The argument over pressure treated vs cedar for deck boards after my neighbor's deck rotted out in 18 months

After my neighbor up the street had his whole cedar deck turn to mush after just 18 months because he didn't seal it right, I'm wondering if pressure treated is the smarter move even though it looks worse. He spent $1,200 on cedar and now it's trash, but people swear cedar lasts forever if you maintain it. Has anyone else dealt with this trade off on a deck build?

2 comments

2 Comments

drew_west8d ago

My neighbor used cedar and sealed it every year like clockwork, it lasted him close to 15 years before he had to replace a few boards. But I've seen plenty of folks skip the yearly sealing and end up with the same mush pile your neighbor got. Pressure treated is just more forgiving if you're not gonna stay on top of maintenance. The look of cedar is nice, but if you're not the type to reseal every spring, pressure treated will hold up way better over time. I'd rather have an ugly deck that lasts 25 years than a pretty one that rots in 18 months.

troy_murray88d ago

Wait, does your neighbor pressure wash the deck every year before sealing it too? I learned that the hard way (my first cedar deck rotted out in like 4 years because I just slapped sealer on top of dirt and grime). You gotta clean it good, let it dry fully, then seal it or you're just trapping moisture under the finish. That's probably why some folks get 15 years and others get 18 months of pretty before it turns to mush. Pressure treated is way more forgiving because it's literally soaked in chemicals that fight rot from the inside out. But honestly, if you pick cedar and plan to stay on top of the yearly scrub and seal routine, it can last a long time. It's just a lot of work you gotta commit to every single year.