The deck is where cottage life actually happens: the first coffee before anyone else is awake, dripping towels, a plate of corn, the late card game under the bug screen. It's also the one outdoor project most cottagers end up redoing at least once. The material you choose decides how much of that summer goes into enjoying the deck and how much goes into maintaining it.
Cedar, composite and pressure-treated wood are the three you'll be quoted on almost everywhere. They differ in upfront cost, upkeep, lifespan and how they age under a cottage sky. Here's how they compare in real conditions.
The Short Version
- Pressure-treated wood — lowest upfront cost, solid lifespan if you keep up with staining, and the easiest to repair board by board.
- Cedar — the classic cottage look, naturally rot-resistant, warmer underfoot than composite, but it wants cleaning and a fresh finish every few years.
- Composite — highest upfront cost in most cases, the least ongoing work, and the most uniform look. It also runs hottest in full sun.
Pressure-Treated Wood: The Workhorse
Modern pressure-treated lumber is softwood infused with a copper-based preservative. It arrives damp and greenish or brown, dries to a lighter tone, and greys out within a season or two if you leave it bare. Because the treatment is chemical rather than natural, it's the cheapest way to cover a lot of square footage.
Give it time to dry before you finish it. Boards fresh from the yard are saturated, and stain applied too early can peel instead of soaking in. Many cottagers let a new deck weather for several weeks, sometimes a full season, then clean it and apply two coats of a penetrating oil or stain. After that, plan on a refresh every two to four years, more often on a sun-blasted south face. A maintained treated deck commonly lasts a couple of decades; the pressure-treated frame underneath usually outlasts the surface boards.
The honest drawbacks: boards cup, twist and check as they dry, knots work loose, and you'll replace the occasional board. That's normal behaviour, not a defect — it's just the rhythm of the material.
One cottage-specific note: if your deck sits close to the shoreline, check with your municipality or conservation authority before building. Rules about structures and materials near the water vary widely, and it's better to ask first than to rebuild.
Cedar: The Classic Cottage Look
Cedar contains natural oils that resist rot and insects without added chemicals. It's lighter than treated pine, stable, easy to cut, and it smells like a lumber yard in the best way. Left alone, it weathers to a soft silver-grey that suits old cottages, boathouses and pines. Finished with oil or a tinted stain, it holds a warm honey or reddish tone.
The trade-offs are price and softness. Cedar costs noticeably more than treated wood, and clear, knot-free grades cost markedly more again. Because it's soft, it dents — dragging a Muskoka chair, a cooler, or dog claws will leave marks. It also needs care: pollen, dirt and mildew collect in shaded corners, and a soft brush with a deck cleaner once a year keeps it ahead. To hold colour rather than grey, refinish every two to three years.
Composite: The Low-Maintenance Route
Composite decking blends wood fibre and plastic, or uses solid PVC in some lines. It doesn't splinter, so bare feet and young kids are safe. It never needs staining. Cleaning is soap, water and a stiff brush — and that's the whole summer to-do list, which is precisely why cottagers with a short season choose it.
What you give up: money, and a little character. Composite looks uniform rather than individual, and it can scuff, scratch and show tracked-in sand more than wood does. Dark colours get genuinely hot underfoot at midday; lighter tones and PVC boards stay cooler. The material also expands and contracts with temperature swings, so installation has to follow the manufacturer's gapping and fastening instructions exactly — particularly with our freeze-thaw cycles. In damp, shaded spots, surface mildew can still appear, though it usually wipes away.
What It Actually Costs
Think beyond the boards on top. Framing, posts, stairs, railings and fasteners make up a large share of any deck budget, and they behave differently for each material.
- Framing and posts: pressure-treated in almost every case, whatever the surface.
- Fasteners: stainless steel is the safe choice with cedar, since standard coated screws can corrode and stain the wood. Hidden clip systems are typical for composite and add cost.
- Finishing supplies: cleaner and stain every few years for wood; essentially none for composite.
- Labour: if you hire out the work, square footage isn't the only driver — stairs, railings and awkward elevations add time.
The useful comparison isn't the sticker price of the decking, it's the cost over fifteen years: lower material plus your own weekend labour versus higher material and almost no maintenance. Be honest about which of those you'll actually tolerate.
Sun, Shade and Frost Matter More Than Brand
Site conditions decide how a deck ages far more than the label on the box. A shaded, tree-covered deck stays damp, and every material grows surface algae or mildew there — cedar and composite included. Full sun fades and dries wood quickly and turns dark composite into a hot plate. Our freeze-thaw pattern punishes shallow footings and poor drainage, not decking choice, so get the structure right first. Snow load matters too: use a plastic shovel, not a steel edge, and don't let a snowbank sit against the rim joist all spring.
How to Choose in an Afternoon
- Decide how much maintenance you'll realistically do. If the answer is "almost none," composite earns its price.
- Match the look to the building. Cedar or greyed wood suits an older cottage; composite reads cleaner and more modern.
- Price the whole project, not just the surface. Ask the yard for a quote that includes framing, fasteners and railings.
- Check local requirements for permits, footing depth and shoreline setbacks before ordering anything.
A common and sensible compromise: pressure-treated framing under cedar or composite decking. You get long-term structural value where it's hidden and the appearance you want where you'll see it every day.
A Deck You'll Still Like in Ten Years
Pick the material that matches your temperament, not the brochure. If you enjoy a Saturday with a brush and a radio, treated wood or cedar will reward you and save money upfront. If your cottage weekends are already full, pay more once and spend the next decade just sweeping.
Whichever you choose, buy from a supplier who knows the local climate, follow the manufacturer's installation instructions, and talk to your municipality about permits and shoreline rules before you dig. For structural changes, stairs or anything load-bearing, bring in a qualified contractor or engineer — it's cheap advice compared with a rebuild.
