Cedar vs. Composite Decking: Which Is Better for BC Homes?

This is one of the most common questions we get from customers standing in our yard deciding between a cedar deck and a composite one, and most of what's online about it is written by composite manufacturers or their affiliates. Here's the real comparison, using our actual cedar decking prices as of August 2026 against what composite genuinely costs and how each holds up in a coastal BC climate — not marketing copy from either side.

Upfront Material Cost

Cedar decking at our yard runs from $2.84 per sq ft (Yellow Cedar or Japanese Cedar 5/4x6, $15.75 per 12-foot board) up to $3.98 per sq ft for Western Red Cedar 2x6 ($22.05 per 12-foot board) — see the full board-by-board math in our cedar deck cost breakdown. Composite decking spans a much wider range: budget polyethylene and HDPE boards typically run $4–$12 per sq ft, while premium capped-composite and PVC boards run $14–$21 per sq ft, depending on brand and profile. In other words, entry-level composite is roughly comparable to cedar on material cost, but composite's ceiling is significantly higher — and the boards that hold up best long-term in a wet climate tend to sit at that higher end.

Installation narrows the gap further: composite typically costs more in labour, since hidden fastener systems and specific spacing/expansion requirements take longer to install correctly than screwing down cedar boards.

Durability and BC Climate Performance

Composite doesn't rot, and it won't split or splinter the way an unmaintained cedar board eventually will. But composite isn't immune to BC's climate — its non-breathable surface can trap moisture against a deck's substructure, and in the Pacific Northwest's near-constant fall and winter rain, composite boards are well known for developing surface mold and algae, especially in shaded, poorly-ventilated spots. It needs regular scrubbing to stay ahead of it. Cedar, left unfinished, will grey and can pick up some surface mildew too — but its natural oils genuinely resist rot and insects, and a proper clean-and-reseal cycle (see our cedar maintenance guide) keeps it structurally sound for 25–30+ years. Skip that maintenance and cedar underperforms; keep up with it and it holds its own against composite's advertised 25–50 year warranties, which typically cover structural failure, not staining or fading.

Maintenance

Composite's biggest selling point is real: an occasional wash (more often than advertised, if you're fighting algae in a shaded, damp spot) and essentially nothing else — no staining, no sealing. Cedar decking needs a clean and reseal roughly every 2–3 years to keep its colour and keep water from penetrating end grain. If minimum-maintenance is your top priority, that's a legitimate point in composite's favour, and it's worth being honest about it rather than pretending cedar is maintenance-free.

Heat, Comfort, and Feel Underfoot

Dark-coloured composite decking gets noticeably hotter underfoot in direct summer sun than cedar does — enough that barefoot use on a south-facing composite deck on a hot afternoon can be genuinely uncomfortable. Cedar stays cooler and has a warmer, more natural feel and give underfoot. Composite also won't splinter, which matters for bare feet and pets, while an aging, unmaintained cedar deck can eventually need sanding to stay splinter-free.

Repairs

Composite boards are manufactured in colour runs that get discontinued, so replacing a single damaged board a few years in often means a visible colour mismatch. Cedar repairs blend in far more easily — a new board weathers into the surrounding wood within a season, and a matched or re-applied stain hides a repair almost completely.

Environmental Considerations

Composite decking is typically made from a mix of recycled plastic and wood fibre, which sounds appealing, but the finished board is a plastic-polymer product that isn't biodegradable and is difficult to recycle again at end of life. Cedar is a renewable, biodegradable material, and Western Red Cedar and Yellow Cedar specifically are BC-grown species rather than something manufactured and shipped in — a genuinely regional building material for a BC deck.

The Comparison, Side by Side

So Which Should You Choose?

If truly minimal maintenance is the top priority and you're comfortable with a hotter deck surface in summer sun, a mid-to-premium composite board is a defensible choice — just budget toward the higher end of that price range, since the cheapest composite boards are also the ones most prone to fading and surface mold in a wet climate. If you want a deck that costs less upfront, stays cooler underfoot, repairs invisibly, and you're willing to put in a maintenance routine that amounts to a few hours every couple of years, cedar remains the better long-term material for most BC homes — particularly because it's a regional product suited to exactly the climate it's going in.

Browse our current decking stock, or price out a specific deck size in our full 2026 cedar deck cost breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is composite decking cheaper than cedar?

Not necessarily. Budget composite runs about $4–$12 per sq ft, which overlaps with cedar's $2.84–$3.98 per sq ft — cedar is often the cheaper material. Composite only pulls ahead on price at the very bottom of its range, and premium composite ($14–$21/sq ft) costs significantly more than cedar.

Does composite decking get moldy in BC?

It can. Composite's non-breathable surface traps moisture, and in shaded or poorly-ventilated spots it's prone to surface mold and algae in the Pacific Northwest's wet fall and winter months, requiring regular scrubbing.

Does composite decking get hot in the sun?

Yes, more than cedar. Dark-coloured composite boards can get noticeably hot underfoot in direct summer sun — a real consideration for bare feet or pets.

Which lasts longer, cedar or composite decking?

Well-maintained cedar typically lasts 25–30+ years. Composite is usually warrantied 25–50 years, but that warranty generally covers structural failure only, not fading or staining.

Prices current as of publication and subject to change with lumber market conditions. Composite decking prices reflect general Canadian market ranges as of 2026 and vary by brand, retailer, and region. Confirm current cedar pricing and stock before ordering.