When researching various kinds of deck materials, you’ve likely noticed that alternatives to wood, such as composite decking, have a higher upfront cost than traditional decking material. While you may be tempted to base your decking material decision solely on upfront cost, this approach isn’t usually optimal.
Instead, what you really need to compare is the full lifetime cost, as well as the return on investment (ROI) of a wood deck vs. a composite deck. The ROI of a composite deck takes into account factors like an increase in property value, drastically lower maintenance time and costs, and more.
To provide a comprehensive understanding of the ROI of a composite deck like a TruNorth deck, we’ve rounded up all of the monetary and non-monetary returns of composite decking over wood, showing that composite decking is often a much better investment than wood decking.
How Much Does Composite Decking Cost?
As with most products, the cost of composite decking per square foot will vary based on many things, including the brand of composite you purchase. Of course, your total cost will also depend on the size of your deck and how much you spend on installation. The average cost per square foot of composite decking is between $4.50 and $13 USD per square foot of decking boards.
When including installation products and services like screws, posts, and labour, the cost rises to around $30 to $60 per square foot installed. When adding extra elements such as stairs and railings to your deck design, the price will also be higher.
If you’re interested in finding out how much your dream composite deck will cost in your area, the TruNorth decking cost calculator can provide a rough estimate based on your deck dimensions.
Composite Decking vs. Wood Cost
When planning a deck project, you’ll likely compare materials, looking at durability, maintenance needs, appearance, and cost. When comparing composite decking versus wood decking, you’ll notice that composite decking comes out on top for many factors. It’s low-maintenance, has more than double the lifespan of wood decking, and is less susceptible to issues like cracking, warping, and insect infestation.
The one place where composite decking falls short is the upfront investment. Composite decking cost upfront is higher than wood. As mentioned, composite decking costs around $4.50 to $13 USD per square foot uninstalled and $30 to $60 per square foot installed. Wood decking, on the other hand, costs around $25 to $45 per square foot installed.
However, when investing in a deck, only looking at the upfront cost means you likely won’t get the best deal. What you really need to assess is the lifetime cost and the return on investment (ROI) you will get from your purchase.
On average, a composite deck’s return on investment is much higher than wood decking’s ROI. The product lasts much longer and has lower associated lifetime maintenance costs. Composite or PVC decks, like Clubhouse PVC Decking, can even increase the value of your home, bringing a better price should you choose to sell.
You’ll also find that the cost of composite decking is more stable than wood, with wood decking prices varying based on supply and increasing due to scarcity.
Financial ROI of Composite Decking
1. Initial Cost vs. Long-Term Savings
As mentioned, the upfront investment for a composite deck will generally always be higher compared to wood decking. Yet, this doesn’t mean purchasing a composite deck is a poor investment. What needs to be considered is the lifetime cost and long-term savings, which is where composite decking comes out on top.
Maintenance savings are one of the major advantages of opting for a composite deck over wood. The maintenance costs associated with wood will add up quickly, with basic maintenance needing to be done yearly or every other year. This includes re-painting, re-staining, re-sanding, or re-sealing the decking.
It’s also more likely that you will have to deal with unexpected maintenance, such as repairing water damage (including mold, mildew, and rot), cracking or warping, loose and dangerous screws, and insect infestation.
Fixing these issues can be quite costly and may even result in you needing to fully replace the deck. Therefore, the significant maintenance savings associated with a composite deck over its average 20 to 25-year lifespan will drastically offset the higher upfront investment.
2. Durability and Longevity
When looking at lifetime spending on a deck, considering the durability and longevity of the deck is also important. A major difference between wood decking and composite decking is that composite decking has at least double the lifespan of wood.
A wooden deck has an average lifespan of about 10 years while composite decking lasts about 25 years. Products like TruNorth Composite Decking also have 25-year warranties, meaning replacement costs, if incurred, are often covered and won’t come out of pocket.
These warranties are generally not available with wooden decking. This longer lifespan means that your upfront deck investment for a wooden deck needs to be doubled at a minimum when compared to the upfront cost of composite decking to get an accurate comparison.
Secondly, composite decking is more durable than wood decking, meaning that you’re unlikely to incur maintenance and repair costs (and, as mentioned, many of these costs would be covered under warranty anyway).
