A Materials Guide From TimberTech Certified Deck Builders
Composite vs Cedar Decks in Vancouver
How TimberTech composite and Western Red Cedar hold up to North Shore rain and shade, what each asks of you every year, and how to choose. From a crew that builds both.
The Short Answer
Both Work in Vancouver. They Ask Different Things of You.
Cedar is the deck this coast grew up with: beautiful, rot resistant, easy to repair. Composite is the deck you build when you want to stop thinking about the deck: no weekends, but no sanding it back to new wood either.
We build both, as TimberTech Certified Installers and as cedar builders. If you only read one line: choose cedar if you love wood and will stain it every couple of years; choose composite if you want a deck that looks the same in a decade with a hose and a broom.
Left: composite entry deck. Right: cedar rooftop railing and screen.
Climate
How Each Material Handles North Shore Rain and Shade
Conifers, slopes and months of drizzle mean a deck here can stay damp for weeks. That is what separates the two.
Cedar in the Wet
Cedar's natural oils resist rot, and it handles rain well as long as it can dry out afterwards. The trouble starts where it cannot: under planters, at board ends, against the house, and in full winter shade, where it greys and grows moss that holds water and gets slick. Stained cedar with drainage gaps and airflow underneath does fine here; unstained cedar under trees shows its age sooner.
Composite in the Wet
Capped composite has a polymer shell over a wood-plastic core; TimberTech's Advanced PVC has no wood fibre at all. Water sits on the surface rather than soaking in, so the boards do not swell, check or rot. Algae still grows where it stays damp, but the board under it is unchanged and a wash brings it back. The frame is still wood, so it gets the same drainage care as a cedar deck.
Side by Side
Maintenance, Lifespan, Look and Feel
| What matters | Western Red Cedar | TimberTech Composite / PVC |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance each year | Wash every spring. Re-stain roughly every two to three years, sooner in full sun or shade. | Sweep and wash. Clear the gaps so water drains. No staining or sealing. |
| Lifespan | Depends on the build and the care. Drainage, airflow and a stain schedule mean many years; neglect in shade means replacing boards much sooner. | TimberTech publishes a 25- to 30-year product limited warranty on composite and a limited lifetime product warranty on Advanced PVC (residential). |
| Look | Real grain, warm tones when stained, silver grey if left alone. | Wood-look grain in a set range of colours, consistent board to board, the same in year ten as year one. |
| Feel underfoot | Softer and cooler. Can splinter with age; raised grain shows on busy paths. | Firm with a textured grip. No splinters. Dark colours get warmer in direct sun than cedar. |
| Repairs | A board swaps out; the whole deck can be sanded and refinished. | A board is replaced with a matching one. It cannot be sanded. |
Certification
What TimberTech Certified Installer Means
Joist spacing, gapping, fasteners, ventilation and edge cuts all follow the manufacturer's installation guide, and the warranty assumes the guide was followed. Certified means we build to that guide.
TimberTech also offers a Limited Replacement Labor Warranty on qualifying installs by registered contractors; ask us whether your project qualifies.
Cedar has no manufacturer warranty. What it has is workmanship: the same drainage, flashing and fastener care a composite deck needs underneath.
TimberTech's Published Warranties
As listed on TimberTech's warranty page for residential purchasers.
- Advanced PVC decking
- Limited Lifetime Product Warranty; 50-Year Fade & Stain Limited Warranty (a 35-year term is also listed).
- Composite decking
- 25- to 30-Year Product Limited Warranty; 25- to 30-Year Fade & Stain Limited Warranty, depending on the collection.
- Railing
- 25-Year Product Limited Warranty.
- Labour
- Limited Replacement Labor Warranty on qualifying installs by registered contractors; ask us whether your project qualifies.
Deciding
How to Choose for Your Home
How much shade does the deck get?
Full shade under conifers points to composite. In sun most of the day, stained cedar does well.
Will you actually stain it?
If the honest answer is "probably not," composite will make you happier. If you enjoy a spring weekend with a brush, cedar rewards it.
How long are you staying?
A long-term home favours composite's warranty and low upkeep. For a shorter stay, cedar is easy for the next owner to maintain.
What will it cost?
We do not publish a per-square-foot price because it would be wrong for your yard. A quote depends on size, height, railing, stairs and access; we price both options on one site visit.
FAQs
Composite and Cedar Deck Questions
Composite. TimberTech backs its composite decking with a 25- to 30-year product limited warranty and its Advanced PVC with a limited lifetime product warranty. A cedar deck's life depends on the build, the shade and the stain schedule.
Capped composite has a textured surface that grips well when wet. Any deck grows algae in deep shade, which is what makes it slick. Keep it swept and washed and either material stays safe.
It means 3 Views installs TimberTech decking to the manufacturer's instructions, which the product warranties assume. TimberTech also offers a Limited Replacement Labor Warranty on qualifying installs by registered contractors; ask us whether your project qualifies.
Sometimes. Composite boards are heavier and have their own joist-spacing rules, so the frame has to be sound and spaced correctly, or reinforced. We inspect the joists, ledger and posts first.
There is no honest per-square-foot number without seeing the site. A quote depends on size, height, railing, stairs and access. We give a free consultation and a written quote.
Locally Owned in North Vancouver
Serving the North Shore and Vancouver
We build composite and cedar decks across the North Shore and in Vancouver and Burnaby.
Free On-Site Consultation
Talk Through Your Deck With a Certified Installer
Book a free on-site consultation. We look at sun, shade, drainage and access, then send a written quote for the option you choose.