Trex Company Class Action Lawsuit, What Happened, Who Was Covered, and What to Do If Your Deck Still Has Problems

Thousands of homeowners across the United States bought Trex composite decking expecting a low-maintenance, long-lasting product — and ended up with mold-covered, faded, and discolored boards within just a few years of installation. Consumers filed a consolidated complaint in December 2010 after many claimed that Trex’s first-generation, non-shelled wood-plastic composite decking, railing, and fencing products were defective and prone to mold spotting and color variation. The lawsuit resulted in an $8.25 million settlement.

The claim filing deadline for that settlement has passed — but complaints about Trex products are still pouring in from homeowners with newer installations, and many people do not realize there are still options available to them.

Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Defendant	Trex Company, Inc. (NYSE: TREX)
Case Name	Mahan v. Trex Company, Inc.
Court	U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
Settlement Amount	$8.25 million (plus $1.475 million in attorneys’ fees)
Products Covered	Non-shelled Trex composite decking, railing, fencing purchased Aug. 1, 2004 – Aug. 27, 2013
Preliminary Approval	August 19, 2013
Final Approval	December 2013
Claim Deadline	Closed
Settlement Status	Fully resolved — historical
Current Warranty Contact	Trex Company — 1-800-BUY-TREX

Why People Are Still Searching for This in 2025 and 2026

The original settlement claim period closed over a decade ago. So why is this still one of the most searched Trex topics today?

Because the problems never stopped. Homeowners with decks installed in 2006, 2011, 2015, and even 2023 and 2024 continue to report mold, warping, fading, and flaking — and when they search for help, they land on articles about the 2013 settlement. Many do not realize the claim window closed long ago. Others bought Trex’s newer “shelled” product line after the settlement and are now experiencing issues that they want addressed.

The audience searching this topic breaks into two groups: people who missed the original settlement and want to know if they can still do anything, and people with newer Trex decks who want to know whether a new lawsuit exists. This article addresses both.

What Was the Trex First-Generation Composite Lawsuit About?

Trex built its brand on the promise that composite decking was better than wood — less maintenance, more durable, resistant to rot and mold. For many customers who bought the company’s original non-shelled product line, that promise did not hold up.

The lawsuit alleged that certain Trex non-shelled wood-plastic composite decking, railing, and fencing products purchased between August 1, 2004 and August 27, 2013 were defective and susceptible to mold, mildew, fungal, or other dark or gray growth or spotting, or color variation or color fading, and that Trex had misrepresented the susceptibility of its products to such conditions.

Consumers pointed to Trex’s own 25-year warranty, which promised the decks would not suffer from material defects or fungal decay. Trex denied the allegations, insisting that the fungal damage was related to environmental factors not covered by the warranty.

The key issue was the product design itself. The affected products were “non-shelled” — meaning the wood-plastic composite material was exposed on all sides without a protective outer cap or shell. Without that protective layer, the boards absorbed moisture, allowed organic material to sit on the surface, and created the perfect conditions for mold and fungal growth. Trex’s newer product lines — Transcend and Enhance — added a capped shell around the composite core precisely to prevent these problems.

There Was Also an Earlier Trex Lawsuit: The Surface Flaking Case

The 2013 mold settlement was actually the second major Trex class action, not the first.

In March 2010, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted final approval to the settlement of a class action suit alleging that Trex decking products manufactured in its Fernley, Nevada plant between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2007 were susceptible to surface flaking. Two customers alleged their decks suffered from surface flaking and that Trex failed to provide adequate remedies.

In 2007, Trex had fully and publicly disclosed that a manufacturing problem affected a small percentage of product manufactured in its Fernley, Nevada plant beginning in 2003. The issue was entirely isolated to parts of the West Coast, only affected a small percentage of Trex decking materials produced in the Nevada plant, and has since been remediated.

Under that settlement, Trex agreed to fully honor its warranty by replacing product and to provide partial reimbursement of labor expenses to affected consumers, the amount of which depended on the size of the deck.

This earlier settlement covered a narrower, geographically limited group of homeowners on the West Coast. The 2013 settlement was nationwide and covered a much broader range of products and complaints.

Related article: Jaguar 2023 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport Brakes Fail Prematurely Class Action Lawsuit

What Did the 2013 Settlement Pay Out?

The $8.25 million settlement offered two primary forms of relief depending on how severely your deck was affected.

Tier 1 — Cash Payment: A one-time cash payment of $150 for class members whose products showed a qualifying level of mold growth or color issues.

Tier 2 — Rebate Certificate: A reimbursement of the cost of purchasing cleaning product at a flat rate of $18, plus a non-transferable payment certificate entitling you to a cash reimbursement equal to 40% of the retail price you paid to purchase certain new Trex decking and Trex-brand fasteners. This was designed to incentivize affected consumers to upgrade to Trex’s newer shelled product lines — Transcend and Enhance.

The total cost to Trex under the settlement was capped at $8.25 million plus $1.475 million in attorneys’ fees paid to plaintiffs’ counsel upon final approval.

Which Products Were Covered?

