Cedar.
Western Red Cedar is the default 'real wood' deck. Warm tone when new, weathers to a silver-grey if you leave it untreated. Natural oils make it more rot-resistant than untreated softwoods.
Two trade-offs. First: maintenance. To keep the warm cedar colour, you need to clean and re-stain or re-oil once a year. Skip it and it goes silver — fine if that's the look you want, less fine if you wanted cedar-colour for 15 years. Second: knots and splits. Cedar is a softer wood; expect some checking (small splits along the grain) over time. Doesn't affect structure, does affect appearance up close.
Composite.
Composite decking (Trex, TimberTech, Deckorators, and others) is a wood-plastic blend that looks like wood but doesn't behave like wood. Uniform colour, no splinters, doesn't need staining. Most carry a 25- or 30-year warranty against fade and stain.
Two trade-offs. First: cost. Composite costs roughly 1.5–2x what cedar costs for the deck boards (the frame is the same). The warranty often makes it cheaper over 20 years than cedar plus annual staining — but the up-front cheque is bigger. Second: heat. Dark composite gets hot in direct summer sun — barefoot at 2 PM in July is uncomfortable on dark composite. Lighter colours stay cooler.
Aluminum.
Aluminum decking is the longest-lasting material we install. Powder-coated planks, no rot, no warping, no splinters. Many systems have an integrated underside that makes the space below the deck dry — turning under-deck space into usable storage or living area.
Two trade-offs. First: cost, similar to composite or slightly higher. Second: feel. Aluminum doesn't have wood grain, so it looks more contemporary — great if that's the aesthetic you want, off-putting if you wanted a 'wooden deck.' We let people walk on a sample before we quote.
Pressure-treated.
Pressure-treated southern yellow pine (or sometimes spruce) is the budget option. Treated with copper-based preservatives so it resists rot and termites. Standard 2x lumber profile — what most older decks are built from.
Two trade-offs. First: lifespan. Without diligent maintenance, expect 10–15 years before boards need replacing. Second: appearance. PT lumber comes from the mill wet and slightly green-tinted; it dries to a pale tan and weathers to grey. To keep it looking sharp, plan on stain or paint every 2–3 years. It's the right choice for a starter deck, a temporary structure, or a tight budget — not for a 'forever deck.'
How to pick.
Budget-driven? Pressure-treated is half the materials cost of composite. You'll spend the difference on stain over 15 years, but the up-front cheque is smaller.
Want a real-wood look with moderate care? Cedar. Plan on one stain weekend a year.
Want to install it and not think about it? Composite or aluminum. Higher up-front, lower long-term effort. Match the colour to the house and skip the staining altogether.
Want under-deck space (dry storage, patio, walkout entry)? Aluminum with integrated underdeck is the cleanest solution.