The last decking decision you’ll ever make.
Real wood looks beautiful the day it’s installed. Here’s the honest comparison of what happens over the next fifteen years — the upkeep, the lifespan, and what each one truly costs.
Wood wins day one. Then the seasons arrive.
A new wood deck is gorgeous and cheaper to buy — we won’t pretend otherwise. But wood is a living material: it drinks up moisture, feeds mold, greys in the sun, and asks for a weekend of sanding and sealing every single year. Composite was invented to keep the look and retire the maintenance. Here’s where each one really lands.
Ten things buyers actually ask about.
| Pressure-Treated Wood | NewTechWood® Composite | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront material cost | Lower to buy | Higher to buy |
| Yearly upkeep | Sand, stain & reseal every 1–2 years | Rinse with soap & water |
| Expected lifespan | 10–15 years, often less | 25+ years |
| Fading & greying | Greys and fades within seasons | UltraShield® cap resists fading |
| Splinters & cracking | Develops with age and weather | Splinter-free, all-season surface |
| Rot, insects & mold | Vulnerable to all three | Resists rot, insects & mold |
| Moisture behavior | Cups, swells & warps | Dimensionally stable |
| Staining (food, grease, wine) | Absorbs and stains | Sealed, stain-resistant cap |
| Warranty | None to limited | 25-year limited warranty |
| Sustainability | New-growth timber | Made from recycled materials |
The cheaper deck isn’t the one with the lower price tag.
A wood deck
Low to buy — then it bills you every year.
over 15 years, at the figure you picked
Stain, seal, power-washing and the odd replacement board, every year, for as long as you own it — and many wood decks are rebuilt before year 15.
A NewTechWood deck
Higher to buy — then it mostly leaves you alone.
over the same 15 years
Occasional soap and water. No stain, no seal, no rot repairs — and a 25-year residential limited warranty behind it, so the upfront premium keeps paying you back.
This is your own estimate, not a quote or a NewTechWood figure: pick the scenario that matches how you look after a deck, or enter what you actually spend. Real costs vary with climate, deck size, and material grade.
A wood deck weekend
- Sweep, then sand down last year’s splinters and grey
- Strip, brighten, and wait for a dry forecast
- Brush on stain and sealant, two coats
- Replace the boards that rotted or cupped
- Do it all again next season
A NewTechWood weekend
- Rinse it down with soap and water
- Pour a drink
- Actually enjoy the deck you paid for
That’s the whole list. The UltraShield® cap does the rest — see how it works ›
“But does composite still look like plastic?”
Not anymore. Multi-tonal color and deep-embossed grain give today’s boards the warmth of hardwood — without the splinters. The only way to be sure is to hold one.
Order free samplesSee it before you decide.
We’ll ship free samples so you can compare the grain, color, and finish against real wood in your own light.