience changes in color as the fence weathers, including Trex. This weathering process is natural and does not effect the integrity of the fence itself. As a way to counteract the fading process, the product is over-pigmented when it is manufactured. As a result of this practice the fencing arrives significantly darker than it will be once it has had an opportunity to weather. As Trex Fencing is exposed to UV light, the product will fade to its true weathered color. After initial weathering has occurred, typically within a season of exposure to sunlight, any additional fading is minimal and Trex will retain color throughout its life. You can learn more under the resource tab on our website.

If you have holes in your Trex posts or rails, you can easily patch them. Most holes can be filled with very little visibility after the repair. If you have very large holes or the holes are in the pickets, you may need to replace the component.

Methods of filling holes in Trex composite components

Small holes with mushroomed material remaining

If the hole is very small, the mass that surrounds the hole has usually been displaced and has risen above the surface of the Trex material. Pinch together the mass that has mushroomed out of the hole and press it back into the hole. Lightly tap the material with a hammer to flatten it.

Medium size holes

Timbertech discontinued its fencing line around 2010 choosing instead to focus on its core decking lines. Like Fiberon and other composite manufacturers, Timbertech was unable to create a viable market for its fencing product. Trex, on the other hand, introduced its fencing line in 2005 and has continued to manufacture its fencing without interruption since then. The design of the Trex fencing system is the primary reason for its longevity. Rather than attempting to emulate a standard wood fence design like Timbertech’s Fencescapes product or cut corners by only selling a flat composite picket as some composite manufacturers do, Trex engineered a fence system that leverages the best attributes of its composite material with a design that is not only aesthetically stunning but has durability benefits. To make sure the fence is available and affordable everywhere, Trex partners with FDS Fence Distributors to distribute its product nationally. FDS has built a vast distribution network through contractors and suppliers so Trex is available in every market for DIY and installation customers.

Visit Trex vs Other Composites on our website in order to learn more about how Trex compares to other composite material out there.

Trex fence posts do not melt in the hot sun. The posts are made to withstand high heat and perform very well in hot, sunny climates.

Many customers want to put a decorative piece on top of their fence, such as lattice of some kind. While we do not offer any of those products, decorative pieces can be added to compliment your Trex Fence with some creativity. You can view our Gallery to see some of the creative ways customers have customized our fencing. Trex does offer Lattice panels that can be ordered separately as well.

One important thing to note is that you will want to check your local codes or HOA rules to make sure that you are not exceeding any height restrictions for your community.

How to make a lattice panel on top of my Trex Fence

Here is a concept on how to add a lattice panel to your Trex Fence. Using a second top rail, two additional bracket, and pieces cut from extra pickets, you, could easily build this design.

Instructions:

Decide on the height of the panel you want and purchase your own panels accordingly. We suggest using a lattice panel that is no thicker than 1/4″ so you can use pieces of Trex pickets to wedge the panel into place.

Build the privacy portion of the Trex fence by cutting down the pickets to the desired height. Finish off the pickets with a top rail which will serve as your mid rail.

Rip cut the “knuckles” off extra pickets. You will use these as supports to sandwich the lattice panel on top of the mid-rail and to wedge the lattice panel inside the top rail channel.

Place the top rail over the lattice and secure every in place with finish nails or trim head composite screws.

Note: since a customer would be combining a self-sourced third-party product with Trex and ultimately devising their own design, this is offered as a suggestion only to give the customer an idea of a potential method of building a Trex fence with lattice panels. 

Trex does not manufacture a picket fence design, but rather a full privacy system with unique interlocking pickets.

While customers have purchased individual Trex pickets in order to customize their own design, Trex does not offer any other design other than our full-privacy fence.

Keep in mind that Trex pickets sport a “C” channel design, and thus may not be what you are needing if you are wanting a picket fence. It all depends on the look you are going for. if you are not absolutely sold on the idea of a picket fence, then we would love to introduce you to the benefits of Trex’s revolutionary full-privacy system. The Benefits and Virtues of Trex Fencing include a picture frame look with a board-on-board design, and incredibly low maintenance compared to wood fencing. Trex’s durability far surpasses that of vinyl, and can even hold up great during hurricane-force winds.

If you’re curiosity has been piqued, then check out Trex vs Other Products, or continue to type your questions in the search. Our team of experts is also available during normal business hours 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday, MST. They can help answer any questions you have.

When a Trex gate panel is installed, a gap is left between the panel and the posts. This is necessary to allow the gate panel to function properly. The optimal gaps between the posts and panels is 1″ on either end of the gate. If the gap were smaller, the hinges and/or latches would bind or the gate would rub during the natural expansion and contraction of the composite material.

If you have concerns about being able to see through the gap, here is a tip to help you fill in the gap without interfering with the performance of the gate.

• • Hang and adjust your gate as instructed in the installation guide.

• • Cut off the edge of a picket (called the “knuckle”) to create a long strip that is 3/4″ deep x 1″ wide.

• • Use screws to attach the strip to the post opposite the direction the gate swings. Pre-drill holes so the material doesn’t split.

• • Make sure the strip will not interfere in any way with movement of the gate and hardware.

• • On the latch side, you will need to cut the strip into two pieces and put them above and below the latch.

• Do not attempt to put the filler strips in between the gate panel and posts. When the gate material expands, the gate will no longer be able to open if you do.

Though you can rip a Trex picket to get the width you want, this is strongly discouraged in most cases unless you are building a Horizons fence and the bottom picket needs to be trimmed for height (see detail below). Trex Fencing pickets offer a unique “C channel” design, providing much of the strength of the fence and it is crucial for a successful installation.

In the case of either Seclusions or Horizons fence systems, there are times when adjusting the span of the fence section may be necessary. As previously stated, in the case of Seclusions, cutting or ripping the picket is not a viable solution. This is the same for Horizons, with one exception. So, if ripping the picket should be avoided in the majority of cases, what can you do to adjust the width of the fence? Let’s start with Seclusions first:

Seclusions:

Instead of ripping the picket, you can adjust the spacing of the interlocking pickets and lock them in place with finishing nails or trim head composite screws in order to get the width you need for your section.

Importantly, many situations in which you would be shortening the span of the fence would require you to cut top and bottom rails to length, and then you would remove the needed amount of pickets from the section. Many customers cut their sections back in order to fit spaces that just would not work for a full 8 foot section.

