Year one: composite costs more
A 400 sq ft pressure-treated deck installs for roughly $6,000 to $9,000 in labor and materials. The same deck in Timbertech or Trex composite runs $14,000 to $20,000. The composite premium is real and worth understanding before you sign anything.
PVC capstock — Timbertech AZEK or Trex Transcend Lineage — sits at the top of the composite range. It's also where pool decks and high-traffic builds end up because of slip rating and color stability.
Years 2-7: wood eats your weekends
Pressure-treated and stained hardwood decks need re-staining every two to three years in Upstate humidity. Budget $400-$800 per re-stain plus your weekend. By year seven, you've spent $1,200-$2,400 in maintenance and somewhere around 60 hours of your time. Composite needs a power-wash twice a year. That's the entire maintenance.
Years 8-15: wood needs replacement
A pressure-treated deck in Upstate humidity typically needs board replacement around year 8-12. Stained hardwood (ipe, cumaru) lasts longer but costs more upfront. Composite is on its 25-year manufacturer warranty and looking the same as it did in year one.
The 20-year total
Wood deck (initial + maintenance + replacement): ~$15,000-$22,000 over 20 years. Composite deck (initial + minor maintenance): ~$15,000-$22,000 over 20 years.
The numbers are roughly even. The difference is what you don't spend: weekends. And what you don't worry about: warping boards, fading color, splinters, hot surfaces. For most Upstate clients, that's worth it.
Bottom line
Composite isn't 'cheap-out' material — it's a real performance upgrade backed by 25-year warranties from Timbertech and Trex. We pre-order specific colors at contract because supplier lead times can stretch. Your color won't be out of stock when you need it.