Decking refers to the boards that form the walking surface of an outdoor deck. Material choice affects cost, durability, and maintenance.
Popular Materials
- Pressure-treated pine: $2–5/sq ft — cheapest, requires annual sealing
- Cedar: $4–8/sq ft — naturally rot-resistant, beautiful grain
- Composite (Trex, TimberTech): $8–15/sq ft — low maintenance, 25-year warranty
- Tropical hardwood (Ipe): $10–20/sq ft — extremely durable, 50+ year lifespan
Board Coverage
Standard deck board: 5.5" wide × 12 ft long = 5.5 sq ft per board. Add 10% for waste and cuts.
Composite Decking's Hidden Cost Trade-off
Composite boards cost 2–4× more upfront than pressure-treated wood but require essentially no staining or sealing over their 25+ year lifespan, while wood decking needs re-sealing every 1–2 years — over a 20-year ownership period, the total cost gap narrows substantially once labor and material for maintenance are factored in.
Joist Spacing Affects Board Choice
Standard joist spacing (16" on-center) works for most wood and composite boards, but some composite products require tighter 12" spacing to prevent sagging over time — always check the manufacturer's specification, since using standard wood-deck joist spacing with the wrong composite product can void the warranty.