How much does a composite deck cost compared to pressure-treated in New Brunswick?

Composite decking costs roughly 80 to 100 percent more than pressure-treated lumber upfront in New Brunswick, with composite running $45 to $75 per square foot installed compared to $25 to $40 per square foot for pressure-treated. However, when you factor in the ongoing maintenance costs that pressure-treated wood demands over a 15 to 25 year lifespan, the total cost of ownership gap between the two materials narrows considerably.

To illustrate the difference with a real-world example, consider a popular 12x16 deck, which is 192 square feet. In pressure-treated lumber, this deck costs $4,800 to $7,700 installed in New Brunswick. The same deck in composite runs $8,600 to $14,400. That is a difference of $3,800 to $6,700 on day one, which is a significant amount of money for most homeowners. Scaling up to a larger 16x20 deck at 320 square feet, pressure-treated comes in at $8,000 to $12,800 while composite runs $14,400 to $24,000.

The pressure-treated price advantage begins to erode the moment the deck is finished, because maintenance starts almost immediately. A new PT deck should be left to weather for several months before its first stain application, but after that initial treatment, you are looking at restaining every two to three years in New Brunswick's climate. Professional staining costs $3 to $6 per square foot, so that 12x16 deck costs $576 to $1,152 every time it is stained. Over a 20-year period, assuming staining every three years, you will spend roughly seven rounds of staining at a total cost of $4,000 to $8,000. Add that to the initial build cost and your pressure-treated deck has cost $8,800 to $15,700 over two decades, which overlaps significantly with the composite deck's one-time installed cost.

Composite decking requires almost no maintenance beyond occasional cleaning with soap and water or a pressure washer on a gentle setting. There is no staining, no sealing, no sanding of splinters, and no replacing boards that have cracked or warped from moisture cycling. Modern capped composite products from manufacturers like Trex, TimberTech, and Fiberon come with 25 to 50 year warranties against structural defects, fading, and staining, which provides genuine peace of mind that pressure-treated lumber simply cannot match.

It is worth noting that not everything about a composite deck is composite. The substructure, meaning the posts, beams, joists, and blocking that support the deck surface, is still built from pressure-treated lumber regardless of what decking material goes on top. This is true across the industry in New Brunswick and everywhere else. So when a contractor quotes you for a composite deck, roughly 30 to 40 percent of the materials cost is still pressure-treated lumber for the hidden framing. The composite premium applies specifically to the decking boards, stair treads, fascia, and sometimes the railing system.

The labour cost component is similar for both materials, running $25 to $45 per hour in the New Brunswick market, though composite installation can take slightly longer because the boards require specific fastening systems, precise gapping for thermal expansion, and more careful handling to avoid scratching the finished surface during construction. Labour typically represents 40 to 60 percent of the total project cost for either material.

For New Brunswick homeowners planning to stay in their home for ten years or more, composite is generally the better long-term investment. If you are building a deck on a tight budget, plan to sell within five years, or genuinely enjoy the hands-on maintenance of staining and caring for a wood deck, pressure-treated remains an excellent and proven choice. Both materials, when properly installed with adequate footings and code-compliant framing, will serve you well through New Brunswick's demanding four-season climate.

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