Costs
Composite vs. Pressure-Treated Decking: Which Is Actually Cheaper Over 20 Years?
Over 20 years, the total cost of a composite deck and a pressure-treated deck in Toronto ends up surprisingly close. Pressure-treated wins upfront (roughly $30 to $50 per sq ft installed vs. $60 to $90 for composite), but two decades of staining, sealing, and board replacement narrows or erases the gap. If you'll own the home 10+ years, composite usually wins. If you're selling within 5, pressure-treated is the rational choice.
The 20-year math on a 12x16 deck (192 sq ft)
| Pressure-treated | Composite | |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost (2026) | ~$7,000 - $12,000 | ~$12,000 - $18,000 |
| Staining/sealing | $300-500/yr DIY materials, or $800-1,500 every 2-3 yrs done professionally | $0 |
| Board replacement (yrs 10-15) | $500 - $2,000 for cupped/split boards | Rare |
| Realistic 20-year total | ~$13,000 - $20,000 | ~$12,500 - $18,500 |
| Deck condition at year 20 | End of life or close | Mid-life, structurally sound |
The line that matters most is the last one. At year 20 the pressure-treated deck has cost about the same and is done; the composite deck has another decade in it.
What each material is actually like to live with
Pressure-treated. Real wood underfoot, takes any stain colour, easy to repair board by board. The cost is the maintenance cycle: skip two staining seasons in a Toronto freeze-thaw climate and boards start cupping, checking, and splintering. It also moves: expect some twisting and raised grain as it dries in place.
Composite (Trex, TimberTech and similar). Wash it in spring, done. Modern capped composite resists fading and staining well and handles freeze-thaw better than wood. Tradeoffs: it runs hotter barefoot in full sun, spans require slightly tighter joist spacing (a framing cost people forget), and the cheapest composite lines from a decade ago gave the category a bad reputation that current products don't deserve.
The hybrid option nobody markets
Pressure-treated frame with composite decking and railings is the standard smart build: nobody sees the frame, treated lumber substructure is code-proven and economical, and every surface you touch or look at is low-maintenance. Almost every "composite deck" quote you'll get is priced this way. Full composite/steel framing exists but rarely justifies itself on residential jobs.
When pressure-treated is genuinely the right call
- Selling within ~5 years: you won't be there for the maintenance bills, and buyers don't pay a full premium for composite.
- Rental properties: lowest capital cost, and repairs are cheap and local.
- Ground-level platforms you may reconfigure: don't put premium boards on a deck you might move.
- You actually enjoy the annual stain-and-beer ritual. Some people do.
When composite wins clearly
- You're staying 10+ years.
- The deck is large (maintenance cost scales with area faster than material premium does).
- Second-storey or hard-access decks, where every future maintenance visit is expensive.
- You want a specific modern aesthetic (grey tones, picture-frame borders, hidden fasteners).
Honest disclosure from our own sales table: pressure-treated wins this conversation more often than the industry marketing would have you believe. Clients usually arrive assuming PT is the unreliable budget option, and it's partially true that composite outlasts it on paper, but a pressure-treated deck that's actually maintained on schedule gets remarkably close over its life, at a much lower entry price. So we don't sway people either way. We lay out both numbers, the honest maintenance reality, and how long they plan to stay in the home, and let them decide. Plenty choose composite; plenty run the math above and happily choose wood.
FAQ
Does composite decking look fake? Entry-level lines can. Mid-range and up capped composite with varied grain is hard to distinguish from stained wood at any normal distance.
Can I put composite boards on my existing wood frame? Often yes, if the frame is sound and joist spacing meets the composite manufacturer's spec (frequently 16" or less, sometimes 12" for diagonals). We assess the frame first; re-decking over a good frame saves thousands.
Is cedar a middle option? Yes: prettier than pressure-treated, more dimensionally stable, roughly $50 to $75 per sq ft installed, but it still wants periodic finishing and doesn't reach composite's lifespan.
What about PVC decking? Fully synthetic, the top of the market ($80 to $110 per sq ft installed), lifetime warranties common, best-in-class stain and moisture resistance. Worth it for premium builds and rooftop decks.
Compare both materials for your exact size: our estimator prices your deck in pressure-treated and composite side by side. Get your estimate →