You can view our Seclusions Installation Guide that explains how to adjust the spacing of your pickets in more detail. Look on pages 12 & 13 for instructions.

Ripped picket alternative:

If you prefer to rip the picket next to the post, cut the knuckle off the edge of the last picket to use as a C-channel against the post. The remainder of the picket can be ripped to fit into the channel. You will need to make sure the channel sits between the top rail and bottom rail so the ripped picket will fit in alignment with the rest of the pickets. Screw or tack the ripped picket to the knuckle.

Horizons:

As was mentioned with Seclusions, shortening the span of the fence can be accomplished by cutting the composite and steel components to the desired length. Because the pickets are oriented horizontally, there is no need to adjust the spacing of the pickets. However, some adjustments may be necessary if you are trying to change the height of the fence. Of course, you can cut the material and remove any amount of pickets that you need to. But in the case of ripping or cutting the picket to adjust spacing, cutting or ripping the picket is discouraged except for in the case of the last picket.

The steel bottom rail is hung over the last picket, and then the rail itself is screwed into the composite material. When the pickets are manufactured, the material is extruded to the proper dimensions in order to provide an approximate 1” gap between the ground and the steel bottom rail. But these dimensions are nominal, and there are times when the fence body is too long and the bottom rail will hit the ground without an adjustment. In these cases, cutting the last picket is a suitable solution.

The ripped (or cut) end of the picket can be inserted into the bottom rail and then attached with screws. This allows you to make adjustments to the bottom of your fence, keeping it from direct contact with the ground. This also gives you an added level of variability in adjusting the height of your fence if desired. Our Horizons Installation Guide provides more details in regards to general installation, measurements, instructions, etc.

So, in summary, ripping your Trex picket is not recommended in almost all applications. We do recommend it only in the case of adjusting the bottom of your Horizons fence. In Seclusions, the “C” channel design of the pickets is a critical element of the fence design. You can achieve the desired width for your fence section by cutting the material and spacing out the pickets accordingly, and then using finish nails or composite screws to secure any gaps between the interlocking “knuckles” of the pickets.

Of course, if you ever have any questions, you can call our team at 877-700-8739 and we would be happy to help you out with your installation.

Trex composite fencing is designed to last longer than wood fencing. While wood fencing begins to depreciate the moment you put it in the ground, Trex composite fencing maintains it’s durability and beautiful design for at least 25 years. Wood fences usually are in dire straights by about 15 years, especially if you have not put the work and money into maintaining it. With virtually no maintenance required other than the occasional wash, Trex composite fencing is a long-term solution to the woes of wood fencing. Visit Trex vs Wood for a more in-depth comparison.

Even with UV inhibitors, most plastics fade over time. Historically, this is the reason vinyl or PVC fencing was only manufactured in light colors like white or tan. New vinyl fences have more advanced UV inhibition to help reduce the fade. When considering a fence for your property, fading may not necessarily be a factor if you understand how the color will transform over time. For example, if you prefer the look of a light coastal cedar fence, a grey PVC or composite fence will have that appearance after fading. The bigger issue than fading is whether or not the fence will retain its color or change its color over time. Most PVC and composite fences will fade, but they will not lose their color or change to another color throughout the weathering process.

Even with UV inhibitors, most plastics fade over time. Historically, this is the reason vinyl or PVC fencing was only manufactured in light colors like white or tan. New vinyl fences have more advanced UV inhibition to help reduce the fade. When considering a fence for your property, fading may not necessarily be a factor if you understand how the color will transform over time. For example, if you prefer the look of a light coastal cedar fence, a grey PVC or composite fence will have that appearance after fading. The bigger issue than fading is whether or not the fence will retain its color or change its color over time. Most PVC and composite fences will fade, but they will not lose their color or change to another color throughout the weathering process.

Trex does make a lattice. Trex’s licensed partner, Acurio Latticeworks, manufactures a lattice system that can be used for a variety of purposes in conjunction or separately from Trex’s other products. For example, like other types of lattice panels, Trex Latticeworks can be added to a Trex fence to create a beautiful semi-privacy design. A popular style is full privacy at the bottom of the fence panel using Trex’s standard pickets and rails, then lattice privacy panel between a mid-rail and the top rail. Trex Latticeworks can be cut to fit sections of whatever length is needed and it comes in a variety of heights. While Trex lattices cannot be ordered from us, you can visit Trex LatticeWorks for more information.

Looking for ideas on how build Trex Fencing with lattice panels? See the link to a related article with a suggestion for a lattice installation concept.

Fiberon no longer manufactures fencing. The company discontinued its fencing line in 2019. Consumers looking for a composite fencing alternative to Fiberon (also known as Woodshades at Lowe’s and Veranda composite at Home Depot) should consider Trex. Since 2005, Trex fencing has been in continuous production and is available by special order in all markets and through major box stores including Lowe’s and Home Depot.

With wood fences, boards will shrink as they weather because moisture evaporates out of the boards. Composite fence boards act differently because they are dense and won’t dry out as they age. That’s why composite fence boards that are butted together tend to bulge and warp when the fence material heats up in the sun. If you prefer a composite fence system, choose Trex. The fence boards are specifically designed to maintain the full privacy look as the boards expand and contract. Trex accommodates shrinking by using an ingenious interlocking picket system that gives the fence the necessary movement it needs to help the material avoid separation. Trex is also a better option for wood fence boards if you want to avoid gaps altogether.

Visit our article about Trex’s Smart Design to learn more about the benefits of our Trex pickets.

Whether or not a composite fence sag is dependent on the design of the fence. Composite fences that do not use metal reinforcement for rails are most likely going to sag over time. Trex Fencing is built with a sturdy aluminum bottom rail that supports the weight of the fence. The rail is covered by composite boards, hiding the aluminum. This gives you the aesthetic wood-like appearance of Trex with the reinforcement necessary to protect the fence from sagging.

Our installation resources offer more information, and can be accessed by visiting https://www.trexfencingfds.com/resources/seclusions-install-guides/

For our Horizons fencing line, we do offer steel posts in addition to our standard composite Trex posts.

These posts are only offered in 9′ lengths and are 2.5″x2.5″ 14ga. The only color they come in is matte black.

These steel posts are a great option for customers looking to maximize the modern, contemporary design that Trex Horizons offers.

For our Horizons fencing line, we do offer steel posts in addition to our standard composite Trex posts.

These posts are only offered in 9′ lengths and are 2.5″x2.5″ 14ga. The only color they come in is matte black.

