MoistureShield Vs TimberTech Azek PVC decking, Is Moisture Performance the Only Difference?

Comparing MoistureShield with TimberTech Azek PVC Decking

When comparing MoistureShield decking boards with TimberTech Azek there are 5 key characteristics to consider.

  • Appearance
  • Slip Resistance
  • Price
  • Warranty
  • Durability

How do MoistureShield and TimberTech Azek decking compare?

Overall MoistureShield decking is more slip resistant than Azek, but there are exceptions. Plus, MoistureShield is priced to be more affordable than TimberTech Azek. Two advantages of Azek over MoistureShield are appearance and warranty.

These are not always clear winners.

Like I already alluded to.

Slip resistance, you need to compare individual lines, not brands, as the results do differ.

Requiring a much more in-depth look to determine which one is right for you.

So let’s get into the details comparing TimberTech Azek with MoistureShield.

How is TimberTech Azek Better than MoistureShield?

TimberTech Azek is better than MoistureShield in 2 of these key areas.

  • Appearance
  • Warranty

MoistureShield VS TimberTech Azek for Appearance

This is very subjective, and I want to acknowledge that to start, but because appearance is so important in decking.

In fact, talking with decking salespeople, it is often thee key deciding factor.

Just the fact that stores have sample boxes and displays lining walls shows the importance of appearance.

Let’s start with colour.

How many colours does each brand have?

MoistureShield has 4 lines with 18 colours.

MoistureShield Vision®

  • Smokey Gray
  • Spanish Leather
  • Sandstone

These 3 include CoolDeck Technology

  • Cathedral Stone
  • Mochaccino
  • Cold Brew

Vision has colour options and textures that reflect the look of real hardwood. Not in the fashion of Zuri with a photo imageOpens in a new tab. but plastic formed to imitate hardwood.

MoistureShield Meridian™

  • Citadel
  • Shoreside
  • Mariner

All 3 colours of Meridian include CoolTechnolgy.

Meridian has a low-profile wood grain pattern with less pattern repetition evoking the look and feel of real wood.

Compared to Vision, the wood grains are less pronounced with softer, more subtle wood grains. Both in looks and feel.

MoistureShield Elevate™

  • Canoe
  • Lake Fog
  • Riverbank
  • Alpine Gray

Similar in appearance to Meridian but scalloped to reduced cost.

MoistureShield Vantage™

  • Bridle
  • Cape Cod Gray
  • Earthtone
  • Seasoned Mahogany
  • Walnut

An uncapped versionOpens in a new tab. of Vision in wood grains appearance.

TimberTech Azek 3 lines, with 11 colours.

The Vintage Collection® (PVC)

  • Coastline®
  • Dark Hickory
  • English Walnut®
  • Mahogany
  • Weathered Teak®

Wire-brushed finishes with a high blending of colours.

The Landmark Collection™ (PVC)

  • Castle Gate™
  • American Walnut®
  • French White Oak

The look of reclaimed wood with cathedral wood grains. A wide spectrum of colours on each board.

The Harvest Collection® (PVC)

  • Slate Gray
  • Brownstone
  • Kona®

Cathedral wood grain patterns

So at first blush, MoistureShield has more colours, 18 vs 11.

Which is partly right.

When strictly focusing on TimberTech Azek, there are less colours, but if we look at the larger brand TimberTech including Pro and Edge, increases the total to 25 colours.

But here, we are strictly focusing on TimberTeck PVC core boards Azek. Because the material performance is significantly different.

Therefore for colour options, MoistureShield has more.

But there are things to appearance beyond colour.

Decking Options

Azek is unique, with 2 of their collections offering multiple deck widths.

Vintage Width Options

  • 3.5″
  • 5.5″
  • 7.25″

Harvest Width Options

  • 5.5″
  • 7.25

Increasing variety in decking design patterns and layouts. Breaking up the monotony of equal board widths.

