Deckorators mineral base (MBC) vs Clubhouse PVC decking, How Do They Compare?

When comparing Deckorators’ mineral-based-composite (MBC) decking boards with Clubhouse PVC, there are 5 key characteristics to consider.

  • Appearance
  • Slip Resistance
  • Price
  • Warranty
  • Durability

How do Deckorators and Clubhouse PVC decking compare?

Clubhouse is better than Deckorators for slip resistance and more decking colours to choose from. Whereas Deckorators has a slightly better warranty and is more affordable than Clubhouse’s decking.

But we will need to go a little further into this before concluding which composite decking is right for you.

Comparing how much they differ from each other.

If it’s not a clear-cut answer. What are my reasons for considering one better than the other? To see if you agree with my conclusion, could they be understood differently? Or does my reason not matter for your deck?

A good example is appearance.

I have my reasons why I think Clubhouse is going to look better on your deck, but you may not share my values of what make a deck board look good.

So let’s get into it, starting with where Clubhouse PVC is better than Deckorators.

How is Clubhouse PVC Better than Deckorators Decking?

Of these 5 key performance matrices for evaluating decking, Clubhouse is better than Deckorators for.

  • Slip Resistance
  • Appearance with more colours

Clubhouse did not win many in our comparison but surprisingly, considering how well Deckoroators (MBC) performs for slip resistance. Clubhouse still came in as the winner for traction.

Deckorators VS Clubhouse PVC for Slip Resistance

Slip resistance is invaluable for enjoying your deck. No one (except maybe my kids) wants to slide out on their deck.

You want good traction keeping you on your feet as you dance around the grill or help gramma to her chair.

 DryWet
Clubhouse PVC 0.970.86
Deckorators (MBC) 0.73-0.74 0.66-0.69
Slip resistance

Deckorators (MBC) and Clubhouse exceed the minimum requirements of CCMC for flooring traction of 0.5. What is so amazing is how much extra grip Clubhouse has.

Clubhouse is phenomenal for traction, putting it near the top of the best slip-resistant composite brands. Opens in a new tab.

Deckorators VS Clubhouse PVC for Appearance

Well, this one is a little more subjective. But here I will give my reasons, and you will need to evaluate them to see if you come to the same conclusion.

To start, Clubhouse has more colours, with 10.

  • Hardwood Collection (6 colours)
  • Earthtone Collection (4 colours)

Compared to Deckorators with only 8 colours spread over two lines.

  • Voyage (MBC) Decking (6)
  • Vault (MBC) Decking (2)

They do have a specialty Picture Frame board measuring 21’ long in Dark Slate. A nice complementary board but limited in application.

Beyond colour is a little more subjective and depends on what you are looking for in a deck board.

  • Wire-Brushed vs Cathedral Wood Grains
  • Hair Texture vs Deep Grain Embossing
  • Variation vs Consistent Colouring
  • Streaking over Solid Colour

With these, you are best holding a sample in your hand and figuring out which is best for you.

Who am I to tell you wire brushed is better when you like catherderal wood grains?

Find your sample in the colour you like, and hopefully, the finish is good for you.

How is Deckorators Better than Clubhouse PVC Decking?

For our 5 areas of comparison, Deckorators is better for.

  • Price
  • Warranty

Price is a clear winner. Warranty is closer, but once reading the details, it becomes clear. Who is better?

Deckorators VS Clubhouse PVC Price

Math is great because it has clear-cut right and wrong answers.

I like price comparison for the same reason.

Average Price per Lineal Foot
 Deckorators (MBC)$5-5.50
Clubhouse Earthtone Collection$7-8.00
Clubhouse Hardwood Collection$9-11.00
Average Price of Decking

It doesn’t matter which Deckorators decking you buy. It will cost less than Clubhouse. How much money you will save depends on which line you compare it to.

The Clubhouse hardwood collection will cost you almost twice as much. But even the more basic Earthtone collection is considerably more than Deckorators.