These steel posts are a great option for customers looking to maximize the modern, contemporary design that Trex Horizons offers.

Trex fence brackets are made of high strength material called glass-filled nylon. By adding powdered glass to the nylon resin or extruding the plastic with glass fibers, the raw material in glass-filled nylon takes on several beneficial properties:

• • Material stiffness is up to 80 percent greater than common plastics

• • Tensile strength is up to 70 percent greater than common plastics

• • The thermal expansion rate that is roughly half of unfilled nylon, providing increased stability when exposed to temperature changes

• The hardness is 50 percent greater than common plastics

Trex Fencing bracket material and the bracket design were used in the development of the component specifically because they offer far superior performance benefits over a metal or standard plastic component. Combined with the 5/8″ wall thickness of a Trex post, Trex fence brackets add to the overall strength of the fence system, handling high wind loads and common incidental stress from low impact events (such as balls kicked against the fence or lawnmower bumps) that happen across the life of a fence.

It is not uncommon for installers to wonder if a panic bar can be installed on a Trex gate, most typically for commercial or industrial installations. Panic bars are specifically used for locations where the designers are concerned with individuals being able to exit safely and quickly during emergency situations.

One of the many benefits of Trex Fencing is it’s versatility and strength, which allows it to support the weight and design of a panic bar.

We offer the Lockey ED61 silver panic bar kit (pictured above) that needs to be assembled on site during installation. While we do not offer any installation guides on how to assemble the panic bar, Lockey’s website offers instructions for a successful installation.

Trex Fencing is manufactured in Trex’s plant in Fernley, Nevada. From there, the material is placed on trucks and shipped up to our distribution facility here in Provo, Utah where it is sent out to customers all across the country.

From the beginning, Trex has been environmentally responsible. The composite material in its decking and fencing line is comprised of 95% recycled content in the form of reclaimed hardwood fibers and plastic film. Over 400 million pounds of plastic and wood is kept from landfills every year and almost 100% of all factory waste is reclaimed. Energy for manufacturing is primarily produced from natural gas, not petroleum sources, and its closed-loop systems save millions of gallons of water per year. No trees have ever been cut down to manufacture Trex products. Trex is also conscious of the additives used in the manufacturing process and does not use any chemicals harmful to the environment.

One of the easiest ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to reduce the number of miles that trucks haul materials. Trex’s primary manufacturing facilities are located near geographical areas that have large quantities of raw source materials. This supply chain sustainability accounts for the materials used in the majority of all Trex products. Additionally, the manufacturing facilities use methods to reduce energy consumption and eliminate almost all factory waste through reclamation.

Trex and FDS Distributors have been partners in enhancing the outdoor living experience for close to two decades now. To better understand our relationship, as well as what role Trex company is playing in sustainable manufacturing, visit Trex Company and FDS Distributors.

• • Trex is an integrated system of extruded components.

• • It is not dimensional composite lumber like decking.

• • If you are looking for composite pickets only, the Seclusions pickets are made to interlock. They are not flat boards to mount to back rails, although they could be attached this way by screwing through the edges.

• • Trex is a composite materials brand. If the profiles you want are anything other than what can be found on TrexFencingFDS.com or Trex.com, they are not Trex profiles.

• • If the Trex Seclusions picket simply won’t work for your project, you could look into Trex composite decking boards. Just so you know, they are a full 1″ so they are quite heavy. We don’t work with the decking profiles so visit Trex.com to find a supplier or contractor near you.

• • We do not sell competing composite products and aren’t able to help you source them. Other composite manufacturers are typically short-lived so unless you are using actual Trex brand materials, we aren’t able to provide support for replacement parts in the future.

• If you have a spec and it is not calling specifically for the Seclusions design, we recommend upgrading to Seclusions. If you require technical documentation, you can find shop drawings, installation guides, product information, pictures, videos and other resources on our website.

Trex Fencing does age extremely well when compared to wood and vinyl fencing. When you install a wood or vinyl fence, the material immediately begins to depreciate. Wood will rot and twist with time. Vinyl fencing can turn an unsightly yellowish over time. Scuffs and abrasions add up over time for both fence materials, and wood fencing requires consistent maintenance to keep it looking anywhere close to new. Vinyl fencing is notorious for becoming brittle and cracking over time.

Trex is designed to resist rotting, splitting, and decay and is covered under the Trex Fencing Warranty. While Trex Fencing’s color will fade over time, the material fades to an aesthetically pleasing shade and then never loses its color.

Scuffs and abrasions on a Trex Fence actually tend to blend in over time since the color of the fence is dyed throughout the material, which means that the scuffs will weather and even out the coloring. This also means that you will never need to spend a single Saturday painting or staining your fence.

Trex Fencing material is considerably thicker and more durable than most vinyl fencing, which means that it resists cracking and won’t become brittle with age. The cherry on top of all of this is how simple it is to clean. In most cases, hot soapy water and a soft bristle brush will effectively remove dirt and grime from the fence. With a little bit of consistency, you can keep your Trex Fence clean with minimal effort. When compared to other popular fencing material, Trex repeatedly blows the competition away. Trex is built to not only last, but to look amazing for years and years to come.

The color of Trex Fencing fades to a degree through a natural weathering process. Color fading in general is a well known phenomena that occurs when plastic and pigments are exposed to UV light. To counter the full impact of sunlight, the product is over-pigmented during manufacturing and engineered to maintain pigmentation throughout its life. As a result of this practice, the fencing arrives significantly darker and in a different hue than it will be once it has had an opportunity to weather (this is particularly noticeable in Winchester Grey which has a brownish color when it is new). Trex engineers have worked with pigmentation over the years to set a specific color value during production to allow the product to fade from its original color to an intended lighter color which is still vibrant, attractive, and natural looking.

The majority of the fading typically takes a season of exposure to the sun. After initial weathering has occurred, any additional fading is minimal and Trex will retain color throughout its life. You can learn more by visiting Trex Fencing Colors on our website.

Note regarding variation: Some variation may exist between the individual components. This occurs because the recycled material in Trex composite comes from a variety of sources and can interact differently with the pigmentation. Variation is not considered a manufacturing defect and is not covered under warranty.  To learn more, see our Trex Fencing Colors page. If you prefer to minimize variation, group pickets of similar hues.

