Georgia Cost GuideWhat is actually different between the two?
Less than you might think. On most decks the footings, posts, beams and joists are pressure-treated lumber either way, so the hidden part of the deck is the same. The choice is about the surface you walk on, and often the stair treads, the fascia and the railings that go with it.
Composite boards mix wood fibers with plastic and are made in a factory to a set color and texture. Wood boards are cut lumber, usually pressure-treated pine, though cedar and tropical hardwoods are there for a higher price. PVC boards, with no wood fiber at all, sit in the same family as composite and are priced on their own.
How do the prices compare in Georgia?
These are estimates from what Georgia deck builders publish, not quotes, and we do not name any company. Deck sizes vary a great deal, so each range is wide.
- Composite deck: estimated at $12,700 to $20,000+ for the whole project. See what a composite deck costs.
- Wood deck: estimated at $7,000 to $11,000+ for the whole project. See what a wood deck costs.
- New deck, material not named: estimated at $12,000 to $19,000+. See what it costs to build a deck.
The two ranges come from different sets of projects, so do not read the gap between them as an exact premium. The fair test is two quotes for the same deck, same size and height, one in each material.
What does the extra cost of composite pay for?
- No staining or sealing. Composite is cleaned with soap and water, and there is no finish to strip and reapply.
- A surface that stays even. Composite usually does not split, splinter or raise its grain the way wood can, which matters for bare feet and for kids.
- Color that comes from the factory. Boards arrive in the color you picked, while new treated lumber often has to dry before it can be stained.
- Fewer surprises from rot. The boards themselves do not rot the way wood does, though the wood frame underneath still can, so water at the ledger and the posts still needs watching.
Composite has its own catches. Darker boards can get hot in full sun, some lines can scratch or fade, and a damaged composite board has to be replaced, since it cannot be sanded out. Ask the builder what the board maker's warranty asks of you, such as cleaning products to avoid.
What does choosing wood get you?
- A lower price to build. The money you keep can go toward a larger deck, better railings or a roof later.
- A real wood look. Some owners simply prefer it, and cedar or a hardwood can look rich with the right finish.
- Cheap repairs. A cracked board can be swapped for a standard piece of lumber from any supplier.
- A surface you can renew. A tired wood deck can be cleaned, sanded and restained, and a new color is just another coat.
The trade is your time or your money later. Wood needs cleaning and a fresh coat of stain or sealer every so often, and boards that crack, cup or split get replaced along the way. If you would pay someone for that work, add it to the cost of wood when you compare.
Which one fits your deck?
Start with how you live with the deck, not with the board samples. These questions help:
- Will you stain and seal the deck yourself, pay someone to do it, or skip it?
- How long do you expect to stay in the house?
- Does the deck sit in full sun most of the day, where dark boards run hot?
- Will kids, pets or bare feet be on it often?
- Would the savings from wood pay for something else you want, such as a roof or a larger deck?
- Does your homeowners association, if you have one, limit materials or colors?
Ask each builder to quote the same deck in both materials, with the railings and stairs spelled out, so the only difference left is the boards.
Prices mentioned here come from our Georgia deck and porch cost ranges, built from the prices and cost guides Georgia deck builders publish on their public websites, collected November 2026.