MoistureShield Vs TruNorth Rice Hull Composite Decking

When comparing MoistureShield and TruNorth decking boards for the best composite decking, it is essential to take into account five key characteristics.

• Appearance
• Slip Resistance
• Price
• Warranty
• Durability

Is MoistureShield decking or TruNorth decking right for you? Learn how these two popular composite brands stack up against each other to make an informed decision.

When compared to TruNorth decking, MoistureShield offers more benefits, including improved slip resistance and a longer warranty, in addition to several additional colour choices. Despite this, TruNorth composite decking is an excellent value for your money.

To make the best decision for your composite decking, we’ll need to consider our options thoroughly.

How do they compare to each other?

Is there a clear conclusion, or could the comparison be interpreted differently? Are my reasons for favouring one over the other make a difference for your deck, or are there more important factors to consider?

A prime example of this is decking appearance.

While I think that TruNorth will have an aesthetically pleasing appearance on your deck, you may not share the same preferences in regard to what makes decking attractive.

Let’s dive in and discuss the advantages of TruNorth over MoistureShield.

How is TruNorth Better than MoistureShield?

Of the five performance factors for evaluating decking, TruNorth outperforms MoistureShield in.

•  Price

Not being the cheapest but offering the most options at the best price.

MoistureShield VS TruNorth Price

The cost of composite decking is an important factor to consider when choosing decking.

TruNorth is in the middle compared to MoistureShield. Vision will cost you more. Even compared to TruNorth’s Acuspan solid boards.

But MoistureShield also offers a more economical option, their Elevate line. With its scallop bottoms, they will often cost less than TruNorth Envirboard, which has hollow cylinders.

Overall, when comparing costs between MoistureShield and TruNorth, MoistureShield has the edge with their budget-friendly Elevate line.

But for middle-of-the-road pricing, TruNorth is less expensive than MoistureShield’s Vision boards.

Plus, they have more colour options to choose from.

Giving TruNorth an edge for price, unless you want the cheapest. Then MoistureShield Elevate is the way to go.

How is MoistureShield Better than TruNorth Decking?

MoistureShield is a brand of composite decking that has been designed to be more resistant to moisture damage than traditional wood decking.

This also gives it advantages over TruNorth’s rice hull composite.

With superior.

• Slip Resistance
• Warranty
• More Decking Colour Options

Let’s break these down and explore each of them.

MoistureShield VS TruNorth for Slip Resistance

Decking slip resistance is a key quality to consider when selecting composite decking.

Neither brand has the best slip resistance of composite decking.

	Dry	Wet
Vision®	0.35	0.78
Elevate™ (MoistureShield Data)	0.69	0.63
TruNorth	0.57	0.53
Vantage™	0.33	0.38

MoistureShield’s capped composite offers better slip resistance compared to TruNorth.

Interestingly Vision is better when wet but drops significantly when dry.

The most consistent for slip resistance are Elevate and TruNorth. Having roughly the same traction when both wet and dry.

Elevate is slightly better but still with consistent traction.

MoistureShield’s uncapped Vantage composite decking is the poorest-performing decking among the 2 brands.

The good news is MoistureShield and TruNorth both exceed the Canadian Construction Materials Centre’s (CCMC) minimum slip resistance rating of 0.5 for composite decking, making them both a great option for keeping you safe on your deck in any condition.

MoistureShield VS TruNorth for Warranty

When it comes to composite decking, warranty is a factor that should not be overlooked. MoistureShield and TruNorth both offer long-term warranties covering the fading, staining and structural.

I consider MostureShield as having one of the best composite decking warranties on the market. With Vision excelling in length and coverage.

Length of Warranty

• TruNorth- 25 years fade, stain, & structural

All MoistureShield’s decking is backed by a 50-year structural warranty.

But they do vary in length for fading and staining.

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

An exception of MostureShield is their uncapped Vantage line. It is warranted against structural failure but has no warranty against fading or staining.

Labour Warranty

MoistureShield has a limited labour warranty. 2 years replacement for Plus Contractors, increasing to 5 years for Premier Contractors.

Compared to TruNorth, which has no labour warranty.

Giving one more reason, MoistureShield might be a better warranty choice.

Prorating

The amount that each company pays out for warranties varies depending on the age and type of claim.

For structural warranty claims.

MoistureShield provides a prorated replacement for the life of the warranty. A full 50 years.

A prorating that is reduced by 2% per year after the first 1 year. Leaving you with only 2% coverage by year 49.

The biggest difference between the 2 companies’ warranties is year 10. TruNorth will payout 100%. Compared to MoistureShield, which pays only 90%.

But after this, MoistureShield’s longer warranty becomes more advantageous.

By year 14, MoistureShield’s slow depreciation is at 74%, but TruNorth has dropped to 60%. It only gets better from there.