Note regarding post caps: Post caps are not manufactured in the same facility as the rest of the Trex composite components. The raw material content and manufacturing of the caps is also a bit different than the rest of the fence. The caps are created with molds and therefore require a different formulation than the other components which are extruded. Because of the distinct ways the pigment is applied to the profiles as they are manufactured, the caps may look different when new than the rest of the fence. This difference is particular noticeable on a Winchester Grey fence when it is first installed but becomes much less visible as the fence weathers (example of a new fence with a new cap)

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To help you visualize what to expect, here are examples of weathering over time:

The Trex railing sleeves are not the same product as the fence posts. The Trex railing sleeves are a plastic-heavy composite that look more similar to a vinyl material than the Trex composite material used for the fencing and the core of the decking products. The railing components are used strictly as sleeves (sliding over 4×4 or 6×6 nominal posts attached to a deck). They cannot be used as standalone posts, whereas the Trex Fencing post is meant to be a self-supporting component. The hollow cavity of the Trex Fencing post does give it the ability to be used as a sleeve if needed such as to allow the insertion of a steel post stiffener for gate hinge posts.

PLEASE NOTE: We are the distributor for Trex Fencing only. Our team is not able to answer questions about the railing components or systems. Please contact 800-289-8739 to speak directly to a Trex representative or contact your local decking and railing supplier. 

Trex Fencing is the premier composite alternative to wood fencing.  Seclusions and Horizons systems are made specifically for fencing applications. The materials are not converted decking boards. They are specifically designed and engineered for fencing and will outperform other types of fences including wood and vinyl.

When deciding if Trex Composite Fencing is worth the cost there are many factors to consider. Trex Fencing comes at a higher cost up-front when compared to wood and vinyl fence systems, because of it’s durability, natural beauty, flexibility in design, offered privacy, and its low maintenance. Material costs for a 6’H Trex Fence are about $55 per linear foot, gates excluded. If you are looking to have an installer put up your fence, you could be looking at anywhere from $75-95 per linear foot on average once you factor in labor costs. While the high price is a shock to many customers, they tend to discover that the amount of money saved in not having to repair, re-stain, and repaint their fence makes the cost of a Trex well worth it. Not to mention, you’ll get to relax in the summer months while your neighbors are spending Saturday mornings maintaining their fences.

In addition to saving money and sweat equity in maintenance, there are also advantages in aesthetics, serenity, and natural beauty that you can’t necessarily put a price tag on. As the following pictures demonstrate, Trex adds to a landscape’s design and appeal in incredible ways.

Some fence materials can provide the beauty, others the durability, and others still the low-maintenance. But few materials can pull all three together quite like Trex Fencing. Not to mention, installation is relatively simple when compared to other fencing system. Trex is what you call a “stick-built” system, which means that the sections need to be assembled from individual components. But for all you amateur craftsmen out there, don’t let that scare you. Once your posts are in the ground, the pickets interlock using innovative “C channels”, and the top and bottom rails are bracketed onto the posts. The intuitive design makes installation a breeze.

If you’d like to to do a deeper dive into the installation process, feel free to look through our videos and guides found in our Installation Resources: Seclusions | Horizons

So let’s circle back to the original question: Is Trex Fencing worth the cost? Understandably, Trex is not for everyone. Depending on your budget, how long you plan on living at your current home, and a variety of other factors, it may not make sense for you to go with Trex. But let’s break it down this way:

Are you wanting a beautiful fence without the maintenance?

Are you looking to minimize costs associated with repairs?

Are you planning on living at your current location for at least another 10 years?

Are you interested in a DIY product that you can be successfully completed in a few weekends?

Are you wanting to be supported by a team of “Trexperts” that can help you every step of the way — from ordering to installation (that’s us!)?

If you answered yes to these questions, then Trex is definitely worth the cost. In fact, just from a practical standpoint, a high-end wood fence tends to become more expensive than Trex in the long-run:

Have more questions, or just need someone to talk to (about Trex, that is)? Then call our team at 877-700-8739. Looking for more information on how Trex Fencing stacks up to other products? Visit our comparison pages.

Since 2005, Trex has invented, defined and advanced composite fencing with a lineup of low-maintenance, high-performance products that fundamentally change the way we live outdoors. Many composite manufactures have come and gone over the years as Trex continues to grow and improve. Unlike other composite fence products that have only a stockade type or a tongue and groove type picket, Trex Fencing pickets are made with a unique interlocking design that prevent bowing and warping. This design also eliminates gaps, that are prevalent in other composite fences, that occur from contraction and expansion. Many composite manufactures produce a thin picket that can be used in place of a wood picket. However, few if any have produced a viable solution for a full composite fence system except for Trex. The Trex Fencing system has a stand alone, wind rated, composite fence post with post cap, a molded one piece top rail and interlocking pickets. Trex Fencing is the solution when it comes to composite fencing. Check out a more detailed comparison by clicking on Trex vs Other Composites.

Trex Fencing is not a painted surface, which means that it will not flake. Trex Fencing receives its color through a dying process during manufacturing, which means that you do not need to worry about ever repainting or restaining your fence throughout its lifetime. Additionally, you never need to worry about unsightly flaking that is often experienced with wood fencing.

To be honest, this is just the tip of the iceberg in regard to the benefits of Trex over wood. Vist Trex vs Wood for a more in-depth comparison of these two fencing materials.

Vinyl fencing was introduced to the fencing industry as the long-lasting alternative to wood. By nature of its composition, plastic does not biodegrade, which means that a vinyl fence would theoretically last forever. The key word there is theoretically. Even though plastic lasts forever, its beauty certainly does not.

The biggest problems you run into with vinyl fencing long-term concern the fences aesthetic and its durability. Plastic reacts negatively to sunlight, resulting in unsightly discoloring after enough exposure. White vinyl fencing, for example, will begin to fade to a yellowish color over time. Extreme temperatures – whether the heat or cold – affects the strength of the material over the years as well, resulting in the plastic becoming brittle. This promotes cracking, and the plastic will easily break when struck with rocks or some sort of blunt force.

How long a composite fence lasts depends on the quality, design, and installation of the brand. There are only a few manufacturers that have successfully designed a composite material that will last for at least a couple of decades. However, only one has designed a system that can also handle the requirements for durability in high winds, harsh heat and cold, and incidental contact that can cause damage. Trex introduced its fencing system in 2005, making it the fence with the longest track record. A Trex composite fence is expected to last at least 25 years without requiring any significant maintenance. It is a rot and insect resistant fence and is designed intelligently for longevity while also maintaining an elegant appearance.

