Composite vs Timber Decking Sydney | The Decksmith
• Very low maintenance — just wash with soap and water
• Excellent resistance to fading, scratching, and moisture in coastal Sydney
• Faster installation = lower labour cost
• Consistent colour and modern look
• Long lifespan with minimal upkeep
• Higher material cost upfront
• Can feel less “natural” than real timber Timber
• Beautiful natural warmth and character
• Excellent long-term durability when maintained
• Traditional Australian look that many homeowners love
• Requires regular oiling/sealing (every 1–2 years)
• Higher ongoing maintenance cost and effort
• More susceptible to weathering, splitting, and insects if not looked after
Price vs Cost — They're Not the Same Number
Price is what you pay on the day the deck is built. Cost is what that deck actually takes out of your pocket over the years you own it.
Timber’s price is often lower upfront. But timber needs ongoing oiling and maintenance — realistically every 12–18 months — and on an exposed or damp Eastern Suburbs site, most timber decks will need a full board replacement at some point to match the lifespan of a correctly built composite deck. Add up the oil, the labour to apply it, and the eventual replacement, and the ‘cheaper’ timber deck often costs more over its life than composite.
Composite with a properly engineered frame has none of that ongoing spend. No oiling, no sanding, no expected mid-life replacement. Higher price on day one, lower cost over 25+ years.
Why Composite Isn't Always More Expensive to Install
Composite material costs more per metre than most timber. But the real cost difference comes from labour, not materials. Modern composite systems use hidden fixings — no pre-drilling, no countersinking — and boards come dead straight and uniform in length, unlike timber, which needs sorting and cutting to true. On a job of any size, that labour saving can outweigh composite’s higher material cost. See a real example: our Millboard deck rebuild in Vaucluse, built over exposed rock with engineered aluminium bearers and Lowdeck framing.