For purposes of the settlement, “Trex Product” was defined as Trex non-shelled wood-plastic composite decking, railing, or fencing material sold under the trademarks: Accents®, Accents Fire Defense®, Origins®, Brasilia®, Contours®, Profiles®, Traditional Railing, Designer Series Railing®, Seclusions®, or Surroundings®.

If your product was sold under one of those brand names and purchased between August 1, 2004 and August 27, 2013, it fell within the settlement class. Products purchased after August 27, 2013 — including Trex’s newer capped composite lines — were not part of this settlement.

The Claim Deadline Has Passed — What Are Your Options Now?

If you missed the original settlement or your deck problems started after 2013, here is what you can actually do today.

Option 1 — File a Warranty Claim Directly With Trex

Trex offers a 25-year limited warranty on most of its products. If your deck is within the warranty period and showing qualifying defects, contact Trex directly. Be specific about the problem, document it with photographs, and request a written response. Many homeowners report that Trex initially denies warranty claims — persistence and documentation matter.

Contact Trex at: 1-800-BUY-TREX or through trex.com/legal/classactionsettlement.aspx for ongoing settlement information.

Option 2 — File a BBB or State Attorney General Complaint

Recent complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau show homeowners with decks installed in 2024 reporting warping within less than a year, with Trex denying warranty claims on the basis that the joists “may not be level.” Filing a formal BBB complaint or a complaint with your state’s Attorney General consumer protection office creates an official record and sometimes prompts a company response that direct calls do not.

Option 3 — Consult a Consumer Protection Attorney

If Trex is denying a valid warranty claim, a consumer protection or product liability attorney can evaluate whether you have grounds for an individual or class action claim. Many offer free consultations. Given the volume of ongoing complaints about newer Trex products, new litigation is possible — and law firms actively monitor consumer complaint patterns for exactly this reason.

Option 4 — Join or Monitor New Class Action Developments

Class action law firms continue to actively investigate Trex decking mold complaints as recently as 2026. If a new class action is filed covering newer Trex product generations, it will be announced on law firm websites and court dockets. Signing up for updates at classaction.org or through a consumer protection law firm keeps you notified if a new case opens.

What Trex Said — And What It Means

“Our decision to settle the case is by no means an admission of any of the allegations made by the plaintiffs,” said Ronald Kaplan, chairman, president and CEO of Trex. “Trex has steadfastly denied any liability and we were fully prepared to defend our position. We strongly believe we would have prevailed; however, we settled on terms that we feel benefit both our consumers and Trex. This settlement allows our company to avoid additional expensive, time-consuming litigation and to focus on delivering innovative products.”

This language is standard in class action settlements and does not mean Trex admitted fault. It does mean the company calculated that settling was less costly than fighting — a calculation that thousands of unhappy customers likely see differently.

Key Dates

Milestone	Date
First Surface Flaking Lawsuit Settled	March 2010
Mold/Color Lawsuit Filed	December 3, 2010
Class Period Opens	August 1, 2004
Class Period Closes	August 27, 2013
Preliminary Approval of 2013 Settlement	August 19, 2013
Final Approval Hearing	December 13, 2013
Claim Deadline	Closed
Ongoing Complaints — Newer Products	2024–2026 (active, no new settlement)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Trex class action settlement still open? 

No. The $8.25 million settlement for first-generation composite products purchased between August 1, 2004 and August 27, 2013, is fully resolved and the claim filing deadline is closed. If your Trex deck was purchased after August 2013, this settlement does not apply to you.

My Trex deck is warping and growing mold — what can I do? 

Start by filing a warranty claim directly with Trex at 1-800-BUY-TREX and document everything with photographs and written communication. If Trex denies your claim and you believe the denial is unjustified, consult a consumer protection attorney. Filing a BBB complaint also creates a formal record that can support future legal action.

Is there a new Trex lawsuit for decks installed after 2013?

 No formally filed and settled class action exists for post-2013 Trex products as of April 2026. However, class action attorneys continue to investigate complaints about newer-generation Trex products. Monitor classaction.org and hbsslaw.com for updates.

Does this lawsuit apply to Trex Transcend or Trex Enhance decking? 

No. The 2013 settlement specifically covered non-shelled products — the older generation sold under names like Accents, Origins, Brasilia, and Profiles. Trex Transcend and Enhance are newer capped composite lines and were not included in the settled class.

Can I still sue Trex individually if I missed the class action?

 Potentially, depending on your state’s statute of limitations, the nature of your claim, and the specific products involved. Consult a consumer protection or product defect attorney in your state to evaluate your options. Do not assume that missing the class action deadline means you have no recourse.

Do I need a lawyer to file a Trex warranty claim? 

No. Warranty claims go directly to Trex and do not require an attorney. However, if Trex denies a valid claim, having an attorney write a demand letter often produces a different result than repeated consumer calls.

What were the specific products covered by the 2013 settlement?

 The settlement covered Trex non-shelled composite products sold under the trademarks Accents®, Accents Fire Defense®, Origins®, Brasilia®, Contours®, Profiles®, Traditional Railing, Designer Series Railing®, Seclusions®, and Surroundings® — purchased between August 1, 2004 and August 27, 2013.

Last Updated: April 13, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. The claim filing deadline for the 2013 Trex settlement is closed. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified consumer protection or product defect attorney in your state.