Planning on Building or Resurfacing a Deck?
Frequently Asked Questions
Tanzite is made from a blend of natural stone powder and carefully controlled moisture, which is then compacted under extreme pressure into molds to create each piece. After molding, the surface pattern and non-slip texture are applied, and the pieces are kiln-fired at temperatures exceeding 2,900°F. While the process shares similarities with porcelain manufacturing, Tanzite is uniquely engineered with specific enhancements throughout production to ensure superior durability and performance outdoors.
The primary difference between our Rainier and Appalachian Collections lies in their installation methods. The Rainier Collection features a free-floating system that is installed over a subfloor and waterproof membrane, providing added protection and flexibility. In contrast, the Appalachian Collection is designed to be installed directly onto deck joists—similar to traditional composite decking—eliminating the need for a subfloor or waterproof layer.
The Tanzite stones were man-made stone. The stone is basically made the same way mother nature would, with an incredible amount of heat and pressure that literally melts it into a perfect stone, Similar to how man-made diamonds are made.
As you know, everything heats up under the summer sun—but Tanzite warms up much more slowly than composite decking and never reaches the same high temperatures as similarly colored composites. That said, just like wood, darker colors will absorb more heat. So if heat retention is a major concern, opting for a lighter color is your best bet. To help you decide, you can order samples of actual Tanzite stone pieces in every color and test them yourself before making a final choice.
Tanzite STONEDECKS are made from natural stone—and let’s be honest, stone is incredibly durable. That’s why we confidently back our product with a limited lifetime warranty.
Tanzite Return Policy.
You can return any Tanzite product, excluding EPDM membrane, for any reason within three months of receiving your order. Any products returned must be undamaged and in their original bundle/bag/carton. All returned products are subject to a 15% restocking fee. All shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer.
*Please note that EPDM membrane is not refundable as it is specifically cut for your project.
Damaged Product.
Every Tanzite STONEDECKS shipment is fully covered by shipping insurance. To ensure a smooth claims process, please follow these steps on the day your order is delivered:
1. Before opening the shipment, take clear photos of the entire pallet or package.
2. Inspect all items for damage.
3. Document any damage with photos and count the number of affected pieces.
4. Send the photos and damage report to our team as soon as your inspection is complete.
For full details, visit our return policy page at Tanzite.com/returns.
Tanzite is extremely durable once installed, but occasional minor damage—like a small chip or edge flaw—can happen during shipping. Despite our best efforts to prevent it, this affects about 1 in every 30–35 boards. These boards are usually still useful for cut pieces or hidden areas, so material waste is minimal. However, if you're unable to use a damaged board, just let us know and we’ll refund you for that piece.
Extra Product
Please ensure that you are ordering enough extra product to account for waste, potential differences in the final deck's layout, or even slight measurement errors. Tanzite pieces aren't light or small, so shipping even just a few extra boards can often cost more than the boards cost themself, plus it will add delays to your project while you wait for them to arrive. If you do need additional pieces, they can be ordered at Tanzite.com/shop-tanzite. Note that Tanzite does not cover any shipping costs if you need extra pieces.
See the full Return Policy below.
Tanzite Appalachian Collection installs just like a typical grooved composite deck board with hidden fasteners. It can be installed on a standard wood deck frame with 12", 16", or 24" joist spacing.
Tanzite Appalachian Collection weighs 9.05lbs per square foot.
There are 7 colors in our Appalachian Collection, Silver Maple, American Walnut, Driftwood, White Ash, and Aged Teak.
You can order samples here. The samples are cut from actual pieces of the final product, so the samples are the same material, size, texture, etc. as the planks you'll get for your deck!
The cost of the Appalachian Collection is almost always right around $10.00/sqft (USD). This includes edge pieces, groove pieces, and clips. Appalachian Collection prices change very little, if at all, from one deck size/layout to the next.
The foam underlay is already attached to each tile. This means the Tile is insulated from the floor, keeping the floor warmer and softer feeling than a traditional tile. It also allows installation over uneven surfaces, or surfaces that flex.
EPDM rubber gaskets connect the pieces securely together so they interlock, yet remain flexible. This replaces the grout and makes installation easy for any DIY'er.
It also makes the "grout" easy to clean, and makes the tile installation removable, if needed. The flexible connection accepts movement, allowing placement over cracked concrete, flexible floors and outdoors where ice can move the tiles.
Tanzite Rainier Collection weighs 9.1lbs per square foot.
Rainier comes in exciting colors to match your customized design
Stone-like colors:
● Black Granite
● Carrara Marble
● Cinnamon
● Sierra Gray
Wood-like colors:
● White Oak
● Walnut
● Aged Cedar
You can order samples here. The samples are cut from actual pieces of the final product, so the samples are the same material, size, texture, etc. as the planks you'll get for your deck!
The cost of the Rainier Collection is usually around $15/sqft (USD). This includes bullnose pieces, flat pieces, screws, polymeric sand, and the EPDM membrane. Rainier collection prices vary more significantly than Appalachian Collection prices depending on the deck size and layout.
You can order your package online here. If you're unsure of what you need, or what color(s) you want, send a sketch of your deck, with dimensions and a few photos of the space to design@tanzite.com and we will create a custom 3D concept and itemized materials estimate for you! Please include your preferred color(s) and note on the drawing which side(s) of the deck is against the house. Once you've selected your preferred color(s), you can use the appropriate estimate to order online, or through the Tanzite rep that has been helping you with your concepts and estimates!
Packing times vary throughout the year but we do our best to package and ship orders within 5 business days (Monday - Friday) from the time you place your order. That way if you place an order over the weekend, or on Monday, your order is on it's way towards you by the end of the week!
US and Canadian orders ship from our warehouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Orders East of the Rocky Mountains typically take 1-3 days to arrive at their final destination from the time they're shipped. Orders West of the Rocky Mountains take about 4-6 days to arrive at their final destination from the time that they're shipped.
All European orders ship from our warehouse in Spain, typically taking 3-7 days to arrive at their final destination from the time that they're shipped.
All shipments details are confirmed/finalized prior to the shipment leaving the warehouse. No orders, aside from sample boxes, are shipped without confirmation.
Our standard shipping fee covers shipping from our warehouse to our partners trucking terminal nearest you. If you would it delivered right to your house, let us know and we will get pricing for that. You just pay the cost difference between the quote to ship to the terminal vs the quote to ship to your house, we don't mark this up for you so you just pay the same difference that we pay. Otherwise, you can pick it up yourself from the terminal or hire a third party to pick it up and deliver it to your house from the trucking terminal for no additional charge.
