Decking Material Comparison

Evidence register / review scope stated per entry

Know what each source establishes.

General research explains a question. Only the relevant product documents and project review can establish the basis for a particular selection.

Evidence states

Published
A traceable publication exists. Publication does not mean its findings apply to every current product.
Manufacturer requirement
A requirement stated in the document for the named product and revision. Match its use conditions to the project.
User observation
A recorded sample or project observation. Preserve the conditions; do not promote it to a universal test result.
Pending verification
The necessary source, match or review is missing. Leave that question open.

SRC-01 / Published reference

USDA: Durability of wood-plastic composite lumber

USDA’s historical WPC research describes different formulations and polymers. A polymer name alone does not establish a wood-free board.

Source
Open the original publication page
Review basis
Original register reviewed September 16, 2026. Public bibliographic information or scope; not a purchased standard, certified test review or product approval.
Applicability
Used in Retain publication year, scope and product identity when using it.
Unresolved
Exact supplied-product match, current manufacturer revision and project-specific acceptance.

SRC-02 / Published reference

ICC-ES: Evaluation report program

Evaluation documents have defined product and use conditions. They do not replace the owner’s selection brief.

Source
Open the original publication page
Review basis
Original register reviewed September 16, 2026. Public bibliographic information or scope; not a purchased standard, certified test review or product approval.
Applicability
Used in Retain publication year, scope and product identity when using it.
Unresolved
Exact supplied-product match, current manufacturer revision and project-specific acceptance.

SRC-03 / Published reference

ASTM D7032-21: Public scope

ASTM D7032 distinguishes several product applications in its scope. Actual product documentation must establish the permitted use.

Source
Open the original publication page
Review basis
Original register reviewed September 16, 2026. Public bibliographic information or scope; not a purchased standard, certified test review or product approval.
Applicability
Used in Retain publication year, scope and product identity when using it.
Unresolved
Exact supplied-product match, current manufacturer revision and project-specific acceptance.

SRC-04 / Published reference

USDA Forest Products Laboratory: Moisture and dimensional changes

Wood changes dimension with moisture conditions. That principle is not a common gap table for wood, composite and PVC.

Source
Open the original publication page
Review basis
Original register reviewed September 16, 2026. Public bibliographic information or scope; not a purchased standard, certified test review or product approval.
Applicability
Used in Retain publication year, scope and product identity when using it.
Unresolved
Exact supplied-product match, current manufacturer revision and project-specific acceptance.

SRC-05 / Published reference

USDA Forest Products Laboratory: Finishing Wood

USDA finish guidance includes appearance and cleanability. It does not establish a fixed care interval for every exposed deck.

Source
Open the original publication page
Review basis
Original register reviewed September 16, 2026. Public bibliographic information or scope; not a purchased standard, certified test review or product approval.
Applicability
Used in Retain publication year, scope and product identity when using it.
Unresolved
Exact supplied-product match, current manufacturer revision and project-specific acceptance.

SRC-06 / Published reference

USDA: Laboratory and environmental decay of composite boards

USDA’s composite-board study compared specific laboratory and field exposures. Its results do not establish a universal lifespan for current composite products.

Source
Open the original publication page
Review basis
Original register reviewed September 16, 2026. Public bibliographic information or scope; not a purchased standard, certified test review or product approval.
Applicability
Used in Retain publication year, scope and product identity when using it.
Unresolved
Exact supplied-product match, current manufacturer revision and project-specific acceptance.

Sources used in expanded guides

These entries cover citations added to the detailed articles and document exercise. Review notes distinguish a fresh inspection from a retained reference. No source automatically approves a candidate in the decision workspace.

SRC-07 / Evaluation-body guidance

ICC-ES: How to read an evaluation report

Source
Read the original source
Used to explain
Explains the role of report identification, uses, installation and conditions.
Limit of use
A guide to reading reports, not evidence that a shortlisted product meets a project requirement.
Review record
Existing citation retained. Automated retrieval was unavailable on September 25, 2026; current wording was not reverified in this pass.
Appears in

SRC-08 / Manufacturer claim and qualification

Trex: SunComfortable test qualification

Source
Read the original source
Used to explain
The published footnote identifies Salt Flat and Lava Rock and a laboratory sunlight simulation.
Limit of use
An example of a named baseline and qualified claim; not an independent brand comparison, a field forecast or a safe-contact temperature.
Review record
Public claim and footnote inspected September 25, 2026.
Appears in

SRC-09 / Manufacturer qualification

TimberTech: Cool Touch disclaimer

Source
Read the original source
Used to explain
The cool-touch qualification states that decking can become hot in sun and distinguishes darker colors.
Limit of use
Used only to illustrate claim boundaries; no fire classification, product rating or suitability result is imported from this page.
Review record
Cool Touch section inspected September 25, 2026.
Appears in

SRC-10 / Manufacturer document index

Trex: Manufacturer resource center

Source
Read the original source
Used to explain
Entry point used to locate the linked installation guide in the document-navigation exercise.
Limit of use
The index is not the installation instruction. Confirm the current document and exact product before use.
Review record
Document-navigation exercise records its check on September 16, 2026; not independently rechecked in this update.
Appears in

SRC-11 / Manufacturer-linked publication

Trex: Linked 2026 installation guide

Source
Read the original source
Used to explain
The exercise identifies starting pages for product identity, layout, stairs and warranty questions.
Limit of use
Page references are navigation aids, not installation values or approval. Pagination and instructions can change with the edition.
Review record
2026 edition; exercise checked September 16, 2026. Edition contents not rechecked in this update.
Appears in

SRC-12 / Government explanatory guidance

FTC: Businessperson’s Guide to Federal Warranty Law

Source
Read the original source
Used to explain
Distinguishes warranty promises and terms from predictions of a specific product lifetime.
Limit of use
General context for comparing documents, not a legal opinion about a particular warranty, transaction or jurisdiction.
Review record
Public guidance inspected September 25, 2026.
Appears in

Correction and revision process

For a disputed statement, send its page address, the claim and the authoritative document to help@ipewoods.com. A supplier label or a user-entered score is not independent verification. Conflicting sources stay unresolved until their product scope, revision and conditions are reconciled.

Manufacturer document example

The evaluation-report guide includes a manufacturer-linked 2026 Trex document-navigation exercise, checked September 16, 2026. Its page references explain where to investigate a question; they do not import product ratings or certify suitability.

Image record

The surface comparison image is a conceptual visualization, not a photograph of a verified installation or a performance specimen. Responsive copies share one source image. Created September 16, 2026. The retained 3504 × 2336 master and its generation record support all responsive renditions and interactive detail crops. No material species, product identity, manufacturer affiliation or test result is implied.