Zero-Stain · 25–50 Year Warranty

Composite Decks (Trex / TimberTech) in Canmore & the Bow Valley

Trex Transcend and TimberTech AZEK / PRO - capped composite and pure-PVC decking engineered to handle 1,400 m alpine UV without fading, with hidden-fastener installation and manufacturer warranties of 25 to 50 years.

What this is

A composite deck is built with engineered decking boards over the same PT substructure we use for wood decks. The "composite" category covers two distinct material families: capped wood-plastic composite (Trex Transcend, TimberTech PRO) - recycled wood fibre bonded with HDPE polymer and wrapped in a co-extruded polymer cap - and pure PVC (TimberTech AZEK) - no wood content, all polymer. Both are zero-stain, won't rot, won't splinter, and carry manufacturer warranties of 25 to 50 years. At Canmore's elevation with 20% higher UV than Calgary, composite is our most-recommended decking surface for clients who want a low-maintenance lifestyle.

Who this is for

Homeowners who don't want to be on their deck every spring with a sander and a can of stain
Second-home and short-term-rental owners in Canmore who can't service the deck between guest turnovers
Owners replacing failed cedar or PT who are ready to step out of the 2–3 year refinish cycle
Buyers who want the look of premium wood (deep, multi-tonal grain patterns) with zero ongoing care
Anyone planning hidden-fastener clean visuals - composite is purpose-built for hidden systems

Our process

Free site visit & sample showing. We bring physical board samples from Trex Transcend, TimberTech AZEK, and TimberTech PRO in 4–6 colourways so you can see the actual products in daylight.
Fixed-price quote with colour and line locked. Pricing varies meaningfully between product tiers - we quote your specific selection, not a placeholder.
Permits & engineering. Town of Canmore (or Parks Canada for Banff) Development + Building Permit. Engineered drawings for any deck over 0.6 m off grade.
Substructure on helical piles. 12" o.c. PT joists below frost (1.2 m), Simpson Strong-Tie hardware, through-bolted ledger.
Composite installation. Manufacturer-spec hidden-fastener clips on pre-grooved boards, correct expansion gapping (typically 1/4" end-to-end), color-matched fascia and trim.
Warranty registration & walkthrough. We register the manufacturer warranty in your name, hand you the full documentation pack, and walk through care and cleaning.

Product lines & material families

Product	Type	Warranty	Installed Cost
TimberTech AZEK (Vintage / Arbor / Harvest)	Pure PVC	50-yr fade & stain	~$150–180 /sq ft
Trex Transcend (Lineage / Tropicals / Earth Tones)	Capped composite	50-yr fade & stain	~$135–165 /sq ft
TimberTech PRO (Reserve / Legacy / Terrain)	Capped composite	30-yr fade & stain	~$125–150 /sq ft
Trex Enhance (Naturals / Basics)	Capped composite - entry tier	25-yr fade & stain	~$110–130 /sq ft

We don't install uncapped composite. Older Trex Accents-era products from before the capped-composite shift (pre-2013) had real fade and mold issues that gave the whole category a bad reputation - modern capped product is genuinely a different generation of material. AZEK PVC is the premium choice for highest UV stability and lowest weight; Trex Transcend is the most-specified mid-premium option in our market.

Pricing factors

Installed range: $110–180 /sq ft depending on product line, with mid-range Trex Transcend at ~$140 /sq ft installed being our most-quoted spec
Product line: Premium AZEK PVC adds ~30% over entry-tier capped composite; the upgrade buys fade-warranty length and a slightly more dimensional grain
Colour selection: Multi-tone "premium" colourways add $0.50–1.50/lf over standard solid colours
Fascia & trim: Colour-matched fascia (a finishing detail homeowners often forget to budget) adds $12–18/lf of perimeter
Lighting integration: Trex DeckLighting or TimberTech in-board accent lighting adds $25–45/lf of installed run

Bow Valley local context

Composite's biggest practical advantage in the Bow Valley is the UV stability. At Canmore's 1,400 m elevation, unfiltered alpine UV runs roughly 20% higher than Calgary at the same latitude (NRC alpine UV data). A clear-coat cedar finish that holds up 3 years in Calgary lasts 18 months here. Premium capped composite (Trex Transcend, TimberTech AZEK) is engineered with UV inhibitors that meet a 25–50 year fade-resistance standard validated against accelerated weathering equivalent to alpine exposure. We've installed Trex Transcend builds in 2017–2018 that still show their original colour in 2026.