By year 26, TruNorth’s warranty has run out, but MoistureShield is still at 52%.

Overall, MoistureShield’s longer structural warranty and slower depreciation provide more value for the lifetime of the deck.

Fading and Staining Payout

Both brands are now closer than ever with a 100% coverage guarantee for the first 10 years!

But MoistureShield’s longer warranty becomes its advantage again.

Less with Elevate’s 30 years but still paying roughly 10% more than TruNorth.

Compared to Vision, the difference is even greater. At year 26 it still pays out 60% with TruNorth down to 0%

MoistureShield and TruNorth offer different warranties when it comes to composite decking. MoistureShield has the advantage of a longer structural warranty, with 50 years, compared to 25 from TruNorth. MoistureShield also offers limited labour coverage for 2-5 years, depending on the contractor level.

Plus, structurally, MoistureShield prorating is reduced by only 2% per year.

All things considered, MoistureShield provides better value overall due to its superior warranty.

MoistureShield VS TruNorth for Appearance

I want to start by acknowledging the subjective nature of this topic from the outset.

But still, realize that appearance plays an essential role when it comes to selecting a decking.

In fact, many salespeople have noted that aesthetic is the number one determining factor when selecting composite decking.

This is evidenced by stores having sample boxes and wall displays to help people to evaluate the best decking option.

To start off. Let’s consider colour.

How many colour options does each brand offer?

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.

MoistureShield Meridian™

• Citadel
• Shoreside
• Mariner

All 3 colours of Meridian include CoolTechnolgy.

Meridian features a subtle wood grain design that is less repetitive, creating an authentic and realistic look of real wood.

Compared to Vision, the wood grains are not as vivid; they appear softer and more delicate. Not only do they look different, but the texture is also notably distinct.

MoistureShield Elevate™

• Canoe
• Lake Fog
• Riverbank
• Alpine Gray

Meridian’s look-alike but with scalloped edges to cut costs.

MoistureShield Vantage™

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

An uncapped composite option. of Vision in wood grains appearance.

TruNorth, 2 collections, with 12 Colours.

TruNorth has 2 Collections, Enviroboard (6 hollow cylinders) and Acuspan (solid) of composite decking, all sharing the same 12 Colours.

Solid colours

• Stone Grey 
• Mocha
• Caramel
• Red Bordeaux
• Sand
• Brulee

Variegated colours  

• Ash Grey
• Tigerwood
• Amazon Grey 
• Tropical Walnut
• Brazilian Cherry
• Hazelwood 

I’m especially appreciative of TruNorth’s flexibility when it comes to the variety of colours they offer. It doesn’t matter if you prefer a solid board (Acuspan) or choose to go with the more economical hollow decking alternative (Enviroboard). Their colour options are the same. No need to pay more to get the colour you want.

Which decking looks best is ultimately subjective and depends on your own unique taste.

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

To truly find out which product is the best option for you, it’s often helpful to get your hands on a sample. Then you can see and feel the subtle difference between the two. And ultimately make the best selection for your outdoor deck project.

MoistureShield VS TruNorth for Durability

MoistureShield Decking Core

MoistureShield is an innovative composite material comprised of a blend of thermoplastic and wood fibres, offering unparalleled resilience to moisture.

Unlike other composite deck boards, this one stands out due to its encapsulating process, which guarantees that all red oak sawdust fibres are coated for moisture protection – hence their name. This makes them truly unique and far superior to many of their counterparts in the market.

MoistureShield is comprised of a rigid and chemical-resistant High-Density Polyethylene protective plastic to increase its durability, making it an ideal choice for moist environments such as docks, decks in the shade or at ground level.

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.

Regardless of what you believe is best.

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

MoistureShield may have the perfect decking board for you!

With its CoolDeck® Technology, it reduces up to 35% of heat emitted from the boards. Additionally, MoistureShield also provides a DiamondDefenseTM Coating increasing resistance against scratches and stains while reducing impact damage.

Maximize the longevity of your gorgeous deck with increased durability.

What is TruNorth Composite Made of?

TruNorth’s composite is a combination of Arkansas rice hulls and recycled (95%) high-density polyethylene with UV inhibitors. Unlike wood fibres, rice hulls absorb less moisture which reduces the risk of mould or rot. The durability is higher than other types of composites due to its greater resistance to impact damage than comparative wood fibres.

• Cooler boards with Heat Blocking Technology*
• Capping on all 4 sides, Decorators is only capped 3 sided
• Reversible boards with Wood grain texture on top and bottom
• Low moisture absorption with rice husks

Flipping damaged boards is an often-overlooked yet immensely useful feature. Not only does it save time during construction from having to run out and exchange a perfectly good board due to minor forklift damage, but it also serves as an invaluable resource when dealing with minor scratches in the future. When you can flip a board instead of having to replace the board entirely.