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That singular American creation, the backyard deck, conjures up images of idyllic afternoons napping in a hammock or festive get-togethers around the grill and a tub of ice-cold beer. But maintaining that elevated expanse of lumber is a downright chore, what with all the scrubbing, bleaching, and staining that wood requires—not to mention the occasional replacement of a splintered, warped, or rotten board.

When the less demanding plastic-composite decking appeared on the scene in the 1990s, homeowners happily adopted it, despite the higher price and limited color selection (gray). A decade later, as companies began to offer new products that looked like fresh-cut cedar and Brazilian walnut but never turned gray, sales of composites took off. Last year's tally came to $1 billion. That kind of popularity represents a big boost for the environment, too, because most composites are made from waste: sawdust, used plastic milk jugs, and shopping bags. Every 20 feet of decking contains about 30 pounds of material that would have ended up in a landfill. Trex, the first and largest of the composite manufacturers, recycles 6 million pounds of plastic each year.

The fact that composites don't feel or look like real wood is beside the point. Once in place, they just do their job and don't need much more than an annual wash down, leaving you plenty of time to work on your nap.

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COMPOSITE DECKS

Deck installation costs

What’s the one thing that concerns everyone? Cost. For example, let’s use a basic deck that measures 14 by 20 with one set of stairs not more than 2 feet off the ground. Depending on the deck material you choose, the total installation cost including materials, permit, labor and haul away might look something like this:

Factoring in wood maintenance costs

Although the installation price for a composite is definitely going to be more than wood, the actual cost over time is a good deal closer. This is because wood decks require more maintenance. If you're willing to do the resealing and repairs yourself, a wood deck will still be cheaper, but if you're going to hire someone then it would be worthwhile to factor that future cost into your decision at the time when the deck is being installed.

Let’s say the same size treated lumber or cedar deck mentioned above costs $700 to stain the first year. You’ll need to stain it every two years thereafter. A stripping and sanding will be required every six years before you perform the annual deck stain, which will cost about $900 total.

If you’re maintaining your wood deck properly and hiring professionals to do so, I'd say that by the end of year eleven you will have spent more than $4,600 on maintenance, and you’ll still have a wood deck that may crack or splinter, whereas a deck with manmade materials will require little regular maintenance.

Although we tend to recommend composite decks, you need to decide for yourself what fits best for your home and situation. The best way to do that is to talk with a knowledgeable deck building professional that can ask you the right questions and help you make the best decision. Just be honest with yourself from the start about whether you're going to do the maintenance yourself. Contact us today for help.