It's the first question almost every homeowner asks us: composite or wood? There's no universal answer, but after building and restoring decks all over Morris, Essex, and Passaic County, we've found the decision usually comes down to three things — your lot conditions, your tolerance for maintenance, and how long you plan to stay in the house.
Start with cost, because that's what most people lead with. Pressure-treated wood is the least expensive way to get a deck built. Cedar costs more. Capped composite and PVC run meaningfully higher than either. If you're comparing quotes purely on the day of installation, wood wins every time.
But that's not the real number. A wood deck in New Jersey needs washing and re-staining every one to three years to stay protected through freeze-thaw cycles. Whether you pay a contractor or spend your own weekends on it, that's a recurring cost that composite simply doesn't have. Over a ten-year horizon, composite typically comes out even or ahead — and that's before accounting for the boards you'll replace on a wood deck along the way.
Now the part quotes don't tell you: your lot. Shade and moisture are what actually kill decks around here. If your deck sits under heavy tree cover, backs up to a lake in Denville or Wayne, or sits low near the Passaic River in Little Falls or Fairfield, wood is fighting a losing battle. It stays damp, grows algae, and never gets the dry window it needs for stain to cure properly. Those are the properties where we push composite hardest, regardless of budget.
On an open, sunny lot with good drainage, wood performs much better — and a well-maintained cedar or pressure-treated deck can look genuinely beautiful in a way composite still doesn't quite match. On a historic home in Montclair, Madison, or Mountain Lakes, wood is often the only choice that looks right.
Time horizon matters too. If you're planning to sell in a few years, a clean, freshly restored wood deck presents well and costs far less than a composite rebuild. If this is the house you're staying in, composite's low maintenance compounds in your favor every single year.
One thing worth saying plainly: the surface material matters far less than the frame under it. We've seen expensive composite installed over rotted joists, and that deck will fail no matter what the boards cost. Whichever you choose, the structure underneath is what determines whether it lasts.
Not sure which way to go? We'll quote both on your actual deck so you can compare real numbers instead of averages. Call C&Sons Jersey Builders at (201) 575-8200 for a free estimate.