Homeowners in Portland and Vancouver ask this on almost every estimate. Both cedar and composite belong here. The right choice depends on how you use the deck, how much upkeep you want, and the look you are after.
What the weather does to a deck
Nine months of moisture, freeze-thaw, and shade. Cedar weathers to a silver gray if you leave it, or it stays rich if you clean and restain. Composite does not gray the same way, but it still needs washing — pollen, moss, and tannin stains are real in this climate.
When cedar is the right call
Choose cedar when you want grain, warmth, and a deck that still feels like wood underfoot. Plan on cleaning and a restain every few years. Done well, cedar in the Northwest is beautiful for a long time. It is not a set-it-and-forget-it material.
When composite earns the extra cost
Trex, TimberTech, and AZEK cost more up front and save time later. No yearly stain. Still wash it. We spec the product to the span, the sun, and the look you want — not the one that happens to be on sale.
The part under the boards
Framing, flashing, and drainage decide whether either surface lasts. A pretty deck on wet joists is a short-lived deck. We start there, then pick the walking surface.
EP Master builds both. We will walk the site, talk through use and budget, and tell you straight which one we would put on our own house.
Run the estimator for a first number, then we will refine it on site.