But there are more subjective characteristics, depending greatly on what you appreciate, that contribute to appearance.

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

MoistureShield has a very distinct finish compared to almost all composite deckingOpens in a new tab., including Azek.

Because of this, we favour the look of Azek over MoistureShield. Appreciating its appearance more.

But it is entirely possible that you appreciate the distinct look of MoistureShield. If so, it’s the one for you.

Or there is another aspect that attracts you to MoistureShield regardless of its appearance.

MoistureShield VS TimberTech Azek for Warranty

MoiatureShield and TimberTech Azek both have good warranties, but neither has the best composite decking warranty in the market.

Azek’s warranty is consistent and includes all the important things like fading, staining and structural for the full length of the warranty.

  • Azek PVC 50 years

MoistureShield is a little more complicated.

To start, all their lines are backed by a 50-year structural warranty.

The length of fade and stain warranty differs by line.

  • Elevate™ has a 30-year warranty
  • Meridian™ has a 40-year warranty
  • Vision® has a 50-year warranty

With the exception of Vantage, which has no warranty against fading or staining.

Which once was standard now, Vantage is the exception being an uncapped composite deckingOpens in a new tab..

But without the protection against UV, fading can be expected with Vantage. Thus no warranty against it.

Another small difference between the two companies warranties is staining.

Yes, both warranty against staining of their capped decking.

But the difference is how much time you have to clean up spills to prevent stains.

With TimberTech Azek, you have 48 hours, 2 days. To clean up the spill or the warranty is void.

Whereas MoistureShield gives you an additional 5 days for a full week to clean up the spill.

So you can have a deck party late into the night.

Crawl into bed.

Forget about your deck till next weekend.

When you notice the drops of wine by the barbeque.

Spay it off, and if it doesn’t come out.

The warranty will cover that.

Making MoistureShield stain warranty slightly better.

Prorating

How much each company warranty payouts differs by age and type of claim.

For structural warranty claim.

If the board fails by doing one of the following, splitting, cupping, splintering, blistering, peeling, flaking, cracking, rotting or structural damage from termites or fungal decay.

Azek’s structural warrantyOpens in a new tab. will provide replacement boards or refund the price of the failed boards for the life of the warranty. 50 years.

Where MoistureShield’s structural warranty is prorated for 50 years.

Meaning every year, you enjoy your deck.

MoistureShield reduced the warranty payout by 2% for structural problems.

Meaning by year 50, they will only pay out 2% of the price of the decking.

Where Azek will still payout 100%.

Not as drastic by this comes into pay beginning with year 2. When the payout is already reduced down to 98% of what you paid for the decking.

Fading and Staining Payout

Here both brands are closer. With 100% coverage for the first 10 years.

And in MoistureShield case, this concludes all 3 capped decking lines.

Of course, Elevate™ and Meridian™ with shorter fade and stain warranties decrease quicker.

Vision® and Azek’s with equal warranty lengths. Prorating is equal.

With an equal warranty, there is only one part that differs.

Labour Warranty

New to warranties but with the cost of installation sometimes as much as the decking.

TimberTech Azek includes labour costs between 2 and 7 years. Depending on what TimberTech products are included on your deck and the status of the TimberTech-approved installer.

Not as long as the rest of the warranty, but compared with MoistureShield.

“This Structural Warranty covers MoistureShield composite decking replacement components only, and does not cover installation or replacement labor or any additional costs which might be incurred”

MoistureShield WarrantyOpens in a new tab.

It offers a lot more in warranty.

This, combined with a full structural warranty, makes TimberTech Azek the better of the two.

How is MoistureShield Better than TimberTech Azek Decking?

There are a few items that MoistureShield is better at.

  • Slip Resistance
  • Price

MoistureShield VS TimberTech Azek for Slip Resistance

Often overlooked but essential to staying on your feet is decking slip resistance.

The level of traction varies by brandOpens in a new tab. and as we see with MoistureShield and Azek lines.