Sure, plastic will sit in a landfill for a hundred years, but Trex composite fencing is designed to maintain its aesthetic appeal with higher durability than most vinyl fencing for decades to come. Visit Trex vs Vinyl for a more in-depth comparison.

Composite fencing is designed to last longer than wood fencing. Composite fences are worth it if you are looking for a long-lasting alternative to wood fencing, a better looking and more durable alternative to vinyl fencing, or a fence that is easier to install and won’t crack like masonry, all while keeping the classic wood look. Although more expensive initially, a composite fence tends to be a less expensive option long-term once you factor in maintenance and the inevitability of replacement.

Trex Fencing, specifically, was designed to improve upon the advantages of composite fencing over wood. While wood fencing begins to depreciate the moment you put it in the ground, Trex composite fencing maintains it’s durability and beautiful design for at least 25 years.

Wood fences usually are in dire straights by about 15 years, especially if you have not put the work and money into maintaining it. With virtually no maintenance required other than the occasional wash, Trex composite fencing is a long-term solution to the woes of wood fencing. Visit Trex vs Wood for a more in-depth comparison.

Trex Fencing is built to last. With a 25-year residential warranty, you can feel confident that you will enjoy the durability and beauty of a Trex Fence for decades to come.

Trex Fencing is made in 3 rich colors, Woodland Brown, Saddle, and Winchester Grey.

Woodland Brown looks like darkly stained wood and fades the least from its original color. It provides high contrast against lighter colors creating a defined border.

Saddle fencing starts out dark tan and fades to a lighter tan, mimicking the color and tone of natural stained wood.

Winchester Grey fencing will be a noticeably different color when new (typically a brownish/green color) and will weather to its intended color of light grey. Winchester Grey compliments the natural colors in brick or masonry, and can be attractive when used in modern urban design.

Visit Trex Fencing Colors for more information.

Trex Fencing does not come in black. Our three colors available are Woodland Brown, Saddle, and Winchester Grey. Trex decided on which colors to produce their fencing materials in through extensive research and focus groups. The results of these efforts indicated that consumers were most interested in natural tones reflecting browns and stony hues. So while black is not currently offered within the Trex Fencing portfolio, there is the chance that additional colors will be added if research findings ever justify the change.

For those customers who love Trex but also really want black, you do have the option of painting the fence system, although this will require maintenance in the future which may not be worth the extra effort and money. For more information, visit Trex Fencing Colors on our website.

Trex Fencing does not come in white. Our three colors available are Woodland Brown, Saddle, and Winchester Grey. Trex decided on which colors to produce their fencing materials in through extensive research and focus groups. The results of these efforts indicated that consumers were most interested in natural tones reflecting browns and stony hues. So while white is not currently offered within the Trex Fencing portfolio, there is the chance that additional colors will be added if research findings ever justify the change.

For those customers who love Trex but also really want white, you do have the option of painting the fence system, although this will require maintenance in the future which may not be worth the extra effort and money. For more information, visit Trex Fencing Colors on our website.

Unlike Trex Decking, Trex Fencing does not have a wood grain look. The wood fibers in the material provide a natural wood aesthetic that sports a smooth finish that many customers love.

Trex is the leader in composite fencing, and many people are surprised to find that the material is not 100% wood. Check out Trex vs Wood to see for yourself how Trex can give you all of the benefits of a wood fence without any of the drawbacks.

Trex Fencing is not made of the same material as Trex Decking. While both are manufactured from a composite blend of wood fibers and plastic, Trex Decking encases their boards with a textured shell that gives the Decking a wood-grain look, whereas Trex Fencing does not have this shell and so sports more of a smooth finish.

What is Trex Fencing goes into more detail concerning our product, and is a very helpful resource to learn more.

Trex Fencing comes in two separate styles: the Trex Seclusions and the Trex Horizons. Both styles provide full privacy fence system that is designed to last.

The Seclusions style provides a more classic look with a top rail, bottom rail and vertical pickets.

The Horizons style provides a more modern look with a sleek steel frame and horizontal pickets.

You can learn more about the Seclusions and Horizons styles on our website, https://www.trexfencingfds.com/

Trex Fencing is considered a DIY product, and we provide plenty of installation help every step of the way with videos, pdf’s, as well as our team of experts who can answer any questions you have during office hours. That being said, an installation of Trex Fencing does require you to have a certain level of comfortability with measuring, cutting, concrete mixing, post setting, and other basic construction skills. We highly recommend that you review the installation material and assess your ability to complete the project before purchasing Trex Fencing. If you decide to go the route of hiring a contractor, we can help with that process too!

While there are various other fence systems out there that try to make installation easy, with our unique interlocking picket design, step-by-step instructions, videos, and a team of experts that you can call at every turn, Trex Fencing tries to take DIY to the next level. Visit our Installation Resources to review all of our install material. And remember, you don’t have to go-it-alone. Call our team at 877-700-8739 to talk to one of our technical experts. They can build you a quote, answer questions, help you order your material, as well as walk you through different installation scenarios. There are various other fence systems out there that try to make installation easy

Trex Fencing can be mounted on top of a concrete pad or retaining because the hollow post design allows the Trex post to sleeve over the top of an embedded component such as a heavy duty steel pipe or wall mount. Because the inside dimensions of Trex posts are 3-3/4” x 3-3/4”, the post can sleeve over preexisting mounts and anchored onto concrete.

There are several methodologies to mount Trex posts on top of concrete. Here are two concepts. Please note that these do not constitute official installation instructions from Trex or FDS. They are provided as guidelines. We encourage all customers to evaluate their installation needs to determine if the methods and applications you are planning to use will be viable options.

We do offer concrete post mounts that serve their purpose well for our 6 foot high fences in most cases. But if you’re building a fence taller than 6 feet, or if you live in very windy areas, we do recommend using a mount that is designed to provide more stability.

In cases where the concrete has not yet been poured, heavy duty pipe can be set into the concrete and used as towers for Trex posts. This method is generally more secure than anchored mounts because the concrete holds the pipe without the risk of anchors pulling loose.  Regardless of the mount method, you want the attachments to be sturdy and they need to fit the inside the dimensions of the Trex posts with some method of securing the post to the mount. If you have further questions, you can call our team of experts at 877-700-8739 and we would be happy to help you out.

