Does the color of a Trex Fence fade or have variation?
The color of Trex Fencing fades to a degree through a natural weathering process. Color fading in general is a well known phenomena that occurs when plastic and pigments are exposed to UV light. To counter the full impact of sunlight, the product is over-pigmented during manufacturing and engineered to maintain pigmentation throughout its life. As a result of this practice, the fencing arrives significantly darker and in a different hue than it will be once it has had an opportunity to weather (this is particularly noticeable in Winchester Grey which has a brownish color when it is new). Trex engineers have worked with pigmentation over the years to set a specific color value during production to allow the product to fade from its original color to an intended lighter color which is still vibrant, attractive, and natural looking.
The majority of the fading typically takes a season of exposure to the sun. After initial weathering has occurred, any additional fading is minimal and Trex will retain color throughout its life. You can learn more by visiting Trex Fencing Colors on our website.
Note regarding variation: Some variation may exist between the individual components. This occurs because the recycled material in Trex composite comes from a variety of sources and can interact differently with the pigmentation. Variation is not considered a manufacturing defect and is not covered under warranty. To learn more, see our Trex Fencing Colors page. If you prefer to minimize variation, group pickets of similar hues.
Note regarding post caps: Post caps are not manufactured in the same facility as the rest of the Trex composite components. The raw material content and manufacturing of the caps is also a bit different than the rest of the fence. The caps are created with molds and therefore require a different formulation than the other components which are extruded. Because of the distinct ways the pigment is applied to the profiles as they are manufactured, the caps may look different when new than the rest of the fence. This difference is particular noticeable on a Winchester Grey fence when it is first installed but becomes much less visible as the fence weathers (example of a new fence with a new cap)
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To help you visualize what to expect, here are examples of weathering over time:
