By factoring in the anticipated size of your project along with the estimated costs for material, you'll have a better idea of just how much it will cost to build a high-performance composite deck. To give you a general idea, the average material costs for a deck run about $12.12 per square foot.

Cedar, redwood or wood composites are more expensive, ranging from $35 to $60 per square foot installed. At those prices: A 16x20 foot deck made with pressure-treated wood would cost $9,600 to $11,200. A 20x20 deck using the same material would cost $12,000 to $14,000.

Traditional wood decks have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. Because composite decking is weather, insect, and rot resistant, making it last for 25 to 30 years or longer.