For a 12′ x 12′ deck, the difference between installing Deckorators Voyage (MBC) or Clubhouse Hardwood collection is $1 716. For a small deck that is a significant amount of money.

With Clubhouse, you get an acrylic cap, which has some significant advantages which we will get to, but for your money. The most budget-friendly of the two is Deckorators mineral based composite.

Deckorators VS Clubhouse PVC for Warranty

A debatable category. None have the best decking warranty in the market

  • Clubhouse PVC Decking 25-year
  • Deckorators 25 years fade & stain, 50 years structural

For fade and stain, we are tied.

Deckorators does have an advantage for structural. But really, who wants an ugly-looking deck?

They are both pro-rated.

Clubhouse warrantyOpens in a new tab. has a slight advantage. 100% replacement for the first 10 years.

Where Deckorators’ warrantyOpens in a new tab. 100% replacement ends at year 6. And it doesn’t match again till year 12. But always lags behind a few years after that. Matching for a few, then slightly behind, then matching again. Overall, the material replacement warranty will pay less for more years.

Labour warranty.

Deckorators include a 25-year labour warranty. Yes, it’s pro-rated also, but at 10 years, they will cover 80% of the labour cost to replace the failed boards. The first 6 is 100%

Labour is a huge part of the cost of building a deck. Making this super valuable.

Compared to Clubhouse no labour warranty.

Despite Deckorator prorating shrinking faster, with the labour portion, they pull ahead for a better warranty. Along with their decking being guaranteed not to break for 50 years.

For this reason, I put Deckorators as the winner for warranty.

Deckorators VS Clubhouse PVC for Durability

This one is a toss-up.

Deckorators mineral based composite can be installed in water and has limited expansion and contraction. Increasing its durability with fewer things that will damage it.

On the other side of the coin.

Clubhouse is PVC, which has many advantages over traditional wood composites.Opens in a new tab. On top of that, Clubhouse is capped with Acrylic. Which is considerably more resistant to wear. Increasing the durability of their decking.

Like I said, a toss-up for durability.

Deckorators vs Clubhouse PVC for Decking Core Performance

The heart of the matter, the decking core we have two very different products.

Decorators (MBC), like the name, says it’s composed of minerals and virgin polypropylene. The addition of minerals gives it some key advantages.

  • 34% better traction
  • 35% lighter than traditional composites
  • Virtually no thermal expansion or contraction
  • Warrantied for installation in the ground or water
  • Nothing for mould and fungi to grow on

The minerals do make it harder to cut. You can still use standard woodworking tools, but it does not cut as easily and will need additional time to file the edges smooth.

But virtual no expansion and contraction as the temperature rises and falls, opening up possibilities for unique decking patterns and inserts. Designs that cannot be done with Clubhouse when allowing for expansion and contraction.

Plus, Deckorators can be installed near and in water and not void its warranty.

Clubhouse decking is a solid-core foamed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) extrusion with an acrylic cap layer.

Combined with its KORELite technology for additional strength. Working like an I Joist. Stronger material on the top and bottom to make the overall decking stronger.  

But deflection tests do not significantly differ under pressure from other composite boards. Maybe more than PVC decking but not wood base composites.

Compared with Deckorators strengthened with mineral composite, Clubhouse is more rigid at higher temperatures. Below freezing is the reverse, with Deckorators deflecting less when walked on.

Deckorators is also slightly thinner (7/8″0) compared to Clubhouse. Which measure a full 1″ thick.

For flame spread ratings, they both are class B. With only a slight difference, with Clubhouse scoring 70 in flame spread, Deckorators 100. The lower the number, the slower the fire spreads.

Conclusion

Despite being a close comparison here, Deckorators did earn a spot on best composite decking list Opens in a new tab.due to its minimal expansion and contraction.

Clubhouse did not, but that does not mean it is a bad board. The competition for PVC boards is fierce. Clubhouse has many great features, slip-resistance from its acrylic cap being one of them. But its price does move it out of many homeowners’ budgets.