The other major consideration is thermal expansion. Composite expands and contracts about twice as much as wood with temperature change - a Bow Valley deck swings from −35 °C in January to +28 °C in July, a 63-degree range. We follow manufacturer expansion specs strictly: 1/4" end-to-end gap minimum, no board ends trapped against fixed structures, hidden-fastener clips that allow boards to float laterally. This is the install detail that separates a composite deck that looks the same in year 10 from one that buckles. Substructure-wise, we treat composite identically to wood - PT joists at 12" o.c. on helical piles below the 1.2 m frost line, sized for the Town of Canmore's 2.5 kPa design ground snow load. Permits required for any deck over 0.6 m off grade; we handle the full submission to Town of Canmore Planning (14-day turnaround) or Parks Canada for Banff (3–6 weeks).

Why choose Canmore Deck Builders

Authorized installers for both Trex and TimberTech

We carry installer certifications from both major manufacturers, which means our installs qualify for the full published warranty terms - some installer errors can void manufacturer warranties on these products. We also have direct trade-account access to current colours and inventory, including the lines that are slow to reach retail.

Trex Pro Installer & TimberTech Registered Contractor · current credentials

Expansion gap discipline

The #1 visual failure on composite decks is incorrect expansion gapping. We use manufacturer-spec spacers on every install, leave 1/4" minimum end-to-end and 3/16" side-to-side, and never butt board ends against fixed structures. Our composite decks installed in 2017 are still dead-flat in 2026 with no buckling or wave.

0 buckling callbacks on any composite install · internal data

Honest product-line guidance

The price gap between entry-tier Trex Enhance and premium AZEK PVC is roughly $40–60/sq ft installed. For some projects (south-facing high-UV deck, forever home) the premium tier pays for itself in colour retention. For a north-facing covered deck the entry tier is fine. We give you the honest recommendation based on your exposure and how long you plan to own.

4 product tiers quoted side-by-side on every composite request

Available across the Bow Valley

We deliver this service in Canmore, Banff, Exshaw, Dead Man's Flats, and Kananaskis.

Common Questions

Composite decks - frequently asked

What's the difference between Trex and TimberTech?

Trex Transcend is a capped wood-plastic composite (WPC) - recycled wood fibre core with a co-extruded polymer cap. TimberTech is owned by AZEK and offers two lines: AZEK is pure PVC (no wood content, lightest weight, highest fade resistance), and PRO is a capped composite similar to Trex. For our high-UV alpine elevation we usually recommend AZEK or Transcend's top-tier lines because the cap technology resists fading better than uncapped or budget-tier products.

Will composite fade in Canmore's high-altitude UV?

Top-tier capped products won't appreciably. Trex Transcend and TimberTech AZEK both carry 25–50 year fade & stain warranties that are validated against accelerated UV testing equivalent to 25+ years of high-altitude exposure. Budget-tier uncapped composites (which we don't install) will fade noticeably within 3–5 years at our elevation.

Does composite get too hot to walk on?

Darker composite colours run 10–15 °C hotter than light ones in direct sun. At Canmore's elevation we get intense radiative heat but cooler ambient temps, so the practical impact is less than in Phoenix. Still, for south-facing decks we typically steer clients toward lighter colourways (Trex Transcend Island Mist, TimberTech AZEK Brownstone) which stay 5–10 °C cooler than dark options.

Can composite handle our snow load?

The decking itself easily - composite is dimensionally stable and won't sag under snow load. What matters is the substructure beneath it. We frame composite decks identically to our wood builds: PT joists at 12" o.c. on helical piles below frost, sized for the Town of Canmore's 2.5 kPa design snow load. We never widen joist spacing for composite even though some manufacturers permit 16" o.c.

What does the 25–50 year warranty actually cover?

Manufacturer warranties cover structural failure (cracking, splintering, decay) for the full term and fade/stain resistance for either 25 or 50 years depending on product line. They're prorated past year 10–15. We register every warranty in your name at handover and provide the full documentation. The lifetime workmanship guarantee we provide is separate and covers installation, fastening, and structural connections.

How is composite installed differently from wood?

Two main differences. First, hidden fastener systems (Trex Hideaway, TimberTech CONCEALoc) on pre-grooved boards are standard - no exposed screws. Second, composite expands and contracts with temperature more than wood, so we leave specific gap dimensions per manufacturer spec (typically 1/4" end-to-end, 3/16" side-to-side) and we never trap board ends against fixed structures without expansion clearance. Wrong gapping is the #1 reason composite decks fail visually.

Ready to price a composite deck?

Free on-site consultations across the Bow Valley with real product samples in hand. Fixed-price quotes within 2 business hours.

Get a free quote Call 403-678-2345