When you add annual and unexpected maintenance costs of wooden decking across 20 to 25 years to the upfront cost of at least two wooden decks during that period, you get a better look at the real lifetime cost of the two products. In this case, composite comes out as a similar if not lower financial investment, and a much lower non-financial investment (discussed more below).
3. Increased Property Value
One additional element to keep in mind when looking at the cost and ROI of composite decking is how the addition of this product will affect your property value. The addition of any type of deck can enhance the aesthetic appeal and functionality of outdoor spaces, therefore, generally increasing property value. Composite decking often increases property value more than wood decks, in part due to the decreased maintenance cost and time and increased durability, as discussed above.
Composite decking will retain its colour and appearance much better than wood, which will fade more drastically over time. Knowing that the type of decking material used has a warranty connected to it and that it is low-maintenance and highly durable will be appealing to home buyers, making it more likely that a high offer at, or above, the asking price will be put forward.
On average, well-maintained composite decks can recoup a good amount of their value upon re-sale. For example, a report in Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report indicates that a composite deck can recoup an average of 40% of the upfront value, with others putting this amount closer to 75%, depending on the remaining life of the composite deck. In markets where outdoor living spaces are highly valued, such as in warmer climates or regions with a strong emphasis on outdoor lifestyles, the ROI on composite decking can be particularly high.
Non-Financial ROI of Composite Decking
1. Aesthetic Appeal
When first installed, composite decking and wooden decking can both present a high-quality appearance. However, the aesthetic appeal of a wood deck will decrease over time, even if maintenance like sanding and re-painting or re-staining is undertaken.
Therefore, while you may have saved money upfront with a wood deck, you won’t enjoy a high-quality product for as long as you will with composite decking. The decrease in aesthetic appearance alone with wood compared to composite decking can be enough for buyers to opt to invest in a composite deck.
Composite decking is available in a range of colours and often features wood grain details, mimicking the look of natural wood while providing a more polished and uniform look. The deck material also won’t degrade over time as much as a wood deck, which will exhibit colour fading, cracking, splintering, rotting, rough board surface, loose screws and nails, and more.
2. Environmental Impact
Along with what is paid, you may consider what value you place on different factors while looking at ROI of a composite deck. For example, the fact that TruNorth Composite Decking is very environmentally friendly and made with recycled materials without cutting down trees is a major selling point for environmentally conscious buyers.
This factor can outweigh other upfront costs, making composite decking like TruNorth more valuable than wooden decking.
3. Comfort and Safety
Another non-monetary factor to consider is the advanced comfort and safety of a TruNorth composite deck over wood. Composite decks won’t create dangerous splinters on the surface, unlike wooden decks. Composite decks also use hidden fastening clips to secure them instead of regular screws or nails, which can rust and come loose, again, creating a hazard.
TruNorth Composite Decking additionally has heat-blocking technology to minimize the temperature of the decking in the sunshine, adding to the safety benefits that can make the slightly higher upfront cost of composite decking over wood worth it.
4. Low Maintenance Needs and Time
One of the most appealing elements of composite decking that is both monetary and non-monetary is the low maintenance needs and time-related to composite decking. Compared to traditional wooden decking, you will spend much less time maintaining and repairing the deck.
As already discussed, composite decking isn’t prone to issues like cracking, warping, water damage, or insect infestation. It also doesn’t need sanding, painting, staining, or sealing.
Along with these maintenance and repair tasks taking time, they also cost money. Whether you fix the issues yourself or hire a professional, the annual maintenance work connected to a wood deck will add to the deck’s lifetime cost and reduce ROI on your initial investment. With TruNorth or Clubhouse Decking, a couple of washes with soap and water is often all that is needed in a year for maintenance.
The low maintenance requirements of composite decking allow for full enjoyment of the outdoor space. Time is freed up for homeowners due to decreased upkeep time, which is a major plus for many. So if you’re deciding whether to replace or repair your deck, opting for a brand new composite deck is an excellent idea to drastically reduce your deck-related repair and maintenance time and costs.
In Conclusion
While the initial investment in composite decking will generally be higher than the upfront investment for a wooden deck, the ROI of composite decking is much higher.
Some of the monetary benefits associated with a composite deck over wood include increased property value, much lower repair and maintenance costs, and a longer lifespan, meaning your composite decking investment will last about 25 years as opposed to an average of 10 years for a wooden deck.
For homeowners looking to enhance their outdoor space with a durable, attractive, and low-maintenance option, composite decking is a worthwhile investment.
