Composite vs Cedar: Which Deck Is Right for a Northwest Yard?
In the Pacific Northwest, composite decking costs 20% to 35% more to build than cedar but usually costs less to own over fifteen years once refinishing and board replacement are counted, and the gap widens in shade. Cedar wins on upfront price, natural look and feel, and in sunny, airy yards where it dries quickly and an owner is willing to oil it every few years. This tool runs both for your deck.
Cedar vs composite, for your deck
Get a Free Design & Quote — we will bring samples of both.
Get a Free Design & QuoteThe short answer by yard type
| Yard | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Full sun, deck at least 2 ft off the ground, owner refinishes | Cedar | Dries fast, lasts, lowest total cost, best look |
| Partial sun, average airflow | Either; run the numbers | Close on cost; choice comes down to maintenance tolerance |
| Mostly shade, low deck, trees overhead | Composite | Cedar stays damp, moss and rot shorten its life sharply |
| Owner will not refinish | Composite | Unfinished cedar greys and checks; composite needs only washing |
| Short ownership (under 5 years) | Cedar | Lower upfront cost; the maintenance gap has not opened yet |
How the costs work over time
Cedar's upfront cost is lower, but it needs a penetrating oil every two to three years in this climate, and boards in damp areas need replacing as they cup, check or soften. Composite costs more on day one and then needs a wash once or twice a year. Over five years, cedar is usually cheaper. Over fifteen, the lines usually cross, earlier in shade and later in sun. Why shade and rain move them is in our builder’s guide to composite and cedar.
What the numbers do not capture
- Feel and smell: cedar is wood; for many owners that is the point.
- Heat: dark composite in full afternoon sun gets hot underfoot; cedar stays cooler.
- Appearance over time: cedar left unfinished turns silver-grey, which some people like; composite keeps its color with mild fading.
- Repairability: a damaged cedar board is easy to replace and finish to blend; a discontinued composite color can be hard to match.
- Framing: both sit on the same pressure-treated framing, which needs the same flashing and joist tape to last.
Sources and assumptions
Lifespans and refinish intervals reflect manufacturer guidance and Hans Construction's experience with Eastside decks. Composite warranty terms come from the published warranties of Trex, TimberTech and Fiberon; cedar grades follow the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association's grading descriptions.
Composite vs cedar questions
Is PVC better than composite?
Capped PVC is lighter, cooler underfoot and more resistant to staining, and costs more. In the comparison it behaves like premium composite.
Can I use cedar for the railing and composite for the deck?
Yes. A cedar cap rail on a composite deck is a popular combination: wood where you touch it, composite where you walk.
What about pressure-treated decking?
It is the cheapest option and the least pleasant to live with: it splits, checks and needs staining. We rarely recommend it for deck surfaces.
Will my composite deck look plastic?
Current capped composites have multi-tone grain that reads as wood from standing height. Bring your own judgment to the samples.
Still undecided? We will bring both to your yard and lay them where the deck will go.