If you’re thinking about pairing composite decking with aluminum railing, the best way to see what you get is a real before-and-after. This fall we tore out a tired wood deck behind a home in Apex, NC and rebuilt it from the footings up. The new deck has gray composite boards, a picture-frame border, black aluminum railing, and a new set of stairs. Below I’ll walk through what we found, what we changed, and why this combination of materials is one we recommend to so many Wake County homeowners.
The Before: A Wood Deck That Had Run Its Course
The original deck ran along most of the back of the house. It had stained wood boards, wood railings and balusters, a wide set of wood stairs, and lattice skirting around the base. From across the yard it looked fine. Up close, it showed what we see on most wood decks in the Triangle after years of summer sun and humid, wet winters:
- Stain worn off and blotchy across the boards, with bare gray wood coming through
- Uneven, weathered board surfaces and gaps
- Railings and stairs that needed constant upkeep to keep looking right
The homeowners didn’t want to keep sanding and re-staining every couple of years. They wanted a deck that looked sharp and stayed that way, and they wanted to update the look of the back of the house at the same time.
Why Composite Decking and Aluminum Railing?
When homeowners tell us they’re done with maintenance, we usually point them toward this pairing. Here’s how it compares to the wood deck it replaced:
| Original wood deck | Composite decking + aluminum railing | |
|---|---|---|
| Routine upkeep | Periodic sanding, staining and sealing | Occasional wash with soap and water |
| Rot and splintering | Wood boards and rails can rot, split and splinter | Composite boards and aluminum rails don’t rot or splinter |
| Color over time | Stain fades and wears unevenly | Color is built into the board; no stain to wear off |
| Railing look | Thick wood rails and balusters | Slim black balusters that keep the view open |
Aluminum railing also pairs well with composite visually. The black finish frames the gray deck boards and matches the dark trim and windows on many Triangle homes. Because the balusters are slim, you look through the railing instead of at it.
Tear-Out: Starting From the Ground Up
This wasn’t a resurface. We removed the old deck completely, including the boards, railings, stairs, framing and old posts. Then we dug new footings. That’s the step you never see in a finished photo, and it matters more than anything else. Composite boards and aluminum rails last a long time, so the structure underneath has to last just as long.
New Framing Built for a Composite Deck
Before demo, our team put together a full material list for the job, covering both the framing lumber and the composite and aluminum parts. With the new footings in, the crew framed the deck with new posts, beams and joists. Composite boards need the right joist spacing and a flat, solid frame to look and perform their best. This is where an experienced crew earns its keep, because a frame that’s slightly out of plane will show up later as wavy boards.
The After: Gray Composite Decking and Black Aluminum Railing
Compare this to the before photo from the same spot in the yard. The new deck has:
- Gray composite decking across the full surface, with no stain to wear off
- Black aluminum railing on the deck perimeter, with slim balusters that keep the yard view open
- New stairs down to the yard, finished with matching gray composite treads and black aluminum stair railing
- A dark fascia band along the deck edge that ties the railing and the decking together
- Horizontal board skirting around the base, replacing the old lattice for a cleaner, more modern look
The Details: Picture-Frame Border
One detail we love on composite decks is a picture-frame border, where boards run around the edge of the deck to frame the field boards inside. It hides cut board ends, gives the edge a finished look, and makes the deck look custom rather than off-the-shelf. You can see in the close-up how the boards are cut and fitted where they meet the border. Small cuts like these take extra time, but they’re what make a deck look finished.
Project Timeline
After the design and planning work over the summer, the build itself moved fast once the crew was on site:
- July: Site visit, measurements, design and material planning
- Mid-October: Full tear-out and new footings
- The next day: New framing underway
- Within about a week of demo: Composite decking, aluminum railing, stairs and skirting installed
- Final walkthrough: Our team walked the finished deck with the homeowner and checked the details
What the Homeowner Said
★★★★★
“Fantastic crew and top quality work. Highly recommended”
Chad S., Apex, NC · Google review, October 2026
We hear this kind of feedback often, and it always goes back to the crew. Thanks to everyone who worked on this deck, from the first estimate through the final walkthrough.
Is Composite Decking With Aluminum Railing Right for Your Home?
This combination is a strong fit if you:
- Are tired of sanding, staining and sealing a wood deck
- Want a clean, modern look with an open view of the yard
- Plan to stay in your home long enough to enjoy a long-lasting deck
- Have an older deck with framing or footings that also need attention, so a full rebuild makes more sense than resurfacing
If your existing framing is still sound, resurfacing with composite boards can be an option. If it isn’t, like on this Apex deck, a full rebuild is the better long-term investment. We’ll tell you honestly which one your deck needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put composite decking on my existing deck frame?
Sometimes. If the framing is structurally sound, flat, and spaced correctly for composite boards, resurfacing can work. If the framing or footings are worn out, as they were on this project, we recommend a full rebuild so the structure lasts as long as the new boards.
Does aluminum railing work with any composite decking color?
Yes. Black aluminum railing is the most popular choice because it goes with gray, brown and lighter composite tones, but other railing colors are available too.
How long does a deck rebuild like this take?
On this project, the crew went from tear-out to a mostly finished deck in about a week. Every project is different. Size, permits, weather and design details all affect the schedule, and we’ll give you a realistic timeline up front.
Do you serve areas outside Apex?
Yes. We build composite decks throughout Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Durham, Wake Forest, Garner, Clayton and the surrounding areas.
Ready to Upgrade Your Deck?
If your wood deck is starting to look like the “before” photo, we’d be glad to take a look and walk you through your composite decking and aluminum railing options. Schedule a free design consultation with Elite Xteriors NC.