Important note: Mounting a fence, Trex or otherwise, on top of concrete should be considered carefully. Ensure that your pad or wall are sufficient to support the fence. Anchors in a pad or on a narrow wall could break out with pressure from wind or other forces. If necessary, acquire engineering to determine if building a structure such as a privacy fence is a viable option for you.

This is an example of a poorly conceived project. In this case, the anchors for plated post mounts broke out the side of the concrete curbing after a post was mounted on top. 

Preparations for a fence installation include; consulting local codes and obtaining proper permits, thoroughly reviewing installation instructions, and making sure you have the necessary tools and equipment (skill saw, measuring tape, concrete, level, etc.). Obviously, there’s more to it than just starting to dig your holes.

You need to take the right preparations in order to ensure a successful install. At Trex Fencing, we provide Installation Resources that will guide you every step of the way, and we have a team of experts that can be reached during normal business hours MST at 877-700-8739. Other great resources to consult are your local fence installers. Some may even take charge of gathering some of the necessary paperwork. They will be able to let you know what needs to be done in your area.

The black end caps or T-plates that are attached to the sides of the top rails on the gates are place there to close off the open ends of the top rails. The plates are screwed in place for easy removal if necessary.

The type of screw used for #6 1-5/8″ wood exterior screw. There are four screws per bracket and four brackets per kit. Beyond these 16 screws, the same type of screw is used to attach the Trex Seclusions pickets to the posts and to attach the top rail to the Trex Seclusions brackets?

The parts needed to build a Trex Selcusions Fence system are sold in three elements: posts, caps, and fence panel kits (although individual components can be bought separately). The fence panel kits are used to describe the pickets, rails, brackets and fasteners, although the components are not assembled when shipped.

The parts needed to build a Trex Seclusions Fence are:

• • Posts: The Trex post is universal. It is used for Seclusions and Horizons, and used for lines, ends, corners, and gates. Trex posts come in 8′, 9′, and 12′ lengths.

• • Post Caps: There are three styles. Flat top and pyramid are decorative composite caps. Crown caps are slim profile caps with a slight peak.

• • Rails: Seclusions has an aluminum bottom rail and a composite top rail. The aluminum bottom rail is hidden by sliding Trex composite covers over it.

• • Pickets: The interlocking pickets sit inside the bottom rail and are enclosed by the top rail.

• Brackets and fasteners: There are four glass-filled nylon brackets that mount to the posts and support the rails.

A typical section of Seclusions includes the following:

Trex gates come in two standard sizes: 46 1/4″ opening and a 65 1/2″ opening. if those standard options do not suit your needs, we can build custom sizes up to a 6 foot opening for a single gate or 12 foot opening for a double gate. Importantly, the max height we can build a gate to is 8 feet. If you are needing a gate any larger than that, then we can supply you with the composite material, but the gate frame and the hardware will have to be supplied somewhere else.

Visit Trex Gates for more details concerning dimensions and the advantages of our Trex Gates.

For Trex horizontal fencing with the Horizons fence system, you’ll need posts, post caps, Horizons frames with brackets and fasteners, and pickets. When you order Trex Fencing, we can supply all of the materials except the concrete. In fact, we make it easy for you on our Online Shop. We sell the fence sections in unassembled panel kits. The kits include all of the material in between the posts. You’ll need to know how many posts, post caps, and fence panel kits you want for your project. But don’t worry if you aren’t sure how material you need. If you’re still wanting some help with your order, you can always call our team at 877-700-8739. We are product experts that can help you every step of the way, including building quotes and answering questions about the product and installation.

Trex Decking does not offer privacy railing, but that is another unexpected benefit of Trex Fencing. The fencing can be installed on a Trex deck to create privacy railing or screen solution that looks great.

Installation is similar to if you were to install a line of fencing around your yard. The only difference is that you will need to sleeve the Trex posts over some sort of steel or wood mount. Fortunately, Trex posts are hollow, with the inside dimensions measuring at 3 3/4” x 3 3/4”, which makes sleeving the posts very easy. Our Installation Guides walk you through step-by-step, and we even have videos that many customers find helpful. Of course, if you need any assistance, you can call our team of experts at 877-700-8739 during regular business hours and we will be happy to assist.

Our Trex posts are built for durability and strength. The outside dimension is 5″x5″ with an inside dimension of 3 3/4″ x 3 3/4″. The thickness of the Trex post is 5/8”, giving it the strength to be a stand-alone post despite the fact that it is hollow. Our posts come in 3 lengths: 8′, 9′, and 12′. Posts can be cut to various heights similar to lumber. Our Architectural Drawings are a great resource for all things related to dimensions. Individual components as well as fence sections are listed.

To put things in perspective, check out how the thickness of a Trex post compares to a vinyl post. Yikes!

Screws used for Seclusions and Horizons are unique to each system.

SECLUSIONS

The fasteners used for the Seclusions fence kits are a green-colored #2 square head, #7 1-5/8″ epoxy-coated exterior screw. All fence kits include these fasteners. The placement of the Seclusions screws makes them virtually invisible to the casual observer.

There are 24 total screws used per 6-8′ tall section:

• 4 brackets x 4 screws per bracket
• 2 pickets attached to posts x 3 screws per picket
• 1 top rail x 2 screws through the rail into the top bracket

HORIZONS

The fasteners used for the Horizons fence kits are a #10 3/4″, #2 Phillips pan-head screw black oxide coated with a sealant. All fence kits include these fasteners. There are 54 total screws used per 6′ tall section. The placement of the Horizons screws makes them visible primarily on one side of the fence.

Deck skirting is the material that fills the gap between your elevated deck and the ground beneath it.

Depending on the design, it is usually recommended that the fence not touch the ground. Trex Fencing recommends a width of around 3/8” between the ground and the bottom rail. While Trex is resistant to rot and so the moisture of the ground won’t adversely affect your fence, the trimmer line of a weed eater definitely would! So it is best to have at least some space in between your fence and the ground. Our Architectural Drawings go into more detail concerning measurements, and our Installation Guides will walk you through step-by-step how to make sure the fence gets installed correctly.

Installing Trex Fence posts is very similar to installing a wood fence post. Trex posts are self-supporting and do not need to be reinforced (with the exception of the hinge post for a gate) when installed up to eight-foot-tall. Installing fence posts usually entails digging a post hole and running a post string line along the first and last post to ensure that the line is straight. Once the posts are lowered into the holes, concrete is poured around them. The posts are adjusted to make sure they are plumb as the concrete sets.

