The Fortress 411

Standing out in the deck-building industry takes more than craftsmanship – it takes strategy. Joe Frith, founder of Mountain Deck, shares how builders can position themselves as steel deck frame experts to attract more clients and build long-term trust. This Fortress 411 breaks down how marketing your expertise and materials can set you apart.

Joe Frith, founder of Mountain Deck Construction, knows firsthand the stakes of building in fire-prone areas – he’s seen friends, family, and clients forced to evacuate. In this Fortress® 411, he explains why choosing fire-rated materials, like Fortress Evolution steel deck framing, isn’t just smart – it’s the most resilient solution he’s seen for protecting lives, property, and peace of mind.

Is steel more expensive than wood? It’s one of the most common questions we hear. In the final video of Joe Frith’s series, he explains why steel framing is worth the investment. From faster installation and lower long-term maintenance to unmatched strength and durability, steel delivers value that wood simply can’t match. Watch now to see why Joe calls it the smartest choice for builders and clients alike.

20-year deck building veteran Michael Scott of Simcoe Decks has a lot of steel frame builds under his belt—it’s why his clients trust him and fellow contractors look up to him. He has worked with a few other alternative framing systems in the past but found the learning curve to be steep… he ultimately decided to make the switch to Evolution Framing because of its similarities to traditional wood framing and he hasn’t looked back. Michael shares his experience in this Fortress 411.

This Fortress 411 is brought to you by custom deck builder and social media legend Kevin Choquette, owner of @ravinbuilders. Kevin brought his contagious energy and expert steel framing game to the first annual Master Class 3-day training event in Dallas, where he sat down with us to look at the value in framing with steel versus framing with pressure treated wood.

Levi Tippetts, President of Custom TC Decks, is the latest deck builder to make the switch from framing with wood to framing with steel. Now with Evolution Framing, he can offer a stronger, longer-lasting, more durable framing system to clients in his area. Press Play on this Fortress 411 to hear more from Levi.

"We've been waiting for something like this to happen," said Michael Miller of M3 Decks, who joined us in Dallas for the first annual Master Class workshop. In this Fortress 411, Michael hits on the value of this groundbreaking industry event, from getting hands-on training with the Evolution steel framing system to the comradery and community that comes with joining a network of like-minded deck builders.

Nick Stevens with Legacy Decks & Outdoor Living and Legacy Decks Academy knows a thing or two about selling, estimating and working with steel framing. The biggest advantage of framing with #steel according to Nick and his team? Not having to go back for repair work or warranty work. Check out this Fortress 411 for more expert insight from this industry pro.

Of course we jumped at the chance to sit down with Scott Kelly of Precision Construction at our first annual Master Class training event in Dallas. In this Fortress 411, Scott explains why steel framing is the best way to ensure his clients’ investment in their wildfire-safe outdoor space is money well spent. Watch this video to hear from the Godfather of #Steel himself.

Listen, we're not in the business of putting deck builders out of jobs. But saving you time on faster installations with less client callbacks? Yeah, okay... we're guilty. Hear what the team at Deck Building 101 has to say about our products.

Your next deck build doesn't have to be a race against the clock. Don't believe us? Chris from Perth Construction lays out his experience building efficient outdoor experiences with Evolution steel framing in this Fortress 411!

The team at @californiadeckpros fearlessly takes on deck projects that others typically steer clear of. With our Class-A fire-rated Evolution #steel framing, they're able to transform rugged California hillsides into unforgettable outdoor experiences that will last. The owner, Blake, shares his experience in this Fortress 411:

Let's be honest... trying anything for the first time can be overwhelming. But when you hear all the buzz happening around steel deck framing, it's only a matter of time before you give it a go. This Fortress 411 is brought to you by @WestCoast Decks for their very first Evolution steel project in Sunset Cliffs, CA. Check it out!

Every deck build by Precision Construction is a work of art, showcasing Scott's meticulous attention to detail and out-of-the-box deck designs with #steel. So what does a 15-year deck veteran have to say about getting started with Evolution steel deck framing? Hear from the Godfather himself in this Fortress 411:

Simcoe Decks are one of those teams and they've made Evolution #steel framing one of their superpowers. So what goes into designing best-in-class outdoor spaces that can withstand the Canadian elements? Check out what Mike, the owner, has to share.

