Tune into any news channel these days, and it’s hard to ignore the frequency of natural disasters (devastating wildfires, hurricane-level winds, heavy rains and flooding) impacting communities across the country. Costing millions in damages, these extreme events place increasing responsibility on the backs of contractors to prioritize resilience in every aspect of construction, including deck building. Because when you think about it, decks are constantly exposed to the elements. That means the deck frame needs serious staying power. Call it disaster preparedness. So, what is the best framing for a deck?

For years, wood was the go-to deck frame material of choice because of its familiarity and long-standing use in deck construction. But things are quickly changing. Many contractors, frustrated with the declining quality of today’s pressure-treated lumber, are calling wood deck framing outdated and reconsidering their options. They’re asking the right question: What is the longest-lasting deck framing system?

Contractors around the country are trading their outdated deck building methods for long-lasting steel deck framing and have not looked back.

Credit Image 1: NADRA

Credit Image 2: Fine Homebuilding

Wood deck framing succumbs to Mother Nature when steel stands strong

To be fair, Mother Nature is tough on any outdoor structure. But a deck frame built with a strong and durable building material increases the chances of an outdoor living space surviving unexpected strikes. For homeowners who live in areas that experience extreme weather events and want to invest confidently in their outdoor living space, using steel delivers real peace of mind. The long-lasting building material offers the winning combination of superior strength and staying power. All muscle and brawn, steel has a yield strength approximately 10 times greater than wood and can support heavier loads (up to 250 psf) without compromising structural integrity.

Incredibly durable, a steel deck frame resists most tangible threats that plague old-school wood deck framing, such as deterioration after long-term exposure to moisture, splitting under hurricane-force winds and warping as a result of extreme temperature changes. In application, steel profiles will remain straight and true over time. This makes for an enduring, dimensionally stable deck framing solution that keeps the surface boards flat and smooth underfoot.

Wood deck framing is combustible and vulnerable in fire-prone areas

Things get more complicated in areas at high risk of wildfires. Wood deck framing is combustible, which means it can act as a bridge for flames to spread directly to the home it is attached to. Even fire-retardant-treated (FRT) wood, which is considered a fire-safe option, demands ongoing maintenance to retain its fire performance and the treatments can alter its load-bearing capacity.

Steel completely sidelines the concerns associated with lumber and FRT wood. A noncombustible solution, steel deck framing is ignition- and fire-resistant. It meets all deck building codes for fire safety, including tough WUI building codes, NFPA 1144 codes and the strict California Chapter 7A requirement, making it an ideal choice for homeowners living in wildfire-prone areas.

Underscoring its safety factor, the Evolution steel deck framing system from Fortress Building Products received a Class-A fire-resistant rating after completing the ASTM E84-21a, Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials. Evolution’s steel components also score safety points with the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), which recommends using noncombustible components in deck assemblies to reduce the vulnerability of a home and any nearby structures.

No homeowner should have to compromise on their outdoor living dreams because of where they live. Give them staying power with Evolution steel deck framing, which serves up strength, durability and a 25-year limited manufacturer warranty. No specialized tools required, the game-changing deck framing system includes an interlocking joist and ledger system for an installation process that’s very similar to lumber. Reach out to your local Fortress Building Products rep today to put Evolution to the test.