We are a trusted deck builder in Toronto, Richmond Hill, Markham, and other nearby areas.
Building a deck in your Markham backyard means picking between four main materials, each with its own quirks and perks. Most Markham homeowners end up choosing composite decking for its solid mix of durability, low maintenance, and weather resistance. Cedar gives you that classic wood look without breaking the bank, IPE is practically eternal, and PVC stands out for its moisture resistance.
We’ve built decks with all four materials around the GTA, and honestly, there isn’t a universal winner. Your choice really depends on your budget, how much maintenance you can stomach, and the vibe you want for your backyard hangout.
Each of these materials can make a gorgeous, practical deck that’ll last your family a long time. Let’s dig into the real differences, costs, and what you should think about for Markham’s wild weather.
Key Takeaways
- Composite decking usually gives Markham homeowners the best bang for their buck when it comes to durability, maintenance, and weather resistance.
- Costs are all over the place—cedar starts cheap, while IPE and composite ask for a bigger upfront commitment.
- Design flexibility, maintenance, and how tricky installation gets all change a lot depending on what you pick.
Key Differences Between Composite, PVC, IPE, and Cedar Decking
Every decking material has a unique makeup and set of strengths (and headaches) that affect how they’ll handle Markham’s unpredictable weather. Knowing these basics helps you match the right deck to your needs and wallet.
Material Composition and Structure
Cedar decking comes from natural softwood, loaded with oils that help it shrug off a bit of moisture. Its fibres let it soak up and release water as needed.
IPE sits at the top of the wood deck food chain. This Brazilian hardwood is super dense, packed with oils, and shrugs off moisture, bugs, and decay like it’s nothing.
Composite decking mixes recycled wood fibres with plastic, usually polyethylene. You get boards that look like wood but need way less babysitting.
PVC decking is pure polyvinyl chloride—no wood in sight. That solid plastic build means nothing’s there to rot or attract bugs.
We notice that the makeup of each material changes how heavy it is, how you have to install it, and how it holds up over time. Cedar and IPE swell and shrink with the temperature, but composite and PVC stay more stable.
How Each Material Performs in Canadian Climates
Markham’s wild freeze-thaw swings and temperature jumps from -20°C to +35°C put every deck material through the wringer.
Cedar handles winter cold but needs annual staining to keep out moisture and the sun’s UV rays. Skip the maintenance, and you’ll see cracks and splits after a few freeze-thaw cycles.
IPE is tough as nails in Canadian weather. It turns silver-grey as it ages, but rarely cracks or splits—even when the thermometer goes nuts.
Composite decking stays pretty steady through temperature swings but might expand a bit in the heat. Good brands fend off mould and mildew, even when it gets muggy.
PVC decking laughs at moisture and doesn’t let mould get a foothold. The downside? Dark colours can get scorching hot in summer sun, and it can expand more than the others.
Lifespan and Durability
How long your deck lasts depends a lot on how you take care of it and how it’s installed:
| Material | Expected Lifespan | Maintenance Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar | 15-20 years | Annual staining/sealing |
| IPE | 25-50+ years | Minimal (optional oiling) |
| Composite | 20-30 years | Occasional cleaning |
| PVC | 25-30+ years | Minimal cleaning only |
IPE blows everything else out of the water for longevity. We’ve seen IPE decks still going strong after decades with just a bit of cleaning.
Cedar needs the most TLC but can hit 20 years if you keep up with it. Let it go, and Canadian weather will chew it up fast.
Composite and PVC decks keep their looks and performance for decades. Both stand up to fading, stains, and moisture better than wood.
Usually, the more you pay up front, the longer your deck will last, so splurging on IPE or high-end PVC can pay off in the long run.
Deck Design Options for Markham Backyards
Your Markham deck can be so much more than just a flat spot to put a grill. Each material brings its own style and installation tricks, letting you turn your backyard into something personal.
Visual Appeal and Aesthetics
Different materials really set different moods. Composite decking usually looks like wood, with colours that barely change even after brutal Ontario winters.