Standing out in the deck-building industry takes more than craftsmanship – it takes strategy. Joe Frith, founder of Mountain Deck, shares how builders can position themselves as steel deck frame experts to attract more clients and build long-term trust. This Fortress 411 breaks down how marketing your expertise and materials can set you apart.

Joe Frith, founder of Mountain Deck Construction, knows firsthand the stakes of building in fire-prone areas – he’s seen friends, family, and clients forced to evacuate. In this Fortress® 411, he explains why choosing fire-rated materials, like Fortress Evolution steel deck framing, isn’t just smart – it’s the most resilient solution he’s seen for protecting lives, property, and peace of mind.

Is steel more expensive than wood? It’s one of the most common questions we hear. In the final video of Joe Frith’s series, he explains why steel framing is worth the investment. From faster installation and lower long-term maintenance to unmatched strength and durability, steel delivers value that wood simply can’t match. Watch now to see why Joe calls it the smartest choice for builders and clients alike.

20-year deck building veteran Michael Scott of Simcoe Decks has a lot of steel frame builds under his belt—it’s why his clients trust him and fellow contractors look up to him. He has worked with a few other alternative framing systems in the past but found the learning curve to be steep… he ultimately decided to make the switch to Evolution Framing because of its similarities to traditional wood framing and he hasn’t looked back. Michael shares his experience in this Fortress 411.

This Fortress 411 is brought to you by custom deck builder and social media legend Kevin Choquette, owner of @ravinbuilders. Kevin brought his contagious energy and expert steel framing game to the first annual Master Class 3-day training event in Dallas, where he sat down with us to look at the value in framing with steel versus framing with pressure treated wood.

Levi Tippetts, President of Custom TC Decks, is the latest deck builder to make the switch from framing with wood to framing with steel. Now with Evolution Framing, he can offer a stronger, longer-lasting, more durable framing system to clients in his area. Press Play on this Fortress 411 to hear more from Levi.

"We've been waiting for something like this to happen," said Michael Miller of M3 Decks, who joined us in Dallas for the first annual Master Class workshop. In this Fortress 411, Michael hits on the value of this groundbreaking industry event, from getting hands-on training with the Evolution steel framing system to the comradery and community that comes with joining a network of like-minded deck builders.

Nick Stevens with Legacy Decks & Outdoor Living and Legacy Decks Academy knows a thing or two about selling, estimating and working with steel framing. The biggest advantage of framing with #steel according to Nick and his team? Not having to go back for repair work or warranty work. Check out this Fortress 411 for more expert insight from this industry pro.

Of course we jumped at the chance to sit down with Scott Kelly of Precision Construction at our first annual Master Class training event in Dallas. In this Fortress 411, Scott explains why steel framing is the best way to ensure his clients’ investment in their wildfire-safe outdoor space is money well spent. Watch this video to hear from the Godfather of #Steel himself.

Listen, we're not in the business of putting deck builders out of jobs. But saving you time on faster installations with less client callbacks? Yeah, okay... we're guilty. Hear what the team at Deck Building 101 has to say about our products.

Your next deck build doesn't have to be a race against the clock. Don't believe us? Chris from Perth Construction lays out his experience building efficient outdoor experiences with Evolution steel framing in this Fortress 411!

The team at @californiadeckpros fearlessly takes on deck projects that others typically steer clear of. With our Class-A fire-rated Evolution #steel framing, they're able to transform rugged California hillsides into unforgettable outdoor experiences that will last. The owner, Blake, shares his experience in this Fortress 411:

Let's be honest... trying anything for the first time can be overwhelming. But when you hear all the buzz happening around steel deck framing, it's only a matter of time before you give it a go. This Fortress 411 is brought to you by @WestCoast Decks for their very first Evolution steel project in Sunset Cliffs, CA. Check it out!

Every deck build by Precision Construction is a work of art, showcasing Scott's meticulous attention to detail and out-of-the-box deck designs with #steel. So what does a 15-year deck veteran have to say about getting started with Evolution steel deck framing? Hear from the Godfather himself in this Fortress 411:

Simcoe Decks are one of those teams and they've made Evolution #steel framing one of their superpowers. So what goes into designing best-in-class outdoor spaces that can withstand the Canadian elements? Check out what Mike, the owner, has to share.