Q: What trends do you see in our region with decking? Are dealers, contractors, or homeowners leaning toward any particular colors or styles?

A: “Like the rest of the building industry, blacks are more in style than they have been previously, and that includes decks. Believe it or not, NewTechWood carries an Indian Ebony, full black deck board that we’ve gotten excellent feedback on, and nationally, it was one of their strongest performers in the decking line in 2025. Also cooling technology, which we have in the Envision Line, but more on that later.”

NewTechWood Indian Ebony Color

Q: Can you describe the decking options available at Lensing that our dealers have access to? How do the two different brands compare and contrast with one another?

A: “Our Envision line has a Cool Tread board, in the Ridge Premium and Distinction profiles. The Ridge Premium Cool Tread has a three-sided cap stock, which protects against stains and scratching and is available at a slightly higher price point. They then have what’s called the Distinction line, which has no material removed. Envision Distinction has the same three-sided cap stock. The bottom is exposed, but the core of all Envision boards is made from Evergrain. Because of the manufacturing process, the core is impervious to water with or without the cap. The Evergrain board from Envision is a non-capped board, which works well around water because that cap is what retains a lot of the heat. That deck board has been named Consumer Reports’ Best Board five years in a row.”

A: “NewTechWood has two different board profiles. One has less material in it, so it’s a more price-conscious board. The higher-end board is a full profile board. The Monarch Series board is best used with hidden fasteners, and then the Bell Series board, customers can face screw through that board or use hidden fasteners. In NewTechWood, they have a full 360-degree cap in both boards that protects all sides from the elements. The cap allows for limiting stains, makes cleaning easier, and leads to less fading.”

Q: Are we introducing anything new this spring?

A: “We brought on Envision at the end of last year, so in some ways, it is a new offering for our customers in 2026. The blend of both lines has given us a full offering to homeowners. If a homeowner wants a 360-degree cap stock, we can provide that. If their friends have mentioned heat being a problem with composite decking, we’ve got something to address that need. If they don’t want any cap stock at all because they are building a dock, we can meet that need with a less expensive board. And across these lines, we really feel like we plugged most of the holes in our offering so that we can service whatever the homeowner’s priorities are on a particular job.”

Q: Decking season is quickly approaching. What recommendations do you have for Lensing dealers as they prepare for deck-building activities to pick back up this spring?

A: “We recommend stocking material, so that when your customer comes in and wants to buy their decking they can finalize the purchase. Stock some decking. It doesn’t have to be every color, and a ton of it, but you do want to be able to service at least a couple of jobs. In addition to that, make sure you have clips with hidden fasteners and the screws to support those colors. Secondarily, our decking manufacturers can provide takeoff services, so give us as much of a heads up as possible so we can get those takeoffs done and really dial in the quantity to match the job. Then, consider packages of outdoor materials. If you’re talking decking, think of our railing. Another recommendation for the dealers is that if you have some space, let us fill it with a no charge custom display.”

Q: We carry fully capped decking products from NewTechWood. Can you describe that product feature and how it benefits homeowners?

A: “NewTechWood used to have what was called the Voyager Board, but they’ve since moved away from that with the NewTechWood Bell Board. However, the idea of a 360-degree cap remains, which is going to limit environmental intrusion on your boards, such as rain and pollen. That cap stock is essentially acting as a shield against the elements. They’ve got a different manufacturing process that is key to their board’s success. Envision only caps on three sides, but they’ve got a compression technology process that pushes out the air that keeps moisture intrusion from happening. The manufacturing process makes them both perform exceptionally well. It all depends on your preference.”

Q: In the Envision line, we carry select colors with Cool Tread Technology. Can you describe Cool Tread Technology and how it improves a homeowner’s use of a deck?

A: “The Ridge Premium Cool Tread Technology from Envision will be a new introduction this spring. They’ve always had a Cool Tread Technology, but it’s been in the Distinction line. This Ridge Premium option will offer the Cool Tread technology at a lower price point to the customer. Cool Tread Technology has reflective material blended into the cap stock. As a result, the cap stock and Cool Tread Technology stays adhered to the substrate, and there’s no flaking over time like some competitors who have a reflective coating. Having a cap stock that reflects some of that heat away from the surface versus a non-cool tread option can help homeowners. The Cool Tread is up to 25% cooler. In the Ridge Premium, they have three colors of Cool Tread, which are Baja Tide, Kodiak Bay, and Silver Drift. We are going to stock them all. In the Distinction line, we stock three of the four colors, and those are Rockaway Beach, Seaside Pier, and Nantucket Shore.”

Q: What has your personal experience using NewTechWood been like at your home?

A: “We went with the Spanish Walnut, and it was the NewTechWood Voyager Board. I remember talking with the installers who did the deck install, and they loved working with the material. It looks beautiful, and it cleans up nicely. It’s been a great product, and I haven’t had a single issue since our deck was installed.”

Q: Do you have anything specific you would like to highlight about either NewTechWood or Envision?

A: “The combination of the lines has allowed us to kind of have something for each customer’s priority. The reason that we decided to partner with these two companies is that they put a big focus on getting the material sold. They run winter buys, provide a great deal of support as far as displays and samples, and are fantastic to work with. They understand that we need to create demand on the dealer end and are willing to support most anything so long as we get prior approval.”

Decking season is almost here. With the right inventory, knowledge of trends, and understanding of these product features, our dealers are ready to help homeowners create their perfect outdoor space. “Outdoor spaces are becoming more of a focus for homeowners, and quality materials can pay off. Both of our manufacturers make quality materials that we expect to last for decades. There’s strong support from the manufacturers for all manner of challenges, and we are willing to prioritize having our product specialist or outside salesperson at the job site on that first day so that we can ensure contractors can get off to a strong start,” noted Bret Lillich.