Written and reviewed by the A-Z Landscaping Design-Build Team Richmond Hill, ON12+ years · 380+ projectsUpdated June 10, 2026Cedar or composite? 2026 GTA deck prices per square foot, real lifespans in Ontario's climate, maintenance, building-code points and the 20-year cost comparison.
Quick answer: In the GTA in 2026, a professionally built deck typically costs about $40 to $60 per sq ft in pressure-treated wood, $55 to $85 in cedar and $70 to $120 in composite, including framing and footings. Cedar looks warmer and costs less up front but needs staining every two to three years and lasts roughly 15 to 20 years. Composite costs more but needs little more than washing and commonly lasts 25 years or more. Over 20 years, the total cost of the two is often closer than the sticker price suggests.
A deck is one of the most used parts of any GTA backyard, and the decking material is the decision homeowners debate most. Cedar has the natural warmth and smell of real wood. Composite promises a deck that looks good for decades without weekends spent sanding and staining. Both are good choices in the right situation. This guide compares them honestly for Ontario's climate, with current pricing, lifespans, maintenance and the building-code points that apply to either.
Cedar vs. composite: side by side
| Factor | Cedar | Composite |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost (per sq ft) | $55 to $85 | $70 to $120 |
| Typical lifespan in Ontario | 15 to 20 years with maintenance | 25 to 30+ years |
| Maintenance | Clean and re-stain every 2 to 3 years | Wash once or twice a year |
| Look and feel | Natural grain, warm, ages to silver if left untreated | Consistent colour, realistic wood-grain textures |
| Heat in full sun | Stays relatively comfortable | Darker colours can get hot |
| Splinters and rot | Possible as it ages | None in the boards |
| Warranty on boards | None beyond workmanship | Long manufacturer warranties are common |
Pressure-treated lumber is the budget option at roughly $40 to $60 per square foot. It is perfectly serviceable, especially for framing, but most clients choose cedar or composite for the visible surface.
Cedar decks: natural beauty with a maintenance schedule
Western red cedar is naturally resistant to rot and insects, light, dimensionally stable and beautiful. A new cedar deck has a warmth that synthetic materials still struggle to match, and it stays comfortable underfoot in full sun. Cedar is also easy to repair: a damaged board can be replaced with a fresh one and stained to match.
The trade-off is maintenance. Left untreated, cedar weathers to silver-grey, which some homeowners like. To keep its colour and protect it through Ontario winters, plan on cleaning and re-staining every two to three years, more often on surfaces in full sun. Over time boards can check, cup or splinter, particularly on horizontal surfaces where water and snow sit. Realistically, a well-maintained cedar deck lasts 15 to 20 years before the surface boards need replacing.
Thermally modified wood is worth knowing about as a middle ground. It is real wood heat-treated to improve stability and rot resistance, with a rich brown colour and better durability than untreated softwood. We use it often for privacy screens, cladding and premium decks.
Composite decks: higher upfront cost, minimal upkeep
Composite decking combines wood fibres and plastics, and the better products are capped with a durable polymer shell that resists fading, staining, scratching and moisture. You never sand or stain a composite deck. A wash in spring and autumn is usually all it needs. Composite boards do not rot, splinter or attract insects, and leading manufacturers offer long warranties on fading and staining.
The downsides are cost, heat and appearance. Composite costs more to buy and install. Dark colours can become hot in direct summer sun, so we usually recommend lighter tones or shade over south-facing decks. And while the best products look very convincing, composite is still a manufactured surface. For many families, though, the time saved over twenty years is worth far more than the difference in price.
The structure underneath matters more than the boards
Whatever you walk on, the frame and footings decide how long a deck lasts. Even composite decks are almost always framed in pressure-treated lumber. Key points for Ontario:
- Footings below the frost line. In the GTA that typically means concrete footings about 1.2 metres deep, or engineered helical piles. Decks set on surface blocks heave every winter.
- Joist spacing. Composite boards usually need joists closer together than wood, often 12 inches on centre, and closer still for diagonal patterns.
- Ventilation and drainage. Low decks need airflow underneath, and a membrane or joist tape protects the frame from water.
- Locate before you dig. Every footing should be located through Ontario One Call before excavation. We arrange this on every project.
Permits and code: what applies to GTA decks
Deck rules are set by the Ontario Building Code and enforced by each municipality. As a general guide, a deck more than 600 millimetres (about 24 inches) above the ground typically requires a building permit, and the code requires a guard on any deck surface more than 600 millimetres above the ground below. Zoning by-laws also control how close a deck can be to property lines and how much of the rear yard it can cover. Requirements vary between Toronto, Vaughan, Richmond Hill and other municipalities, so we confirm them for your address and prepare the permit drawings. Our guide to permits for decks, fences and retaining walls in Ontario goes into more detail.
What a typical GTA deck costs
For a 300 square foot ground-level deck with simple stairs and no railing, expect roughly:
- Pressure-treated: $12,000 to $18,000
- Cedar: $16,500 to $25,500
- Composite: $21,000 to $36,000
Raised decks with guards, glass or aluminium railings, wide stairs, built-in benches, privacy screens, pergolas and lighting add to these figures. Our decks and pergolas service page shows the full range of carpentry we build in-house.
The 20-year view
A cedar deck that costs $20,000 and needs professional cleaning and staining every three years, at perhaps $800 to $1,500 each time, accumulates several thousand dollars in maintenance over two decades, plus the likely cost of replacing surface boards toward the end of that period. A composite deck that costs $28,000 needs little more than washing. Over 20 years the totals often converge, and the composite deck still looks close to new. If you plan to stay in your home long term and value your weekends, composite usually wins. If you love natural wood, are happy to maintain it, or are working to a tighter upfront budget, cedar remains an excellent choice.
Which should you choose?
- Choose cedar if you want authentic wood, a lower upfront cost, a cooler surface in full sun, or a design that ties into cedar fencing, screens or a sauna, like the cedar details in our Richmond Hill backyard sauna project.
- Choose composite if you want the lowest maintenance, a consistent colour for decades, no splinters around children and bare feet, or a deck beside a pool or hot tub.
- Consider combining materials: a composite deck surface with cedar or thermally modified privacy screens gives warmth where you see it and durability where you walk.
Plan your deck with a 3D design
Deck size, height, stair position and how it connects to a patio or lawn are much easier to judge in 3D than on paper. At our free consultation we measure your yard and back door, and your photoreal 3D design shows cedar and composite options on your own home. Our own carpenters build every deck on proper footings, and the work is backed by a multi-year warranty. We build decks across the GTA, from Port Credit to Richmond Hill and Vaughan. Book your free estimate or call (416) 846-5893.
