Pressure-Treated vs. Composite Decking: Cost Compared Over Time

By Anthony Hudson · Updated August 11, 2026 · 5 min read

Pressure-treated (PT) lumber costs less than half of composite upfront, but needs re-staining every 2–3 years; composite costs more initially and needs essentially no maintenance for 20-25 years.

The upfront gap

PT decking: $2–$4/sq ft. Composite: $6–$12/sq ft — roughly 2-3x the material cost. For a 200 sq ft deck, that's an $800–$2,000 price difference at build time.

The maintenance math that closes the gap

PT decks need cleaning and re-staining every 2–3 years to prevent graying, splintering, and rot — our stain calculator sizes that recurring cost. Over 20 years, that's 7–9 staining cycles at $150–$400 in materials and a weekend each time: roughly $1,000–$3,600 in lifetime maintenance cost that composite simply doesn't have.

The honest verdict

Short ownership horizon (selling in 5 years) or tight upfront budget: PT wins. Long-term ownership, especially if you value weekends back: composite's total cost of ownership often comes out even or ahead once maintenance is counted — plus it never needs staining, splinters, or gray with age.