Product Research
Pressure-treated wood decks in the Pacific Northwest require annual cleaning, staining, and board replacement to stay structurally sound and attractive. TimberTech's fully capped composite and cellular PVC products address the specific moisture, mold, and maintenance challenges of this climate. This guide explains the difference between product tiers and how to choose the right deck material for your project.
Pressure-treated wood decks are the standard entry point for deck construction across North America, but the Pacific Northwest's 40+ inches of annual rainfall concentrated in sustained winter events creates a maintenance burden that significantly exceeds what homeowners in drier climates experience.
A pressure-treated wood deck in Clark County or the Portland Metro typically requires annual cleaning in spring to remove the winter's organic buildup, re-staining or resealing every 2–3 years to maintain water repellency, and board replacement every 5–8 years as surface checking and rot progress despite treatment. Over a 25-year deck life, this maintenance cycle represents substantial recurring cost and labor — and most homeowners don't perform it consistently, which accelerates structural deterioration.
Fully capped composite and cellular PVC decking products address this specifically by eliminating the organic surface that wood presents to moisture. TimberTech's Pro Legacy Collection wraps each board in a polymer cap that prevents the moisture absorption and mold colonization that damaged first-generation composite decking. The AZEK Premium line eliminates wood fiber entirely — 100% cellular PVC with no organic content to absorb moisture or support mold growth.
Maintenance for capped composite and cellular PVC is soap and water, annually or when dirty. No staining. No sealing. No annual treatment.
TimberTech Authorized
TimberTech distributes through an authorized contractor network. Our authorized status gives us direct access to the full product line — AZEK Premium, Pro Legacy, and accessory components — and enables product warranty registration on behalf of homeowners. Combined with our Fiberon authorization, we can spec the right decking product for every budget tier.
Two distinct material technologies — same brand, different performance profiles and price points.
AZEK is fully cellular PVC — 100% polymer with no wood fiber content. This means zero organic material to absorb moisture or support mold growth. AZEK is the most dimensionally stable deck board available: it moves less with temperature changes than composite does, producing more consistent gapping and a cleaner long-term appearance. The 50-year limited fade and stain warranty reflects the material's fundamental moisture immunity. AZEK is the right choice for homeowners who want maximum performance, minimum long-term maintenance, and are building or replacing a deck that needs to last 30–50 years in Pacific Northwest conditions. Priced at a premium over composite — the right investment when longevity is the priority.
Pro Legacy is fully capped wood-composite — a wood fiber and polymer composite core with a four-sided protective polymer cap. The cap prevents moisture absorption that caused first-generation composite failures, and provides the color and surface texture. Pro Legacy carries a 25-year product warranty and 25-year fade and stain warranty. The right choice for homeowners who want the low-maintenance advantages of composite over pressure-treated wood, at a lower price point than cellular PVC. For most Clark County and Portland Metro deck replacement projects with a 20–25 year longevity target, Pro Legacy delivers excellent performance-per-dollar.
What distinguishes TimberTech's Pro Legacy composite and AZEK cellular PVC for Pacific Northwest moisture management and long-term performance.
All four sides of each board are encapsulated in protective polymer. Moisture cannot reach the wood fiber core through normal exposure — directly addressing the failure mode of first-generation uncapped composite that colonized with mold and checked at the surface over time.
100% PVC-based material contains no wood fiber. No organic content means the material is impervious to moisture under normal conditions and provides no substrate for biological colonization. The most dimensionally stable deck board category — moves less with temperature changes than composite does.
TimberTech composite and PVC deck boards install over standard pressure-treated lumber framing. No requirement for a complete composite structural system — the surface material provides the low-maintenance benefit while the framing uses code-compliant PT lumber.
AZEK Premium PVC. Decks adjacent to water features, heavily shaded decks with restricted airflow, lakeside or riverfront properties, or any project where maximum 30–50 year longevity is the goal. The 50-year warranty and cellular PVC's moisture immunity make it worth the premium for these exposures. Also the right choice for Camas and Washougal homes where owners plan to stay long-term and want zero deck maintenance.
Pro Legacy Collection. Most Clark County and Portland Metro residential deck builds and replacements where the goal is eliminating pressure-treated wood maintenance without stepping into the AZEK price tier. 25-year warranties on product and fade/stain. Strong performance in typical Pacific Northwest conditions when installed correctly. Paired with Fiberon options at the project estimate for homeowners comparing composite tiers.
Structural framing (joists, beams, posts) under composite or PVC decking. Projects with tight budgets where the homeowner accepts the maintenance cycle. Short-term applications (5–10 year horizon). We don't oversell composite for projects where pressure-treated is the appropriate answer — we give honest recommendations based on the project scope and homeowner goals.
We are authorized for both TimberTech and Fiberon products, which means we can spec across the full composite and PVC product range — from Fiberon's entry-level Pro-Tect Advantage to TimberTech's premium AZEK line. We match the product to the project budget and performance requirements without being limited to a single product line.
Decks in Clark County and Portland Metro require permits in most cases. We handle the permit process on every permitted project — structural drawings, engineering sign-off where required, inspection scheduling. The permit process is not optional and we don't encourage homeowners to bypass it.
Composite and PVC deck boards perform to their warranties only when the framing underneath is properly built, ventilated, and flashed. A composite deck on a poorly-built PT frame will fail at the frame before the surface ever wears out. We build the frame right because that's what the surface warranty actually requires.
Our deck building service covers Southwest Washington and the Portland Metro. Also see our Fiberon product guide for entry-level composite options.
Uncapped composite (early generation, 1990s–2000s) had exposed wood fiber that absorbed moisture and developed mold colonization over time. Fully capped composite like TimberTech Pro Legacy wraps all four sides of each board in a protective polymer cap, preventing moisture absorption by the wood fiber core. As long as the cap is intact, the wood fiber is protected. AZEK takes this further — it contains no wood fiber at all, just cellular PVC, giving it complete moisture immunity.
Cellular PVC like AZEK Premium is 100% PVC with no wood fiber content — it cannot absorb moisture under any normal conditions. It is the most dimensionally stable deck board material, moving less with temperature changes than composite. The 50-year limited fade and stain warranty reflects this fundamental moisture immunity. It is priced higher than composite — appropriate for maximum-longevity applications and high-moisture exposures.
Yes — pressure-treated lumber for joists, beams, and posts is standard structural practice and code-compliant for Pacific Northwest deck construction. The decking surface (what you see and walk on) is the composite or PVC material. Composite or PVC on a well-built pressure-treated frame is the correct combination — it delivers low-maintenance surface performance without requiring substantially higher-cost composite structural framing.
Most decks attached to the house, elevated more than 30 inches above grade, or above a certain square footage require a building permit. Specific thresholds vary by jurisdiction — Clark County, Camas, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, and Portland each have their own rules. We handle the permit process on every permitted project and factor the permit timeline into the project schedule at the estimate.
