When comparing TimberTech Azek PVC decking boards with Clubhouse form TruNorth PVC, there are 5 key characteristics to consider.
- Appearance
- Slip Resistance
- Price
- Warranty
- Durability
How do Azek and Clubhouse PVC decking compare?
Clubhouse has better slip resistance and durability than TimberTech Azek. But Azek looks better, is better priced with a longer warranty.
But we will need to go a little further into this before concluding which PVC decking is right for you.
Comparing how much do they differ from each other.
If it’s not a clear-cut answer, then what are my reasons for considering one better than the other. To see if you agree with my conclusion or if 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 Azek is going to look better on your deck, but you may not share my values of what makes a deck board look good.
So let’s get into it, starting with where Clubhouse is better than Azek.
How is Clubhouse Better than TimberTech Azek?
Of these 5 key performance matrices for evaluating decking, Clubhouse is better than Azek for.
- Slip Resistance
- Durability
Clubhouse has better traction and is more durable against decking wear than Azek.
TimberTech Azek VS Clubhouse for Slip Resistance
Clubhouse has better traction both when wet and dry.
I am aware that Azek claims “40% better slip resistance than many competitive composite products.” But after further research, it became apparent that is when compared to composite deck brands like Trex, which has descent traction but not eh level of slip resistance as Clubhouse.
| (Dry) | (Wet) | |
| Clubhouse | 0.97 | 0.86 |
| Vintage | 0.74 | 0.61 |
| Harvest | 0.28 | 0.59 |
To be fair, Azek has 3 collections which have different levels of slip resistance. Vintage is their best.
Harvest has the worse slip resistance worse.
I don’t have third-party testing results for Landmark. But field evaluation, I would put it near Vintage for slip resistance.
But regardless of which of Azek’s collections, Clubhouse is hand down has better slip resistance. In fact of all the composite decking, I have evaluated, Clubhouse has one of the best slip-resistance decking
.
As you can see, they are far above Azek. This is even more amazing for longitudinal testing they have a 1.0 rating from the Canadian Construction Material Centre (CCMC). Both wet and try. This is amazing, considering that CCMC considers 0.5 slip resistance for flooring acceptable.
TimberTech Azek VS Clubhouse for Durability
Clubhouse decking is capped with acrylic material. The same stuff that your car’s dashboard is made out off. A much more durable material than Azek’s cap of Alloy Armour Technology® (AAT). Which is good, just not as good as Clubhouses’ cap.
But it’s not all glory for Clubhouse.
How is TimberTech Azek Better than Clubhouse?
TimberTech a long-established PVC brand, has excelled in some key areas. When compared with some of the best composite decking brands on the market but in, particular Clubhouse.
Azek is better than Clubhouse for.
- Price
- Warranty
- Appearance
Price and Warranty are more clear-cut, appearance, as I said before, is more subjective.
TimberTech Azek VS Clubhouse for Price
Azek will cost you less than Clubhouse and gives you more options.
| Average Cost per Lineal Foot | |
| Harvest (Azek) | $5.00 |
| Landmark (Azek) | $6.00 |
| Vintage (Azek) | $7.00 |
| Earthtone Collection (Clubhouse) | $7.50 |
| Hardwood Collection (Clubhouse) | $10.00 |
Both are on the higher end when compared with other composite brands for price. This can be expected as most PVC boards cost more except Wolf Serenity.
But between Azek and Clubhouse.
Regardless of which Azek board you choose, it will cost you less. Saving you hundreds if not thousands of dollars on your backyard deck.
Not only will Azek cost you less they give you more options. With 3 collections, all with a different price ranges. Allowing you to select the right-priced board for your budget.
Whereas with Clubhouse only having two collections to choose between, you are more limited.
Getting slightly ahead of ourselves but Clubhouse Earthtone collection board appearance is simpler in colour than Azek’s Vintage of a similar price range.
TimberTech Azek VS Clubhouse on Warranty
None have the best decking warranty in the market, but Azek’s is close and therefore is better than Clubhouse.
Started with length.
- Clubhouse 25 years
- Azek 50-Years
Azek’s warranty is twice as long as Clubhouse’s.
Which also impacts its level of prorating.
At 23 years, Azek will pay 60% of the board’s cost if it doesn’t meet their standard.
Whereas Clubhouse is a mere 5% after 23 years.
The good news is for the first 10 years, when you will notice the most, their level of payout is the same 100%. But after that, you see a rapid change in your warranty coverage.
And if that was not enough, Azek includes the cost of labour to replace their defective boards.
Not it is subject to conditions, such as you are their approved installer and the length varies between installers.
But if you hire their approved deck builder, you can expect between 2 and 7 years of labour warranty. Not as long as the decking, but still far better than nothing.
Both combine to make Azek the winner for a better warranty.
TimberTech Azek VS Clubhouse for Appearance
Well, here I will give my reasons, and you will need to evaluate them to see if you come to the same conclusion.
Azek has more and better colours to choose from.
Clubhouse has 10 different decking colours
- Hardwood collection 6 colours
- Earthtone collection 4 colours
Azek has 1 more with 11 decking colours
- Vintage Collection 5
- Landmark Collection™ 3
- Harvest Collection® 3
The number is pretty straightforward. Azek has one more option for you to consider.
Better Colour?
Well, this 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
For my money, I think Azek has a better-looking deck board. Closer to imitating wood but with its own unique twist making it even better.
But if you say Clubhouse, no hurt feelings. We can still be friends, and I think your deck will look amazing. Nothing against Clubhouse but personal taste.
More Board Options
If you love variation in your decking. Azek is one for you.
Unlike Clubhouse, which has one 5 ½” board, Azek’s Vintage and Harvest come in multiple dimensions.
Vintage Width Options
- 3 ½”
- 5 ½”
- 7 1/4”
Harvest Width Options
- 5 ½”
- 7 1/4”
Harvest limits the additional wide 7 ¼” board to Brown Stone and Slate Gray but still an additional board size to integrate into your design.
Opening up the possibilities for your deck.
Whereas Clubhouse only has a 5 ½” board. Meaning no jumping around for your deck’s pattern. It will need to be all the same.
Azek Vs Clubhouse for Decking Core Performance
Clubhouse does claim additional strength for its KORELite technology, working like an I Joist. Stronger material on the top and bottom to make the overall decking stronger.
But when compared to Armadillo or Deckorators (WBC) it is not superior. In fact, Clubhouse is the middle of the road for Hardness test with a 771 lbs Janka ball bearing test. Similar to Trex composite decking and Douglas Fir wood. Good but not amazing.
Even their deflection rating. How much the decking bends under your feet when walking on it is similar to Azek decking.
One aspect that we have a clear winner is flame spread ratings. How fast will the fire move across your deck.
Azek is the best, with a class A rating (25).
Clubhouse trails behind with a class B (70) flame spread rating.
Both are better than most composite and wood decking with a class C rating (76-200). But strictly for flame spread, Azek is better.
Not when burning, but which one is cooler in the sun?
“30° cooler than competitive boards”
This statement is made by both brands. Which makes you ask who’s the “competitive brand”?
That’s a great question because, obviously, it’s not each other.
Field testing has not shown a dramatic difference. Shane from the Ultimate Deck Shop has done multiple field tests. The results have shown the colour of the deck board makes a much bigger difference in how hot the board gets than the “technology” in the board.
If you have an hour, you can listen to their results on YouTube by clicking the link below.
But both make the claim but on your deck, it may be better to set up two samples and see for yourself which one is cooler in the sun.
