Composite vs Wood Aging
Watch a pressure-treated deck weather across 25 years next to a composite. Use the year scrubber to skip to any year, the Sealing toggle to see what biennial sealer-and-stain maintenance actually changes, and orbit the 3D scene to compare board faces side-by-side.
- How fast PT silvers + when checking starts
- What sealing every 2 years actually accomplishes
- How much composite color shifts over 25 years (~5%)
- When the visual gap becomes obvious (year 4-6)
- Your exact 25-year cost — use the cost calculators below
- Structural failure rate (rot, fastener corrosion)
- Snow + ice impact on wood (regional variance)
- Cap-defect composite recalls (Trex MoistureShield 2009 etc.)
Get your real-world cost numbers
Aging FAQ
Does composite decking really last 25 years?
Yes — premium capped composites (Trex Transcend, TimberTech AZEK Vintage, Fiberon Paramount) carry 25-50 year fade-and-stain warranties from their manufacturers. The animation shows ~5% darkening over 25 years, which matches manufacturer-published UV exposure data. Lower-tier composites (entry Trex Enhance, Fiberon Good Life) hold color about 15-20 years before noticeable fade.
How fast does pressure-treated wood actually silver?
Visible silvering starts within 6-9 months of installation in direct sun. The animation accelerates this: noticeable color shift by year 2, fully silvered (gray-pewter) by year 6-8 without sealing. With biennial Thompson's WaterSeal or Cabot Australian Timber Oil, PT holds its warm brown for 12-15 years before silver dominates.
What's the maintenance cost difference over 25 years?
PT requires biennial sealing (~$0.85/sqft per cycle) + every-5-year stain refresh (~$1.45/sqft). For a typical 320 sqft deck: $0.85 × 320 × 12 cycles + $1.45 × 320 × 5 cycles = $5,584 over 25 years. Composite: $0/year for cleaning supplies + power-wash 1×/year you'd do anyway = ~$0 added. Pure maintenance delta over 25 years: ~$5,500.
Does the 'sealed every 2 years' toggle reflect reality?
Yes, but with caveat: it assumes the homeowner actually follows the schedule. 60% of PT deck owners skip 1+ sealing cycles by year 5. The animation shows what happens IF you stick to the routine — color holds ~50% of the way back to fresh, roughness/checking stay minimal. Skip cycles and the wood ages closer to the 'no sealing' track.
What are those dark lines that emerge on the wood after year 6?
End-checking — surface cracks that form parallel to the wood grain as the lumber repeatedly wets and dries. Cosmetic, not structural, but they catch dirt and accelerate further aging. Sealed wood gets ~40% fewer checks because the seal reduces moisture cycling. Composite never checks — it's a homogeneous polymer-wood blend with no grain to crack along.
Which option is better for total cost of ownership?
Mid-tier composite (Trex Enhance, Fiberon Good Life) typically wins TCO at year 12-15: lower upfront vs PT, then PT's maintenance + replacement-board costs catch up. Premium composite (Trex Transcend, AZEK Vintage) hits TCO parity around year 18-22. Use the Composite Deck Cost Calculator + PT Deck Cost Calculator side-by-side at your exact dimensions for the real number.
The Sealing toggle assumes you actually re-seal every 2 years. Realistically, 60% of PT owners skip 1+ cycles by year 5 — work, weather, kids, life. If you're honest with yourself about your follow-through, the “no sealing” track is what your deck will look like.
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