Comparison
| Product | Diamond Decking | Redwood and Cedar | Philippine Mahogany (Shorea Group) | Trex Wood polymer Lumber | CCA Southern Yellow Pine |
| Description | The ultimate grade standard, your assurance of the world's premier decking. Richly figured, fine, elegant hardwood beauty | Sold in several grades. Quality and performance vary accordingly. Typical rustic softwood markings including significant knots and sapwood in most grades | Consists of several different woods, none of which are botanical related to true Mahogany (Swietenia). quality and performance varies according to the species and grade | Product uniformity dependent upon the manufacturing process and mix of raw materials utilized | Most common of all construction woods, available in several grades, most containing knots and sapwood. Rustic in appearance, weathers poorly, often replaced due to an unacceptable appearance |
| Coloration | Warm russet brown tones with golden highlights | Varies. Light colored sapwood contrasts sharply with the darker heartwood | Varies greatly from dark red to much lighter pieces | Depends on the product's original hue and the effect of local exposure conditions | Takes on a greenish tinge after CCA treatment, some treatments artificially add other colors |
| Texture | Fine and even | Fine and even | Moderately coarse but even | N/A | Coarse and brittle |
| Grain | Closed and tight | Open and porous | Open and porous |
N/A |
Open and porous |
| Seasons to: | The classic "driftwood" silver gray | Silver gray with a tendency for pieces containing extractives and knots to blacken with exposure | Silver gray | N/A | Gray |
| Dimensional Stability | Stable, weather resistant | Of all grades, "Clear Heart Vertical Grain" is the most stable | Moderate, varies by species | Dependent on both temperature and moisture conditions | Low stability. Shrinkage, cupping, twisting, and splitting are common |
| Maintenance: | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Low | High |
| Fire Rating (NFPA Class): | A | B-C | B-C | N/A | C-D |
| Resistance to Insects and Decay | High | Medium | Medium | High | Variable-dependant on quality and acceptance of treatment |
| Movement in service | Low | Low-medium | Medium | Variable | High |
| Weight in lbs (/cubic foot) | 66 | 19-25 | 28 | 60 | 37 |
| Bending strength (psi) | 26,300 | 5,200-10,000 | 11,300 | N/A | 14,500 |
| Modulus of Elasticity (psi) | 3,310,000 | 940,000-1,340,000 | 1,630,000 | 100,000 | 1,980,000 |
| Hardness (psi) | 3,670 | 260-480 | 680 | N/A | 870 |