Deck material choices: How 4 options compare

how does the price for composite decking compare to treated wood?

Hinjiniom,

Here's what McCoy's lumber team had to say on the subject:

In general, composite decking costs 2 to 4 times as much as treated lumber. Yet that first glance difference does not mean that a composite deck costs 2 to 4 times more than a treated deck. Over a 10-to-15 year period, a composite deck may cost the same or less than a treated deck.

A composite deck varies from a treated deck primarily by virtue of the difference in the deck surface. Both treated decks and composite decks share similar joist and post structures. The joists and 4x4s are typically treated lumber with joists spaced 16" apart. The main difference will be the deck surface, and possibly the railing system if one is utilized. Given that the support structure is roughly the same cost on a composite deck as on a treated deck, the total cost of the deck might be 1-1/2 to 2 times as much as a purely treated deck.

But that is not where the comparison should end. A treated deck needs maintenance at least once per year, consisting of a power wash and sealer application. UV rays will cause the color of the treated deck to fade, so tints need to be in the sealer. This once-a-year maintenance has a cost that mounts as time goes on.

The composite deck still needs maintenance, but that is typically a power wash once or twice a year.....no sealer, no tint, no labor with someone on their knees. Over a 10-15 year period, that difference in maintenance cost can amount to $1-3 a square foot...less than the cost of the up charge from treated to composite.

There is no such thing as a maintenance-free deck. The maintenance costs of treated decks over time make the composite deck a real value, if the deck purchaser can afford the initial outlay.

The railing system on a composite deck is typically the budget-busting part of a composite deck. Treated lumber could be used, or cedar, but composite railing is far more appealing and performs far better than traditional wood. Traditional wood railing will lose its nice appearance within a few years of installation, regardless of maintenance efforts. Composite railing systems are very expensive and exceed treated costs by 3 to 5 times, but finish out a composite deck with superior performance for the long haul.