TimberTech and similar brands come in earthy tones that fit right in with Markham’s older neighbourhoods. These boards hold their colour, dodging that weathered look untreated wood gets.
PVC decking gives you a crisp, uniform look, though you don’t get as many colour choices. Those colours do stick around longer than most composite options.
IPE is a stunner—deep chocolate brown with tight grains. We often suggest IPE if you want a luxury hardwood vibe that eventually fades to a classy silver-grey.
Cedar starts off with warm gold tones and ages to a soft grey. If you’re after a laid-back, cottage feel, cedar’s natural aging is hard to beat.
Custom Patterns and Board Layouts
We love mixing things up with board layouts to add some flair. Diagonal boards look sharp but eat up more material and take more time to cut.
Herringbone works great with shorter boards, especially in seating areas. Picture frame borders in contrasting colours or materials can really make the deck pop.
Mixing board widths—say, 5¼” and 8″—breaks up the lines and keeps things interesting. We’ve blended different TimberTech profiles for custom looks that clients love.
Parquet squares and basketweave patterns fit more formal gardens. These take skill (and patience) to get right, especially with premium materials like IPE.
Maintenance and Upkeep Requirements
Some decking materials are high-maintenance, others are almost set-and-forget. Cedar needs the most attention, composite asks for a quick clean now and then, and PVC is about as easy as it gets.
Cleaning and Staining Needs
Cedar keeps us busiest—hundreds of decks in Markham have taught us that. Expect to clean and stain it every year to keep it looking good and protected.
Staining means power washing, letting it dry, and brushing on a quality stain. We usually block off 6-8 hours for a standard 300-square-foot deck.
Composite is a lot easier. Most brands like TimberTech just need a soap-and-water scrub twice a year. Still, watch for mould or mildew—sometimes you’ll need a special cleaner.
Spills and grease? Wipe those up quick. But you’ll never be sanding or staining composite boards.
PVC decking is the easiest. Usually, a quick hose-down every few months does the trick. For stubborn spots, a little mild soap and a soft brush work fine.
IPE gives you two paths: oil it twice a year to keep that rich brown, or let it fade to silver. Either way, start with a good cleaning and deck brightener.
Resistance to Rot, Insects, and Fading
Cedar’s oils fend off bugs at first, but that protection fades. Skip the stain, and cedar can start to rot in just a few wet years.
We’ve seen untreated cedar decks go soft and need new boards after a rainy season or two.
Composite is great at dodging rot and bugs since there’s barely any real wood in there. Early composite decks faded badly, but now brands like TimberTech use UV blockers to keep colours strong for decades. The plastic shell also keeps out moisture and mould.
PVC wins for resisting rot, bugs, and fading. Nothing for bugs to eat, nothing to rot, and good brands add UV stabilizers to keep colours from washing out.
IPE is so dense that bugs and rot barely touch it. It’ll last 40+ years untreated, though it does fade without oil.
Cost Breakdown and Budget Considerations
Deck costs aren’t just about what you pay at the store—installation, upkeep, and how long it lasts all add up. Cedar and composite start at different price points, and PVC sits at the high end but could save you money over time.
Initial Investment and Material Costs
Cedar is the cheapest way to go in Markham, usually $20-30 per square foot installed. It’s a solid pick for big decks when the budget is tight.
Composite runs $30-60 per square foot installed, depending on the brand and how fancy you get. Top-shelf composite with realistic wood looks and UV protection costs more.
PVC comes in at $30-50 per square foot installed. It needs special fasteners and some extra labour, which can bump up the price.
For a 300 square foot deck in Markham, here’s what we usually see:
| Material | Material Cost | Installation | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar | $4,500-6,000 | $1,500-2,400 | $6,000-8,400 |
| Composite | $6,000-12,000 | $3,000-6,000 | $9,000-18,000 |
| PVC | $6,000-9,000 | $3,000-6,000 | $9,000-15,000 |
Long-Term Value and Return on Investment
Cedar will cost you $300-500 a year for staining and sealing. Over 15 years, that’s another $4,500-7,500. Usually, cedar decks need replacing after 12-18 years, depending on how well you keep up with them.
