Key takeaways
- Pressure-treated wood costs least and is the usual material for posts and frames. Cedar costs more, looks warmer, weighs less and resists rot naturally.
- Left bare, both turn grey. Plan on cleaning and staining or sealing every few years to keep the colour.
- Deck surfaces run $30–$55 per sq ft in pressure-treated, $45–$75 per sq ft in cedar and $55–$90 per sq ft in composite, plus HST.
- A 6 ft picnic table is $385 in pressure-treated and $555 in cedar, plus HST.
- How a project is built, especially below ground, matters more to its life than the species of the boards.
Pressure-treated wood is the budget choice and the usual material for posts and frames. Cedar costs more, but it's lighter, better-looking and naturally resistant to rot. Left unfinished, both weather to grey, and both need stain or sealer every few years to hold their colour. For decks there's a third option, composite, which costs the most up front and asks the least of you afterward.
Prices side by side
| Project | Pressure-treated | Cedar | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck (decking, frame and footings) | $30–$55 per sq ft | $45–$75 per sq ft | $55–$90 per sq ft |
| Custom pergola, about 10×12 ft | $5,000–$10,000 | $8,000–$18,000 | n/a |
| Picnic table, 6 ft | $385 | $555 | n/a |
| Picnic table, 8 ft | $430 | $605 | n/a |
All prices are plus HST. Deck figures leave out railings and stairs, and deck and pergola figures are planning ranges, not quotes. Picnic table prices are our set price per table, before delivery.
For fences, our standard 6 ft board-on-board fence is built on 6×6 pressure-treated posts with a 2×6 top rail and a 2×4 mid rail, and costs $100–$135 per linear ft, plus HST. Cedar is one of the choices that raises a fence price, along with gates, stain and horizontal designs.
To see how the difference adds up on a project your size, try the estimator on our pricing page.
Appearance and weathering
Cedar has a warmer colour and more visible grain, which is why people choose it for pergolas, tables and fences that are meant to be looked at. Pressure-treated lumber has a plainer look, but it takes stain well, so you can choose the colour you want.
Sun and rain change both woods. Without a finish, pressure-treated wood greys quickly and cedar fades to a silver-grey. Some homeowners like weathered cedar and leave it alone. If you want to keep the original colour, plan on sealing it.
Maintenance
- Pressure-treated: clean it and apply stain or sealer every few years. As it dries, boards can check (develop small surface cracks), cup or twist. Some checking is normal for this material.
- Cedar: the same cleaning and sealing if you want to hold the colour. It's softer than pressure-treated wood, so it dents and scratches more easily, which shows on a busy deck or a well-used table.
- Composite (for decks): a wash once or twice a year, following the manufacturer's care guide. Dark colours get hot in full summer sun, and scratches can show.
Weight and handling
Cedar is lighter than pressure-treated lumber. On a picnic table you'll notice that every time you move it to mow or follow the shade. A pressure-treated table is heavier, which suits a table that stays in one spot but makes rearranging the yard more work. On fences, decks and pergolas the weight matters more to the crew building it than to you.
Durability
Pressure-treated lumber is softwood that has been treated to resist rot and insects. Cedar resists rot naturally. Either can serve well outdoors for years, and what usually shortens their life is the way they're built:
- Ground contact. Posts and frames take the most punishment. That's why our standard fence uses 6×6 pressure-treated posts, and why most cedar decks, and many cedar fences, still rely on a pressure-treated frame or posts.
- Frost. Footings and posts that aren't deep enough get pushed around by frost, whatever they're made of. Mississauga's deck guidance calls for footings at least 1.2 m (4 ft) below finished grade.
- Water. Wood that stays wet wears out first: the bottom of a fence buried in snow all winter, or a deck with no airflow underneath.
- Composite boards carry long manufacturer warranties, but a deck is only as durable as the wood frame under the boards. Check what the warranty covers before you compare.
Where each one makes sense
Fences. Pressure-treated posts either way. Pressure-treated boards give the best value for a privacy fence, and cedar boards cost more for a warmer look. Our board-on-board fence guide explains how our standard fence is built.
Decks. Pressure-treated for a tight budget, a low deck or a rental property. Cedar if you want real wood and don't mind the upkeep. Composite if you plan to stay for years and would rather not stain. Whatever the boards, the frame is usually pressure-treated.
Pergolas. Pressure-treated is the budget option and stains well. Cedar is the better-looking choice for a structure that's always on display. Either way a pergola is tall and catches wind, so solid footings matter more than the species.
Picnic tables. Pressure-treated is the budget-friendly, durable choice for a table that lives outside all year. Cedar is lighter to move and warmer to look at. Ours are built in Mississauga, with an optional umbrella hole. More than 130 have been sold, and we deliver anywhere in Ontario.
The rules don't change with the material
Your choice of wood doesn't change the permit question. In Mississauga, a deck more than 0.61 m (2 ft) above the ground needs a building permit whether it's pressure-treated, cedar or composite. See deck permits in the GTA for other cities. Fences don't need a building permit in Mississauga, but the fence by-law limits height: generally 2 m in a rear yard and 1 m in a front yard, or 1.5 m if the front fence is open construction. Our fence height guide has more on height limits.
Get a price for your project
See our deck, fence, pergola and picnic table pages for what's included, or book a free on-site estimate anywhere in Mississauga, Toronto, Oakville or the GTA. Ask for pressure-treated and cedar prices side by side so you can compare.
Sources
- City of Mississauga: When a building permit is required
- City of Mississauga: Fences
- City of Mississauga: Deck, porch or balcony permit documents
General information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change and vary by municipality, so confirm them for your property. Prices are planning ranges, plus HST, not quotes.