What is the price difference between Trex Transcend and Trex Select in New Brunswick?

Trex Transcend runs approximately $60-75 per square foot fully installed in New Brunswick, while the Trex Enhance line (which replaced Select in most markets) sits in the $45-55 per square foot range installed, putting the real-world price gap at roughly $15-20 per square foot. For a typical 300-square-foot deck, that translates to a difference of $4,500 to $6,000 in total project cost across the province, whether you are building in Moncton, Fredericton, or Saint John.

The reason for the price difference comes down to the cap technology and board profile. Trex Transcend is the company's premium capped composite, meaning it has a thick polymer shell that fully encases the composite core on all four sides. This cap is what gives Transcend its superior fade resistance, stain resistance, and overall longevity. Transcend boards resist fading by over 95 percent across 25 years, which matters in New Brunswick where Maritime sun exposure combined with salt air and heavy precipitation can punish lesser materials. Transcend also carries a 25-year fade and stain warranty backed by a 50-year structural warranty.

The Enhance line is Trex's mid-range product that still offers capped composite performance but with a thinner cap and fewer colour options. It is a solid deck board that handles New Brunswick's freeze-thaw cycles well because, like all composite, it does not absorb water the way pressure-treated lumber does. For many New Brunswick homeowners, Enhance hits the sweet spot between price and performance. You still get a low-maintenance deck that never needs staining or sealing, you still get good fade resistance, and you still get a product that will not crack and split after a few winters.

Where Transcend pulls ahead is in aesthetics and long-term colour retention. The premium colour options like Spiced Rum and Island Mist have deeper, more realistic wood-grain patterns that closely mimic tropical hardwoods. The Enhance colours are attractive but less nuanced. If your deck is a prominent feature of your home, say a large elevated deck overlooking the Petitcodiac River or a wraparound deck on a Fundy shore property, the visual difference may justify the premium.

Both lines require 12-inch on-center joist spacing for proper installation in New Brunswick. This is non-negotiable with composite decking and is tighter than the 16-inch spacing used for wood decks. If a contractor quotes you composite installation at 16-inch spacing, that is a red flag. Improper joist spacing causes sagging and flexing that voids the warranty.

Neither Transcend nor Enhance requires sealing or staining at any point in its lifespan. Cleaning twice per year with a composite cleaner handles any mildew or dirt buildup that Maritime humidity encourages. For ice management in winter, use calcium chloride rather than rock salt on either product.

The bottom line for New Brunswick homeowners is that Enhance gives you roughly 85 percent of the Transcend experience at 65-75 percent of the cost. If budget is the primary concern, Enhance is a genuinely good product. If you want the best colour options and maximum long-term fade resistance, Transcend is worth the premium.

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