Composite skips those maintenance costs—just the odd cleaning. Good brands last 25-30 years and come with solid warranties. The initial price can pay for itself by saving you on upkeep.
PVC costs more at the start but wins on lifetime savings. No maintenance, 30+ year lifespan, and we’ve seen 20-year-old PVC decks that still look fresh.
For resale, composite and PVC decks add more value to your home than cedar. Buyers love low-maintenance outdoor spaces, especially when Markham’s weather can be so rough on wood.
Installation and Structural Considerations
Each decking material needs its own approach for installation and support. The tools, framing, and even the spacing change depending on what you pick.
Framing and Support Structures
Cedar and IPE work with standard 16-inch joist spacing. We use pressure-treated lumber or steel for the frame, with concrete footings that go below the frost line—pretty much a must in Markham.
Composite decking is more flexible, so we tighten joist spacing to 12 inches. The boards expand and contract, so we leave 1/4-inch gaps between ends and use hidden fasteners so they can move a bit.
PVC needs the most support—also 12-inch spacing, sometimes with extra blocking. It expands a lot with temperature swings—up to 1 inch per 20 feet in Canadian weather.
We always dig footings down at least 42 inches to dodge frost heaving. Local codes can change, so we double-check every time.
Recommended Tools and Best Practices
Cedar goes in with regular carpentry tools: circular saw, drill, and deck screws. We pre-drill near the ends to stop splitting. Carbide-tipped blades give the cleanest cuts.
IPE is a beast—only carbide-tipped blades will do, and you have to pre-drill every hole. A hammer drill helps with concrete footings, and we usually rent a heavy-duty one for bigger jobs.
Composite and PVC need fine-tooth blades to keep the edges sharp. We use the fasteners and screws the manufacturer recommends. A chalk line helps keep everything straight.
Temperature really matters for composite and PVC. We avoid installing them below 10°C because they get brittle and tough to handle.
Additional Factors for Markham Homeowners
Besides just the material itself, Markham homeowners should think about environmental impact and how their deck will mesh with the rest of their home. These details can make a big difference in how happy you are with your deck in the long run—and how well it fits your property.
Environmental and Sustainability Considerations
Composite decking often uses recycled materials—plastic bags, sawmill wood fibers, that sort of thing. If you’re eco-conscious, it’s a solid pick.
Some brands even pack their boards with 95% recycled content. Most of the wood fibers come from sustainable forestry or reclaimed wood, which helps.
PVC decking is a bit of a mixed bag for the environment. It’s fully recyclable when you eventually replace it, but making it takes a lot of energy. On the plus side, PVC lasts for decades, so you won’t be swapping it out anytime soon.
IPE brings up some sustainability worries. Harvesting in South American rainforests isn’t always responsible, so stick with FSC-certified IPE if you go this route. Shipping it from Brazil adds to the carbon footprint, too.
Cedar is probably the greenest option if you can get it locally from Canadian forests. Cedar from British Columbia doesn’t have to travel far to Markham, which lowers the impact. It’s biodegradable and doesn’t need much processing.
Compatibility with Existing Doors and Roofing
Your deck should actually look like it belongs with your house—not like an afterthought. We see too many beautiful decks that just don’t fit with the rest of the exterior.
Cedar usually works well with most roofing, especially asphalt shingles and the metal roofs you see around Markham. Its warm colour plays nicely with both dark and light doors.
Composite decking comes in shades that look like real wood. Grey tones pair well with modern black or charcoal doors and metal roofing. Browns are classic for wood doors and earth-tone shingles.
PVC has the biggest colour selection—everything from bright white to deep browns. Lighter PVC looks great with white or cream doors, while darker shades can make a bold door colour pop.
