Cedar costs less upfront ($30–50/sqft installed), looks more natural, and asks for periodic sealing. Trex costs 30–40% more ($40–70/sqft installed), holds its color for decades, and is hose-off-only for life. For most Portland homeowners staying in their home 10+ years, Trex's break-even comes around year 10 in avoided refinishing labor — so the math leans composite. If you love wood and plan to move sooner, cedar still has a strong case.
The side-by-side comparison
| Trex (composite) | Cedar (Western Red) | |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost / sq ft (Portland) | $40–70 | $30–50 |
| Material cost / sq ft (deck boards only) | $7–12 | $4–8 |
| Lifespan | 25–30+ years | 15–25 years |
| Warranty | 25-yr residential (Trex Transcend); 50-yr on Signature | None — natural wood |
| Maintenance | Hose off, mild soap if needed | Seal/stain every 3–5 yrs (or let silver) |
| PNW rain / rot resistance | Total — no rot ever | Excellent — natural oils & tannins |
| UV fade | Minimal (modern UV-stable cap) | Silvers naturally within 18–24 months |
| Heat in sun | Runs 10–25°F hotter than wood (color-dependent) | Stays close to ambient |
| Splinters / barefoot | None | Possible as wood ages |
| Look up close | Convincing on premium lines; reads as composite | Real wood — grain, knots, character |
| Custom colors | Pick from manufacturer palette | Stain any color |
| Repair | Match harder over time as colors discontinue | Replace boards individually; matches as it weathers |
| Hidden fasteners | Yes — standard with grooved boards | Possible with clips; usually face-screwed |
| Environmental | Made from ~95% recycled plastic + reclaimed wood | Renewable, biodegradable, PNW-grown |
What you're actually paying for with Trex
Trex (and the broader composite category — TimberTech, Fiberon, Azek) is a polymer-and-wood-fiber capped board. The core is structural; the colored "cap" on top resists scratching, fading, and stains. The premium over cedar buys:
- No re-sealing for the deck's life. The single biggest reason most homeowners switch.
- Long manufacturer warranty. Trex Transcend carries 25 years residential; Signature is 50. Both transfer to a new homeowner if you sell.
- Color stability. Modern formulations fade minimally over 25 years.
- Splinter-free, slip-resistant texture. Better for kids, pets, bare feet.
- Hidden fastener system. Grooved boards + clips = clean top surface, no screw heads.
What you're paying less for with cedar
Cedar's cost advantage comes with real benefits, not just savings:
- Authentic wood look and feel. Walk barefoot on cedar and the texture is unmistakable.
- Cooler in direct sun. A real-world Portland summer afternoon difference of 10–20°F.
- Easier repair. A bad board pops off in 5 minutes; a replacement weathers in to match.
- Stain it any color, any time. Restain warm tones every five years, or let it silver — your call.
- Familiar to every contractor. Trex install requires manufacturer training; cedar is universal carpentry.
The Portland break-even math
For a typical 250 sq ft deck:
| Year | Cedar running total | Trex running total |
|---|---|---|
| 0 (install) | $10,000 | $13,750 |
| 4 (cedar reseal) | $10,750 | $13,750 |
| 8 (cedar reseal) | $11,500 | $13,750 |
| 12 (cedar reseal) | $12,250 | $13,750 |
| 16 (cedar reseal) | $13,000 | $13,750 |
| 20 (cedar reseal) | $13,750 | $13,750 |
| 25 (cedar replaces) | $23,750 | $13,750 |
The break-even is roughly year 20 if cedar is religiously maintained (~$750 per reseal). After year 25, when cedar typically needs replacement and Trex is still well within warranty, the gap blows wide open.
Critical caveat: most Portland homeowners don't religiously stain cedar. They let it silver, which is free. In that case, cedar's running total stays at $10,000 for the deck's life — and the break-even doesn't happen until cedar fully fails at year 20–25.
The honest test: are you the kind of homeowner who actually stains a fence every 3 years? If yes, the cedar/Trex math is close. If no — and most aren't — cedar is the cheaper long-term play unless you're staying 25+ years.
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Get a free estimate →The heat factor in PNW summers
Composite decking gets hotter than wood in direct sun. In Phoenix, this is a deal-breaker. In Portland, it's a real but manageable factor:
- Dark Trex (Spiced Rum, Charcoal): can hit 140–150°F surface temp on a 90°F day.
- Light Trex (Rope Swing, Gravel Path): 110–125°F surface temp same conditions.
- Cedar: 95–110°F surface temp same conditions.
For shaded decks or homes with limited direct afternoon sun, it doesn't matter. For exposed south-or west-facing decks, lighter Trex colors or cedar are easier on bare feet.
When Trex is the right call
- You're staying in the home 10+ years and want to forget about it.
- You have kids running around barefoot — no splinters.
- You want uniform color and look that doesn't change.
- Your deck is shaded or partly so.
- You want a long, transferable warranty for resale.
When cedar is the right call
- You love real wood and the way it ages.
- You're on a moderate budget and OK with periodic sealing — or fine with letting it silver.
- The deck faces full sun and you walk on it barefoot.
- You'd rather restain warm reddish tones than be locked to a manufacturer's color palette.
- You appreciate that local contractors can repair it for life.
Honest red flags on both sides
Trex bargain colors: manufacturers discontinue colors regularly. If you build with a budget line color in 2026, finding a matching board for a repair in 2034 may be impossible. Stick to the long-running palette (Trex Transcend Spiced Rum, Tiki Torch, Vintage Lantern, Rope Swing) for repairability.
Cedar posts in dirt: a cheap cedar deck with cedar posts set straight into clay soil rots from the bottom in 10 years. Demand pressure-treated 4×4 or 6×6 posts on concrete piers, or properly engineered helical piers. The posts make the deck, not the surface boards.