Is composite decking worth the extra cost?

Usually, if you will stay more than a few years. It costs more up front but needs no staining or sealing, and it does not splinter or rot.

How much more does a composite deck cost than wood in Maryland?

In our projects a pressure-treated deck plans at about $9,000 to $15,000 and a composite deck at about $14,000 to $24,000, both on pressure-treated framing.

Does a composite deck still use wood?

Yes. The framing underneath, the joists, beams and posts, is pressure-treated lumber. Only the decking boards and often the rails are composite.

How often does a pressure-treated deck need sealing?

Every couple of years, after cleaning, to slow greying, checking and cupping.

Composite vs. Pressure-Treated Deck: Which Is Better?

Short answer: Pressure-treated wins on price; composite wins on upkeep. In our Maryland projects a pressure-treated deck typically plans at $9,000–$15,000 and a composite deck at $14,000–$24,000, both on pressure-treated framing. Wood needs cleaning and staining or sealing every couple of years; composite needs an occasional wash and does not splinter, rot or need stain. If you plan to stay more than a few years, composite usually earns back the difference in time and stain.

What is actually different

The frame is the same. Joists, beams and posts are pressure-treated lumber on both. The ledger at the house, the footings below the frost line and the flashing are identical work, and they are what make a deck last.

The surface is not. Pressure-treated boards check, cup and grey without regular sealing. Composite boards hold their colour, stay flat and never need stain, but they cost more per board and some get hot in full sun.

Typical Maryland ranges

Pressure-treated deck: about $9,000–$15,000. Composite deck on pressure-treated framing: about $14,000–$24,000. Covered porch or premium composite build: about $22,000–$38,000. These are planning ranges, not quotes; size, height, stairs, rails and the permit set the real number, which we confirm on site in writing.

The full math is in our 2026 Maryland deck cost guide.

How to pick

Choose pressure-treated if the budget is tight, you do not mind a weekend of sealing every couple of years, or you may sell soon. Choose composite if you want to stop maintaining it, have kids or pets on bare feet, or the deck is shaded and damp, where wood greys and gets slippery fastest.

How we build either one

We draw it, pull the county permit, pour footings below the frost line, flash the ledger at the house, and build code-compliant guards and stairs, with the county inspections scheduled for you. Most decks take about one to two weeks on site.

MHIC #111971 in Maryland, Virginia Class A #2705183185, family-owned since 2005.

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We inspect across Maryland — Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard, Anne Arundel, Frederick, Carroll and Baltimore counties. Free inspection, photo report within 24 hours, and the report is yours to keep whether or not you hire us.