 DryWet
Vision®0.350.78
Elevate™Opens in a new tab. (MoistureShield Data)0.690.63
Azek Vintage (PVC)0.74 0.61
Azek HarvestOpens in a new tab. (PVC)0.280.59
Vantage™0.330.38
MoistureShield Traction InfoOpens in a new tab.Opens in a new tab.

When it’s raining on your deck, except for their uncapped Vantage provides better slip resistance.

Interestingly, when dry, when you will spend the most time on your deck, Azek Vintage is superior.

With above-average grip when wet.

If we were comparing only Azek Vintage and MoistureShield, you could argue because of its dry traction rating. It is the better one.

But as a whole, comparing MoistureShield’s Vision and Elevate with Azek’s Vintage and Harvest. MoistureShield has better traction, both when wet and dry.

MoistureShield VS TimberTech Azek Price

Regardless of why you choose a particular decking, you will have to pay for it.

How much will depend on brand and line.

Lineal Price
Elevate$2.75 – 4.00
Vintage$3.50 – 4.00
Vision (CoolDeck) $6.00 – 6.50
Azek Harvest$6.00 – 6.50
Azek Landmark$7.00 – 8.00
Azek Vintage$8.00 – 9.00

Here MoistureShield excels by offering more boards at a lower price than Azek.

Elevate being the lowest-price option costing almost half of Azek’s cheapest alternative.

But even Vision with Cool Deck technology MoistureShield’s best board cost less. Equal to Harvest Azek’s cheapest board.

Overall, MoistureShield is better priced.

MoistureShield VS TimberTech Azek for Durability

Azek and MoistureShield, made from different materials, differ in durability.

MoistureShield Decking Core

MoistureShield is a wood-based compositeOpens in a new tab., a combination of thermoplastic and wood fibres.

Unique compared to many other composite deck boards is their encapsulating process.

Where they ensure every fibre of red oak sawdust is coated to protect it against moisture damage. Hence their name.

With MoistureShield composite, the plastic protecting the wood is High-Density Polyethylene. A rigid and chemical-resistant plastic. Adding to MositureShield’s durability.

Especially in high moisture areas, like a dock or ground-level deck. Or even a north-facing deck in the shade.

TimberTech Azek Decking Core

Azek is PolyVinyl Chloride (PVC) decking at its coreOpens in a new tab. with all the advantages that PVC provides.

Not containing any organic material, the potential for moisture damage is zero.

But PVC is less rigid than High-Density Polyethylene.

This is why on hot days, Azek will flex more when you walk over it compared to MoistureShield.

Interestingly on cold days, Azek PVC will deflect less. Giving you a more rigid feeling walking on your deck in winter. The difference is not as significant as hot days but still is different.

Both brands’ decking cores do not require protection from moisture, but decking capping does add to their decking performance.

MoistureShield Decking Cap

MoistureShield is all over the deck (Map) when it comes to capping.

  • Vision® and Meridian™ capped all 4 sides.
  • Elevate capped 3 sides.
  • Vantage is uncapped.

So regardless of what camp you subscribe to.

  • A board should be entirely protected.
  • The core needs to breathe, releasing moisture with an uncapped side.
  • Caps just add to decking cost.

MoistureShield has a board for you.

A cap feature that MoistureShield includes on some of its deck lines is “CoolDeck® Technology,” promising to reduce the heat of the decking by 35%.

Also, some boards are further protected by DiamondDefenseTM Coating. Increasing resistance to scratches, stains, and impact damage. Helping the boards to look good for longer.

TimberTech Azek Cap

Azek is capped similarly to Vision® and Meridian™ all 4 sides, including inside the groove.

They to promise to be cooler, but this is more a claim of PVC than the cap.

Similar to MoistureShield premium boards, Azek includes “Alloy Armour Technology® (AAT).” To further help protect their decking against wear and accidental damage.