Cedar & Natural Wood Decks in Muskoka

The Case for Real Wood

Nothing matches the look and feel of real wood on a cottage deck. The warm tones of western red cedar, the grain patterns that catch afternoon light, the smell of fresh-cut boards during construction. For cottage owners who want their outdoor space to feel like a natural extension of the lakefront property, cedar is still the right call.

Cedar contains natural oils that resist rot and insect damage better than most softwoods. It is lighter than pressure-treated lumber, which makes it easier to work with on remote properties where materials sometimes travel by barge. And unlike composite, cedar stays cool underfoot on hot summer days, which matters when you are walking barefoot between the cottage and the dock.

Western Red Cedar vs. Eastern White Cedar

Most deck-grade cedar in Ontario is western red cedar shipped from British Columbia. It is denser, more dimensionally stable, and naturally more rot-resistant than the eastern white cedar that grows locally. Eastern white cedar works well for fencing, but for deck boards that take direct foot traffic and weather exposure, western red is the standard.

We source kiln-dried, S4S (surfaced four sides) western red cedar in select or better grades. Kiln drying reduces the moisture content before installation, which means less warping and cupping after the boards go down. We also stock clear grade cedar for clients who want a knot-free surface.

Our Cedar Deck Building Process

We start every cedar deck with a proper substructure. The framing is built from pressure-treated lumber rated for ground contact, set on concrete piers sunk below the frost line or rock-pinned directly into Canadian Shield granite. We space joists at 12 inches on centre for cedar (tighter than the 16-inch spacing used for composite) because natural wood needs more support to stay flat over time.

Boards are pre-drilled and face-screwed with stainless steel deck screws. We leave a consistent 3/16-inch gap between boards for drainage and allow for seasonal expansion. Every cut end gets a coat of end-grain sealer before installation to prevent moisture from wicking into the exposed grain.

After the deck is built, we let the wood acclimatize for two to four weeks before applying the first coat of stain. Staining too soon traps moisture inside the boards, which leads to peeling and blistering. We apply two coats of a penetrating oil-based stain, working it into the grain with a brush rather than spraying, which gives a deeper, more even finish.

Cost and Maintenance Expectations

Cedar decking typically costs $35 to $60 per square foot installed in Muskoka, depending on the cedar grade and the complexity of the build. The initial cost is lower than composite, but factor in the ongoing maintenance: you will need to sand lightly and re-stain every one to two years, which runs $3 to $5 per square foot if you hire it out.

Over a 20-year period, the total cost of ownership for cedar and composite ends up surprisingly close. The difference comes down to personal preference. Some cottage owners enjoy the ritual of maintaining their deck. Others would rather not think about it. Both are valid reasons.