This is the decision almost every deck project comes down to, and the honest answer is that neither one wins for everyone. Wood is cheaper to build and feels great underfoot. Composite costs more but skips the maintenance and lasts longer. Which is right for you depends on your budget, how long you are staying, and how you feel about a weekend of upkeep every spring.
Pressure-treated pine runs 15 to 25 dollars per square foot installed and cedar 20 to 35, while composite runs 30 to 60. If the up-front number decides it, wood is the cheaper build.
A wood deck in Texas needs cleaning and resealing every one to two years plus the occasional board swap. Composite needs little more than soap and water.
Quality composite commonly lasts 25 to 30 years or more; a well-maintained wood deck usually gets 15 to 20, less if the sealing slips.
Natural wood and lighter composite stay cooler in full sun. Wood has a warmth some people always prefer; modern composite looks convincingly like wood with more consistent color.
Choose wood if the up-front budget is tight, you love the feel of real wood, or you may move within a handful of years. Choose composite if you are staying in the home, you want to build once and stop maintaining it, and long-term value matters more than the initial price. There is no wrong answer, only the one that fits your situation.
Tell us how you use your yard and how long you plan to stay, and we will give you a straight recommendation, plus a free estimate for both if you want to compare.
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