Cedar vs Pressure Treated Wood

About Cedar Decks

Cedar is a beautiful and high-quality wood that is easily recognizable for its reddish-brown color. The wood contains natural preservatives, so , unlike pressure treated wood, it does not require any type of chemical treatment.

Cedar is ideal for people who love the look of natural wood and prefer not to use a dark stain or paint. It is naturally moisture resistant and insect resistant, but does require some regular maintenance to preserve the color. The average lifespan of cedar deck boards is about 15 to 20 years.

The price of cedar varies based on the size of the deck and difficulty of installation. Generally, budget about $32 to $37 per square foot – slightly less that you’d pay for wood composite decking but significantly more than pressure treated wood. Budget on the high end of that range (or more) if you’re opting for features such as benches and a railing.

Let’s say you’re planning to build a 16×20 foot deck: The total cost for cedar (based on teh price range above) would be $8,000 to $9,600.

Cedar Deck Pros

L??k – C?d?r h?? ri?h ??l?r ?nd a b??utiful gr?in ??tt?rn th?t i? unm?t?h?d b? ?r???ur?-tr??t?d w??d?. If ??u ?r?f?r th? l??k ?f n?tur?l w??d, ??d?r i? th? b?tt?r ?h?i??.

Dur?bilit? – C?d?r d???n’t ?b??rb m?i?tur?, whi?h l??d? t? ?hrinking ?nd twi?ting. Th? b??rd? t?nd t? ?t?? fl?t ?nd ?tr?ight. C?d?r i? ?l?? r??i?t?nt t? in???t? ?nd d????.

Cedar Deck Cons

M?int?n?n?? – C?d?r d??k? r??uir? ?ignifi??nt m?int?n?n??. T? ?r???rv? th? d??k’? n?tur?l ??l?r, ??u’ll h?v? t? ?l??n ?nd r????l it ?v?r? tw? ???r?. Ev?n th?n, th? ??l?r will f?d? ?v?r tim?.

Pri?? – C?d?r ??n ???t ?b?ut twi?? ?? mu?h ?? ?r???ur?-tr??t?d w??d.

S?ftn??? – C?d?r i? a ??ft w??d. Ov?r tim?, high tr?ffi? ?r??? ?u?h ?? th? ?t?ir? will w??r d?wn.

About Pressure-Treated Decks

Pr???ur?-tr??t?d w??d d??k? ?r? ?ff?rd?bl? ?nd l?ng l??ting. Th? v??t m?j?rit? ?f ?r???ur?-tr??t?d d??k? ?r? m?d? with S?uth?rn ??ll?w ?in?, a r?l?tiv?l? in?x??n?iv? w??d. Th? w??d i? tr??t?d with ?h?mi??l ?r???rv?tiv?? t? ?r?v?nt w??th?r ?nd in???t d?m?g?, r?tting ?nd fungu?.

D???it? it? l?ng lif????n, ?r???ur?-tr??t?d w??d i? unlik?l? t? l??k g??d ?? l?ng ?? ??d?r. In ?th?r w?rd?, th? d??k might l??t 30 ???r?, but it might l??k w?rn ?ut f?r 25 ?f th??? ???r?. Pr???ur?-tr??t?d w??d, ?????i?ll? th? l?w?r-gr?d? v?ri?t?, i? ?l?? ?u????tibl? t? m?i?tur? ?r?bl?m?. If ??u ??t f?r a ?r???ur?-tr??t?d d??k, ?x??rt? r???mm?nd g?ing with a b?tt?r gr?d? ?u?h ?? “?h?i??,” “?r?mium” ?r “??l??t.” Th??? ???t m?r?, but th?? ?r? mu?h l??? lik?l? t? w?r?.

H?w Mu?h D??? a Pr???ur?-Tr??t?d D??k C??t?

Th? ?ri?? ?f a ?r???ur?-tr??t?d w??d d??k d???nd? ?n th? ?iz? ?f th? d??k, th? ?u?lit? ?f th? m?t?ri?l ?nd th? diffi?ult? ?f in?t?ll?ti?n. G?n?r?ll?, budg?t ?r?und $22t? $27 ??r ??u?r? f??t, in?luding in?t?ll?ti?n. High?r-?u?lit? gr?d?? f?ll ?n th? high?r ?nd ?f th?t r?ng?, ?? d? d??k? with f??tur?? ?u?h ?? b?n?h?? ?nd r?il?.

F?r a 16×20-f??t d??k, th?t w?rk? ?ut t? a t?t?l ?r?j??t ???t ?f $4,800 t? $8,000. H?w?v?r, k??? in mind th?t th??? ?ri?? r?ng?? ?r? m??nt t? b? guid?lin??, n?t ?x??t figur??. Pri??? v?r? wid?l? fr?m ?n? r?gi?n t? th? n?xt. F?r th? m??t ???ur?t? ?ri?ing, ???k ??v?r?l ??tim?t?? fr?m l???l ??ntr??t?r?.

Pressure-Treated Pros

Pri?? – In ??m? ?????, ?r???ur?-tr??t?d w??d ???t? h?lf ?? mu?h ?? ?r?mium w??d? lik? ??d?r. It i? th? l???t ?x??n?iv? ?f ?ll d??king m?t?ri?l?.

Dur?bilit? – Pr???ur?-tr??t?d w??d i? ?tr?ng ?n?ugh t? with?t?nd d???d?? ?f u?? ?nd ?bu??. S?m? br?nd? ?v?n ?ff?r a lif?tim? limit?d w?rr?nt?. In m?n? ?????, ?r???ur?-tr??t?d w??d will l??t ?ignifi??ntl? l?ng?r th?n ??d?r.

Pressure Treated Cons

L??k – Pr???ur?-tr??t?d w??d initi?ll? h?? a gr??ni?h tint th?t i? ??u??d b? a r???ti?n t? th? ?h?mi??l ?r???rv?tiv??. Th? tint will f?d? ?v?r tim?, but m?n? ????l? ??n?id?r it un?ttr??tiv?. Pr???ur?-tr??t?d w??d ?l?? n??d? t? b? ?l??n?d ?nd ???l?d ?t l???t ?v?r? ?th?r ???r t? k??? it l??king OK.

Pr?n? t? w?r?ing – Pr???ur?-tr??t?d w??d i? m?r? ?u????tibl? t? w?r?ing ?nd b?nding th?n ??d?r, ??rti?ul?rl? wh?n it i? ?x????d t? m?i?tur?. Pr???ur?-tr??t?d w??d i? ?l?? m?r? lik?l? t? ??lint?r ?nd ?hi?.

Ch?mi??l? – Th? ?h?mi??l? u??d t? tr??t th? w??d ?r? ??n?id?r?d h?z?rd?u? t? hum?n h??lth ?nd th? ?nvir?nm?nt. Th?? ??nt?in ?r??ni?, a kn?wn ??r?in?g?n. U.S. Envir?nm?nt?l Pr?t??ti?n Ag?n?? ?tudi?? h?v? r?v??l?d th?t ?hildr?n ?x????d t? ?r???ur?-tr??t?d w??d h?v? ?n in?r????d ri?k f?r ??n??r. Th? ri?k i? n?t gr??t, but it ?xi?t?.