Trex posts won’t rot, so you can set them directly in the ground. For wood posts, however, you may want to consult some local professionals for ideas on how to protect your posts from rotting. Sometimes installers will lay gravel down underneath or add some sort of protective layer. If you need to mount the post on top of a pad or wall, the good news is the Trex posts are hollow so it is easy to sleeve them over steel or wood supports or embed them directly into the pad or wall.

Be sure to check the viability of the pad’s or wall’s capacity to support a fence and environmental pressure like the wind. View our installation tips for ideas on how to mount the posts on walls. For general instructions on how to install Trex fence posts, see our installation guides.

It is not uncommon that a costumer will need to be able to build a fence on a hillside. There are typically two methods to do so: following the ground (called sloping or racking) and stepping the fence down the hill. Most consumers prefer the sloping or racking method because it creates fence lines that match the slope of the hillside. In this practice, large gaps will not exist on one side of each section where there is a slope. The stepping method is a method that either has to be used because of the limitations of the materials or a preference for 90-degree angles and level horizontal lines. The disadvantage of a stepped fence is that it leaves gaps under the fence and, if the top of the fence is also stepping, gives varying privacy (one end of each section of the fence will be lower than the other end). Building a fence on a hillside does require some consideration of the materials needed and the method of installation. For materials, if you plan to slope, make sure you buy a fence product that has the ability to adjust to grade changes. A stick-built fence like Trex Seclusions easily adapts to slopes because the fence is assembled with brackets and rails that can be cut for angles. Trex also offers longer posts which is critical if you have a steep slope. If your post is not set deep enough, the footer will not be stable on the hillside and it’s possible it can be displaced with erosion or wind. If you do prefer a stepped fence, Trex Seclusions gives you that option as does Trex with Horizons, a horizontal fence system that uses Trex composite components with an exclusive frame from FDS Fence Distributors, the source for Trex Fencing. Visit our installation resource page for instructions on how to measure and cut materials to build a fence in a hillside.

Our Trex gates come in two standard sizes and are made to order for each customer. Our gates perfectly match the fence and are made of the same composite material.

Our standard walk gates fit a 46.25” opening, and our standard large gates fit an opening of 65.5”. Of course, these two sizes can be used for double gates as well. Custom size gates can be built for an additional cost.

We do offer a couple of custom style gates, such as our sunburst gate pictured above. However, these styles are only available in our standard sizes. You can review our Architectural Drawings for more information regarding the dimensions of our gates.

To solve this solution, many homeowners elect to install skirting around the deck, usually out of wood boards to create an appealing barrier.

Of course, if you use wood to skirt your deck, you will need to factor in the time and cost to maintain the skirting’s beauty and function. If you’re using a composite material to build your deck, let’s say, oh I don’t know – Trex – for example, the last thing you’re looking for is probably maintenance.

Fortunately, this is yet another area where Trex Fencing really shines.

Trex Fencing offers full privacy to keep animals out from under your deck, as well as the wonderful low-maintenance qualities to compliment your composite deck. You will never need to paint or stain the fencing, and it can handle the elements much better than wood, or even vinyl, can.

Trex Pickets interlock, greatly decreasing the installation time when compared to wood as well.

You have a few options for what you can put on top of your fence to create some privacy. Many homeowners elect to install some sort of screen, lattice, or some other decorative piece in order to accomplish this. of course, depending on how much privacy you are wanting will determine what you install. Fortunately, with whatever you go with, Trex has options for you.

Trex Lattices add a decorative touch to a fence while also obscuring the view for onlookers and passerbys. Trex Fencing is a full-privacy solution that is versatile and easily customizable. If you’re looking to completely secure the view into your property, Trex Fencing has you covered.

Trex Fencing can be added as a topper to your fence, or you can use full sections of Trex Fencing to create a full-privacy perimeter. Our customers have gotten creative, and fortunately, Trex is versatile enough that you can do plenty of fun things with it. You can view our Gallery if you need some inspiration. Are you still wondering what exactly the benefits of Trex Fencing are? Then check our The Virtues of Trex Fencing.

Trex Fencing is considered a DIY product, and thus is designed to be intuitive in how it is installed. More details for installing Trex Fencing can be found by referring to our Installation Resources, but the general idea is pretty simple. Below, we will walk you through a brief overview of how a section of Seclusions and Horizons fencing is installed. Keep in mind that this overview won’t include all of the specific measurements and cuts that may be required, but you should have a pretty good idea of how to install Trex by the time you’ve looked over this post.

First, let’s talk about Seclusions:

1.

Posts are installed first, similar to any fencing project. For a 6 foot high fence, we generally recommend burying our 9 foot posts at least 30 inches into the ground. Care should be taken to ensure that posts are level and evenly spaced. For reference, Trex Seclusions fence sections should be 8 feet (96”) wide on center of the posts. Concrete is used to secure the posts in place.

2. 

Brackets are then installed on each posts (one on the top, one on the bottom). These will support the top and bottom rails.

3. 

Our aluminum bottom rails provide strength to the fence to protect it from sagging. Composite bottom rail covers are sleeved over the aluminum, and the rail is then placed over the bottom brackets.

4. 

The first and last pickets are screwed to the posts, and then the rest of the pickets interlock together to finish the section.

5. 

The top rail is then cut to length and secured over the pickets.

6. 

Post caps are then installed. We offer three designs; Flat cap, Pyramid cap, or Crown cap.

Hopefully that was straight-forward enough. Now, let’s move on to installing Horizons.

1. 

Your fence posts will be buried exactly the same way you would for Seclusions.

2. 

Brackets will be screwed into the top of the posts, (Note: this is different than the Seclusions fencing that requires a bracket on the top and and the bottom).

3. 

Hang the top horizontal rail from the brackets.

4. 

Screw in the back vertical rails, keeping them flush with the posts.

5. 

Hang the first picket onto the top rail, and then hang the rest of them on down, stopping right before you ang the last picket.

6. 

Slide the bottom rail over the last picket, and then hang the picket.

7. 

Screw in the vertical front rails, and securely insert any remaining screws to secure the metal frame.

8. 

Install your post caps and there you have it! One section of Trex Horizons Fencing ready to go.

Depending on your level of experience, you may be feeling either really confident after reading this post, or you may still be feeling a bit overwhelmed at the idea of installing your fence. Keep in mind that our team is here and ready to help you every step of the way. Also keep in mind that you probably have fencers in your area that are willing to install your project for you. If you would like some help finding a contractor in your area, then give our team a call at 877-700-8739 and we will be more than willing to help you get connected with someone.

