Materials guide

Which material should you build with?

How long each one lasts in Vancouver weather, what it costs, and what you have to do to it. The prices are from our own quotes, installed, before tax.

Fences

Prices are per linear foot for a 6 ft fence, posts in concrete, old fence removed. Shorter fences and long runs cost less per foot. Gates, lattice tops and slopes add to it. The estimator works it out for your yard.

6 ft cedar privacy fence, Surrey
MaterialLastsUpkeepInstalledLooksBest for
Western Red Cedar20 to 30 yearsStain every 3 to 5 years, or let it silver$72 to $108 per ftWarm, natural, the classic Vancouver fence. Repair one board at a time.Most back yards. Anyone who wants a fence that looks built, not bought.
Pressure-treated15 to 25 yearsStain every 3 to 5 years$62 to $94 per ftGreenish when new, greys out. Takes stain well.Budget fences, utility areas, and anywhere the fence is not the view.
Composite25 to 30 years and moreHose it off$330 to $400 per ftWood-look boards in an aluminum frame. Dark browns and greys.Front yards and anyone who never wants to stain again.
Vinyl20 to 30 yearsHose it off$88 to $112 per ftWhite, tan or grey panels. Clean and bright, less natural.Low-upkeep privacy on a budget. Side yards and pool areas.
Aluminum30 years and moreNone$420 to $600 per ftSlim black horizontal slats or pickets. Modern.Front yards, pools and anywhere you want to see through or make a statement.
Chain link20 years and moreNone$150 to $240 per ftGalvanized or black vinyl-coated mesh.Commercial lots, dog runs, side yards on a budget.

Decks

Prices are per square foot for a new ground-level deck with footings, frame and boards. Raised decks, stairs and railings add to it. New boards on a sound frame cost about half.

Grey composite deck, Dunbar
MaterialLastsUpkeepInstalledLooksBest for
Western Red Cedar15 to 25 yearsStain every 2 to 3 years$38 to $60 per sq ftWarm and soft underfoot. Weathers if left alone.Cedar houses, stairs and railings, tighter budgets.
Pressure-treated15 to 20 yearsStain every 2 to 3 years$28 to $45 per sq ftPlain. Stains to any colour.Frames, low decks, budget builds.
Composite25 to 50 yearsWash it$40 to $65 per sq ftGreys, browns and cedar tones. Hidden fasteners.Anyone who wants the deck to look the same in ten years.

Railings

Per linear foot, installed to the BC Building Code. Stairs are about $250 to $400 per step on top.

Cedar$75 to $95 per ftMatches a cedar deck. Stain with the deck.
Aluminum$145 to $165 per ftBlack powder coat, pickets or glass. Never needs paint.
Composite$110 to $170 per ftMatches composite decking. Heavier look.
Black aluminum railing on a composite deck, Dunbar
Cedar stairs and railing, stained
Cedar. Warm, repairable, wants stain every few years.
Composite fence in an aluminum frame
Composite. Costs more on day one, nothing after.

Our take

Cedar for most fences, gates and structures. Composite for most decks. Aluminum railings on composite decks, cedar railings on cedar ones. Vinyl, aluminum and chain link fences when the yard or the budget calls for them. We tell you which on the site visit, and we are happy to be talked out of it.

Questions we get asked

Which lasts longest?

Aluminum, then composite, then cedar, then pressure-treated. But a cedar fence built properly, kept off the ground and stained now and then, outlasts a badly built anything.

Why is cedar the one you recommend most?

It grows here, it resists rot and insects on its own, it looks right on a Vancouver lot, and you can fix it one board at a time. It is also the material our crew builds best.

Is composite worth the extra money?

If you hate staining, yes. Over ten years the cedar fence costs you two or three stain jobs. The composite costs more on day one and nothing after. For a deck the gap is smaller, and composite is often the better buy.

Do you use pressure-treated posts under cedar?

Yes. Pressure-treated 4x4 posts in concrete and a pressure-treated 2x6 kick board at the bottom. Cedar above the ground, treated wood where it meets the ground. That is the combination that lasts.

Prices are typical ranges from our quotes in 2025 and 2026, before tax, and change with lumber prices and the job. Your written quote is the number.

Ready when you are.

Free site visit, written quote with drawings within 48 hours, 2-year warranty.

Book a free site visit Call (604) 265-4556