IPE’s deep chocolate brown looks striking next to light doors and roofing. It really shines on homes with stone or brick exteriors and dark metal roofs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to questions we get all the time from Markham homeowners—stuff about durability, cost, weather, and how to balance what you pay now with what you’ll save later.
What are the pros and cons of composite decking versus PVC when it comes to durability and maintenance?
Composite decking usually lasts 25-30 years. You’ll want to give it a good wash with soap and water a couple times a year. Since it has wood fibers, it can soak up a bit of moisture, so clearing off leaves and dirt helps prevent stains.
PVC decking lasts even longer—30-50 years—and barely needs any care besides the occasional rinse. No wood means no water absorption and no mold.
From what we’ve seen around the GTA, PVC holds its colour better, too. Composite can fade after 10-15 years, but PVC pretty much looks the same for its whole life.
It really comes down to whether you want to pay less upfront for composite and put in a bit more work, or pay more for PVC and hardly think about it again.
Can you compare the initial costs and long-term value between IPE and cedar decking materials?
IPE is pricey at first—$8-15 per square foot, while cedar runs $3-8. But IPE can last 40-75 years if you take care of it. Cedar usually needs replacing after 15-20 years.
Cedar needs staining and sealing every year, which can run you $400-800 yearly for an average deck. IPE needs oiling every year or two, but you’re looking at similar maintenance costs.
If you do the math, IPE ends up cheaper after about 25 years, since you won’t be replacing it like you would cedar. For a 320-square-foot deck, you could go through cedar twice before IPE even thinks about giving out.
Plus, IPE boosts your home’s resale value because people know it’s top-notch and tough as nails.
How do cedar decks hold up in the intense summer sun, and what options do I have for longer-lasting materials?
Cedar fades to a silvery grey after 6-12 months in the sun if you skip the UV protection. South-facing decks in Markham really show this off in the summer.
Staining every year or two keeps the colour, but it’s a bit of a chore. Skip it, and you’ll see faster weathering—maybe even cracks or splits.
If you want something that lasts longer, capped composite or PVC with UV inhibitors is the way to go. They hardly fade, even on the sunniest decks.
IPE also holds up great. It weathers to a nice patina and keeps its strength for decades.
From various deck wood types, which is the most cost-effective over time, considering Canadian weather conditions?
Pressure-treated lumber is the cheapest upfront, but it needs the most TLC in our freeze-thaw winters. We usually see these decks needing a full replacement after 10-15 years due to water damage and splitting.
Cedar stands up better to the weather but still needs regular care. If you’re willing to keep up with the maintenance, it’s not a bad deal.
Composite decking starts to make more sense after about 15 years, since you don’t have to replace or stain it every year. That saves time and money.
IPE costs more at first, but it’s the best long-term value if you’re planning to stay put for a while.
What’s the best low-maintenance deck material recommended for a hassle-free backyard in Markham?
PVC decking is the winner for low maintenance. Just hose it down when it gets dirty—no staining, sealing, or refinishing needed.
Capped composite is a close second. It just needs a quick clean and maybe some debris cleared off now and then. The cap keeps out most stains and moisture.
We usually suggest PVC for folks who want to enjoy their deck, not spend weekends working on it. Sure, it costs more upfront, but the time you save is worth it.
Both options handle Canadian weather without the yearly scramble to maintain that comes with wood decks.
When selecting decking materials, which type generally comes out on top in the Canadian climate for balancing cost and quality?
Capped composite decking usually strikes the best balance of cost, performance, and aesthetics for most Markham homeowners. It’s less expensive than PVC and still holds up much better than traditional wood.
We’ve put in hundreds of composite decks, and honestly, they still look fantastic after 15+ years with barely any maintenance. The wood-like look appeals to folks who want that natural vibe but aren’t interested in constant upkeep.
If you’re dealing with extreme weather or have a waterfront property, PVC might be worth the extra money. Its total moisture resistance really stands out in tough Canadian conditions.
Homeowners watching their budgets often go for quality composite instead of cheaper wood—it just makes more sense in the long run, with lower maintenance and better durability.