While standard Trex gate hardware is not customizable, it is adjustable. Hinges can be adjusted for opening sizes and latches can be swapped out for third party key latches, for example. So, while the Trex gate hardware isn’t customizable, consumers do have some flexibility. Learn more about our gates and accompanying hardware.

Installing Trex Fence posts is very similar to installing a wood fence post. Trex posts are self-supporting and do not need to be reinforced (with the exception of the hinge post for a gate) when installed up to eight-foot-tall. Trex posts won’t rot, so you can set them directly in the ground.

As per our Installation Guide, your post spacing should be determined by driving stakes into the ground and running a string along your property line, checking every now and then to make sure the string remains straight. Using spray paint, mark the location of each post, measuring in between each mark to ensure that posts are set 96” apart on center (for Seclusions) or 97” apart on center (for Horizons).

Once post placement has been marked, you can begin digging your holes. Post holes should be dug to approximately 12” in diameter and at least 30” deep. The depth of your hole will depend upon local codes and frost lines. Place the post in the hole and use a level to ensure that the post is plumb (vertical) and level. Use the string line as a reference, but be careful not to press against the string with the post. Once the post is level, add in the concrete and secure it until the concrete is cured.

If you need to mount the post on top of a pad or wall, the good news is the Trex posts are hollow so it is easy to sleeve them over steel or wood supports or embed them directly into the pad or wall. Two of the most common ways of accomplishing this are outlined in the following graphics.

Be sure to check the viability of the pad’s or wall’s capacity to support a fence and environmental pressure like the wind. When it comes to installation, we strongly recommend reviewing the Installation Resources for the most in-depth information. And then, of course, call our team at 877-700-8739 if you have any additional questions.

It is not uncommon that a costumer will need to be able to build a fence down a slope. There are typically two methods to do so: following the ground (called sloping or racking) and stepping the fence down the hill. Most consumers prefer the sloping or racking method because it creates fence lines that match the slope of the hillside. In this practice, large gaps will not exist on one side of each section where there is a slope. The stepping method is a method that either has to be used because of the limitations of the materials or a preference for 90-degree angles and level horizontal lines. The disadvantage of a stepped fence is that it leaves gaps under the fence and, if the top of the fence is also stepping, gives varying privacy (one end of each section of the fence will be lower than the other end). Building a fence on a hillside does require some consideration of the materials needed and the method of installation. For materials, if you plan to slope, make sure you buy a fence product that has the ability to adjust to grade changes. A stick-built fence like Trex Seclusions easily adapts to slopes because the fence is assembled with brackets and rails that can be cut for angles. Trex also offers longer posts which is critical if you have a steep slope. If your post is not set deep enough, the footer will not be stable on the hillside and it’s possible it can be displaced with erosion or wind. If you do prefer a stepped fence, Trex Seclusions gives you that option as does Trex with Horizons, a horizontal fence system that uses Trex composite components with an exclusive frame from FDS Fence Distributors, the source for Trex Fencing. Visit our installation resource page for instructions on how to measure and cut materials to build a fence in a hillside.

Trex Fencing is specifically designed to build to any height up to 12 feet tall, so building an 8-foot fence is possible. The standard lengths of the Trex material make it even easier to install the fence at 6 foot and 8 foot tall without cutting the pickets and posts. If they do need to be cut, the posts, rails, and pickets are extruded composite lumber components and can be cut like wood. To build an 8-foot tall fence, set posts to the proper depth in concrete to ensure they can support the fence and keep it from getting displaced in the wind. The minimum depth for an 8-foot tall fence is 36″, although it is highly recommended that you check local building codes, soil conditions, and local installation practices to verify the proper depth. For example, if your frostline is lower than 36″, you will need to set your posts deeper to ensure your footer does not get displaced. Once the posts are set, your rails and pickets can be installed per the installation guides using the brackets and fasteners provided by FDS Fence Distributors, the source for Trex Fencing.

Trex fences that are installed properly have tremendous strength. They are able to withstand high winds and incidental contact that might otherwise damage other fence materials. If the fence needs to be strengthened even further, there are several methods. The posts are made of a thick, durable composite so they do not require reinforcement except for the hinge side of a gate. Because they are hollow, the posts can be stiffened with a 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ steel post placed inside. Each section of the Trex fence contains four brackets with four screws per bracket, so the performance of the attachments is already very strong. However, to strengthen the rail attachment, you can use screws with a higher sheer strength (the standard screw is #7 wood exterior screw) such as a stainless (marine grade) screw or an aircraft-grade screw. Shortening the span between the posts will also increase strength and adding a bottom rail as a mid-rail will also add tremendous strength. Our install guides can offer more details on general installation of Trex Fencing.

Many customers are looking for ways to add a little privacy to their back yard, especially around their patio. Trex Fencing’s full privacy design makes it a great option for a privacy screen. Our  installation resources offer step-by-step instructions for installing Trex Fencing. The same principles will apply for building a screen around your patio, the only difference is that you will most likely be needing to mount your posts on the deck or patio rather than burying them into the ground. Because Trex posts are hollow, you can sleeve them over a steel or wood mount and secure them to the surface. From there, the fence sections go up using brackets to mount the top and bottom rails, and the pickets interlock across the whole section to create the full-privacy look. Our team of technical experts can be reached at 877-700-8739 if you need any assistance.

1.Posts are installed first, similar to any fencing project. For a 6 foot high fence, we generally recommend burying our 9 foot posts at least 30 inches into the ground. Care should be taken to ensure that posts are level and evenly spaced. For reference, Trex Seclusions fence sections should be 8 feet wide on center of the posts. Concrete is used to secure the posts in place.

2. Brackets are then installed on each posts (one on the top, one on the bottom). These will support the top and bottom rails.

3. Our aluminum bottom rails provide strength to the fence to protect it from sagging. Composite bottom rail covers are sleeved over the aluminum, and the rail is then placed over the bottom brackets.

4. The first and last pickets are screwed to the posts, and then the rest of the pickets interlock together to finish the section.

5. The top rail is then cut to length and secured over the pickets.

6. Post caps are then installed. We offer three designs; Flat cap, Pyramid cap, or Crown cap.

As easy as that, you can install a privacy screen that will look great and serve its function superbly for years to come.