Common Questions
You should have the direct cell number to your salesman for common questions about your job. We try to keep you informed of any issues or delays that may occur — keep in mind we do work outside in Michigan, and the weather plays a major factor.
Working With Us
Yes. We offer a 2 year labor warranty on all decks.
Trex offers a 25–50 year limited warranty, transferable when you sell your home to a new owner. Trex stands behind their products.
We build the decks we sell — the employees of Supreme Deck will be building your deck.
Yes, we are licensed under Craig Niner. All new decks that are built are built to city codes. We tape the permits to your back door wall, which is where the inspector put the stickers. Feel free to contact us with your common questions or any other questions.
Comparing Decking Materials
Nothing outdoors is no maintenance, but PVC decking has the least maintenance. PVC decks do not need to be sealed, only cleaned. Wood decks need to be maintained every 2–3 years.
Because composite is a low maintenance product, the materials will run approximately 50% higher. Labor will be based on the design of your deck. A PVC deck will typically run 3x more than a pressure-treated deck.
The only advantage to using cedar over composites is that economically, cedar is less expensive in the short term and it has the natural wood beauty that you can’t get from any other material. However, the cost of maintenance over a 7–10 year period will add up to the cost of composites — more work for the same amount of money.
Made from recycled wood and plastic, composite decking is an environmentally friendly, cost efficient alternative to natural wood, with advantages such as reduced maintenance, color retention and durability. Composite decking does not require painting, staining or weatherproofing. The maintenance that your composite deck will require is periodic washing (1–3 times yearly) to avoid mold and mildew build-up. The added cost of 40%–50% of composite decking over natural wood will pay off in the long run as it eliminates the need of yearly staining, sealing, weatherproofing and the need to replace rotting and splintering boards. Composite decking will never sliver or splinter, which makes it more comfortable for walking on in bare feet and a safe choice for families with small children.
There are a wide variety of different types of plastic lumber available. Some use recycled plastics and some use virgin polypropylene. The base product is made of recycled plastic: 100% recycled High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), the same material used to make shampoo and detergent bottles or milk jugs. Some plastic lumber is made entirely of HDPE, which comes in a variety of molded-in colors. Other types of plastic lumber use composites, which consist of a mixture of recycled HDPE with wood fibers, rubber, fiberglass, or other plastics, for those needing a stronger material or a long-lasting alternative to wood with the paintability of traditional hardwood lumber.
Plastic lumber has several advantages over traditional hardwood. It eliminates the need for expensive and time-consuming repainting and sealing. Plastic lumber will not rot, crack, warp, or splinter and it does not offer an attractive place for the insect population to call home. In fact, plastic lumber is denser than wood, practically maintenance free, long lasting (up to 50 years depending on the application), stain resistant, waterproof, and impervious to insects.
Made of recycled plastic and wood, composite and plastic decking are both an environmentally friendly and economically viable alternative to traditional hardwood lumber, which is often injected with chemicals to ward off insect attacks. Composite lumber, on the other hand, contains no hazardous chemicals and cannot leak or contaminate the soil. Additionally, serious worries about deforestation and the role trees play in helping prevent global warming are issues of concern for both the consumer and the building industry — so using composite lumber rather than hardwood has remarkable practical advantages as well as these significant environmental advantages.
Composite and PVC decks are the latest “low maintenance” deck trend. We feel wood decks in Michigan are still the time tested best value for a deck. Many people that have had an unlicensed contractor install a composite deck will tell you that they have issues with mold, hidden fasteners, miters, or warping of their composite deck. To get the 25 year Trex warranty you need to hire a certified TrexPro installer — do your research before installing a composite deck and make sure you hire a Trex certified contractor. Supreme Deck is one of Michigan’s largest installers of Trex decks and certified as a TrexPro Platinum installer. Understand that there are many materials to choose from and each material must be installed to the manufacturer’s specifications or you will have problems with the products — the gaping, joist spacing and type of fasteners used on a composite deck need to be to manufacturer’s specifications or you may encounter problems. If installed right, Trex decks with a PVC wrap such as Transcend and Select hold up the best to Michigan weather. Certain composite materials will require cleaning a couple of times a year to make it look good again (good — not “like new”).
Questions on Cleaning
Your Trex deck should be cleaned at least once a year with a mild detergent and scrubbed. Our Deck Cleaning division services hundreds of composite Trex decks each year. If you install a composite, Trex, or PVC deck, just remember you will still have to clean it.
Ready to Start Your Deck Project?
TrexPro® Platinum Installer · Licensed & insured · Serving Southeast Michigan since 1991.
