A deck is the highlight of the outdoor look of your house—that’s why choosing the right material really matters. A wrong choice will mean that you’ll have to live with it for years to come. So, you want a clear picture of upkeep, cost, and comfort before you swipe the card.
This guide breaks down the real costs, maintenance demands, and long-term value of composite vs. wood decks, with clear examples and practical numbers to help you make an informed decision.
What We Mean by “Wood Decking” and “Composite Decking”
Wood decking in most neighborhoods means pressure-treated pine. In some regions, you’ll see cedar, redwood, or tropical hardwoods, but pine still covers the bulk of suburban decks.
Composite decking blends plastic and wood fibers (Trex is the household name, but many brands exist). Boards arrive pre-colored, capped with a tough shell, and shaped to hide fasteners.
Think of composite as the frozen pizza of the deck world: all the toppings are already baked in. Wood is the scratch-made pie—amazing when fresh, but needs attention to stay that way.
Up-Front Cost: Premium vs. Minimalist
| Material | Board-only price (sq ft) | Installed price (sq ft)(Labour varies) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated pine | $3 – $6 | $15 – $25 | Cheapest path to a code-compliant deck |
| Mid-grade composite | $5 – $13 | $22 – $38 | Price jumps with color streaking and hidden-clip systems |
| Premium composite boards (Trex, Transcend, etc.) | $10 – $15 | $30+ | Wider profiles, richer colors |
A 300-sq-ft pressure-treated deck might cost around $6,000, including labor. The same size in composite decking costs closer to $10,000 to $15,000, depending on the brand and trim pieces. The gap feels big—until you factor in maintenance.
Maintenance: Saturday Projects vs Lazy Sundays
Wood Deck:
- Needs washing plus a stain or sealer every one to three years.
- Supplies run $30–$50 a season for a simple water repellent on an average deck, plus your time, or $2.25–$5.00 per sq ft if you hire it out.
- Plan on replacing a few warped or rotten boards by year ten.
Composite Deck:
- Rinse with soapy water when pollen or spilled barbecue sauce shows up.
- No sanding, sealing, or splinter patrol.
- Most brands warn against pressure washers above 3,100 psi, but that’s about it.
So, choosing between a wood deck and a composite deck becomes easier – if you enjoy the smell of stain and don’t mind a yearly maintenance effort, wood can work. If you’d rather watch the game, Composite keeps your weekends clear.
Lifespan and Durability
| Factor | Wood (treated pine) | Composite |
|---|---|---|
| Typical life in service | 15 – 25 yrs (longer with perfect care) | 25 – 50 yrs depending on brand |
| Common failure | Rot, insects, splinters | Fading to very dark colors after decades |
| Annual repairs | Loose nails, cracked boards | Rare—often limited to accidental damage |
That longer run time shifts the wood vs composite deck math. Trex estimates repair costs of $2,000–$5,000 over 25 years for a standard wood deck, compared to almost none for a composite deck. Add stain every few seasons, and the lifetime spent starts to even out.
Look, Feel, and Temperature
Wood wins on warmth—nothing beats real grain under bare feet. Over time, though, pine turns silver-gray unless you keep up with stains. Cedar and redwood hold color longer but cost more.
Composite boards come pre-colored, from beach-house taupe to dramatic charcoal. Some cap layers now show varied streaking, so individual boards don’t look cookie-cutter. Dark composite can feel hotter at noon than wood, but lighter shades stay tolerable.
Quick note on traction: Top composites carry slip ratings similar to painted wood, so around pools, either material still needs a mat when it’s wet.
Environmental Impact
Wood decking is renewable, and many mills follow sustainable forestry rules. Yet each seal-and-stain cycle involves chemicals and solvents.
Composite decking often diverts plastic bags and sawdust from landfills. Trex boards, for example, use up to 95% recycled content, the equivalent of 340 million pounds of plastic film a year. The trade-off: you can’t toss composite in a chipper when you’re done—it needs special recycling streams.
Neither option is perfectly “green,” but composites keep trash out of oceans, while wood stores carbon naturally. Pick which benefit matters more to you.
Real-World Example: the “Five-Year Itch”
Imagine two neighbors, Al and Bea:
Al chooses pine for $6,000. By year five, he had spent another $1,200 on stain and minor fixes.
Bea picks mid-grade composite for $11,000. She’s spent $100 on soap and a soft brush.
Even if lumber prices stay flat (spoiler: they won’t), Al’s cumulative costs won’t catch up to Bea’s until well into year twenty. And that’s not counting his time spent sanding splinters. In the long run, the composite still starts to look like a bargain.
Pros and Cons of Composite Decking
| Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | ● Low upkeep
● Long warranty ● No splinters ● Consistent color |
● Higher initial cost
● Can feel warmer in direct sun ● Harder to recycle locally |
Pros and Cons of Wood Decking
| Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | ● Lowest entry price
● Natural grain & scent ● Easy to trim on site |
● Needs regular sealing
● Splinters & rot risk ● Color fades quickly |
Climate, Lifestyle, and Budget – How to Decide
Choose wood if…
- The up-front budget is tight.
- You like DIY projects and already own a power washer.
- You live in a dry climate where rot is slow.
Go composite if…
- You’d rather host a cookout than restrain spindles.
- Freezing winters or humid summers attack wood where you live.
- You’re building curved details or a low-to-grade platform where moisture persists.
What about Trex vs Wood Deck, Specifically?
Trex is the poster child for composites, with warranties up to 25 years on its top lines. Compare that with untreated pine, which can cup, check, and invite termites inside a decade without care. If brand reputation, recycled content, and long warranty sway you, Trex tips the scale toward composite in the discussion of Trex vs wood deck.
Final thoughts
There’s no single right answer in the composite decking vs wood decking discussion. A well-sealed cedar deck can look gorgeous for 30 years, while a quality composite surface may pay you back in weekends saved and paint rollers unused. List the tasks you enjoy (or dread), check your climate, tally the true 25-year cost, and the choice will usually reveal itself.
