What is the 25-year total cost of Trex versus pressure-treated wood in New Brunswick?

Over 25 years, composite decking like Trex typically costs less than pressure-treated wood when you factor in NB's brutal maintenance demands — but the math depends heavily on your deck size and how disciplined you are about upkeep.

Let's run the numbers on a common 12x16 deck (192 sq ft) — a realistic mid-size project for a New Brunswick backyard.

Upfront Installation Costs

Pressure-treated lumber runs $4,800–$7,700 installed for a 12x16 deck in NB. Call it $6,000 as a realistic midpoint. Trex (mid-range like Enhance or Select) runs $8,600–$12,300 installed for the same deck — call it $10,000. So you're starting roughly $4,000 behind with composite.

The Maintenance Gap Is Where PT Gets Expensive

This is where New Brunswick's climate changes everything. With 100+ freeze-thaw cycles per year, Maritime humidity, and intense UV summers, pressure-treated wood needs real maintenance — not optional touch-ups.

Pressure-treated maintenance over 25 years:

• Power wash + restain every 2-3 years = roughly 9-12 staining cycles


• Each cycle on a 192 sq ft deck: $600–$1,200 professionally done, or $150–$300 DIY (product + time)


• Professional staining over 25 years: $5,400–$14,400


• DIY staining over 25 years: $1,350–$3,600


• Board replacement (warping, cracking is common after year 10-15 in NB): $500–$2,000


• PT total over 25 years: $12,000–$25,000+ (professional) or $7,500–$12,000 (diligent DIY)

• Annual cleaning: garden hose or occasional power wash — roughly $0–$200/year in product


• No staining, no sealing, ever


• Trex Enhance carries a 25-year fade and stain warranty


• Trex total over 25 years: $10,000–$14,000 (installation + minimal cleaning)

The Honest Bottom Line

If you hire professionals for maintenance, Trex wins clearly — often by $5,000–$10,000 over 25 years. If you're a committed DIYer who will actually restain every 2-3 years without fail, PT can come close to breaking even, but most NB homeowners miss maintenance cycles, and that's when PT deteriorates fast.

There's also the time cost — a proper PT deck staining takes a full weekend including prep, washing, drying time, and two coats. Over 25 years, that's potentially 10 weekends of your summer.

NB-Specific Factors to Consider

NB's freeze-thaw cycles are especially hard on PT boards — water infiltrates the wood grain, freezes, and splits boards from within. Composite handles this far better because there's no wood grain to absorb moisture. If your deck faces north or sits in shade (common in Fredericton river lots or Saint John's hillside properties), PT deteriorates even faster due to persistent dampness.

One important note: composite still needs PT framing underneath. The joists, beams, and posts should always be pressure-treated — composite is for the decking surface and railings only. Make sure your contractor is quoting full PT substructure regardless of which decking material you choose.

Need help getting accurate quotes for both options side by side? New Brunswick Decks can match you with local builders who'll price out both materials so you can make the call with real numbers for your specific project.