When asked to picture a deck, it’s easy to conjure up mental images of a finished outdoor space, complete with stylish railings, beautiful surface boards and a luxurious outdoor kitchen or hot tub. After all, these outdoor features have become synonymous with modern deck design, “an expected ‘standard’ for new luxury home builds,” reports Forbes.com. But here’s the reality of the situation. It’s actually the not-so-glamourous elements, like the deck substructure, that matter most when it comes to building a deck that serves up lasting performance and style.

The right deck substructure is what makes it all possible, providing the strength needed to (literally) support today’s ever-evolving list of deck functions. And, as homeowners put increasingly large loads on their decks, it has never been more important to ask the question: What is the proper support for a deck? Many contractors and DIY homeowners agree that there is one answer to that question: steel.

Strong steel profiles support sought-after outdoor amenities

All muscle and brawn, steel has an ultimate yield strength of approximately 10 times greater than wood. With this kind of strength, steel profiles handle significantly larger loads than lumber - to up to 200 psf. So, building a deck substructure with steel makes it possible to "deck out" the ultimate outdoor living space. What's more, steel's load-bearing capacity has a direct correlation with its ability to extend to greater spans. In fact, steel profiles can span as long as 20 feet between supports. This means more usable space between the first, second and even third levels of a deck.

Enduring deck substructures made from steel make long-lasting decks

But as any contractor knows, strength is only half of the equation. The deck substructure also has to last. After all, a deck is constantly exposed to elements. Incredibly durable, steel can sidestep common issues that plague traditional deck substructures made from wood, such as deterioration after long-term exposure to moisture. Steel profiles also have the dimensional stability to resist warping due to extreme temperature fluctuations. This quality helps contractors and homeowners make sure that surface boards stay flat and smooth underfoot, which is safer and more aesthetically pleasing to look at.  

Steel is also non-combustible. This makes it a smart choice for homes in areas prone to wildfires or densely populated urban areas where fire spread is a concern. A fire-hardened option, deck substructures that use steel help reduce the vulnerability of a home and any surrounding structures.

Comprehensive systems offer a straightforward installation process

To construct a strong and durable deck substructure, professional deck builders and DIY homeowners alike can turn to ready-to-assemble framing systems like Evolution from Fortress Building Products. No specialized tools required, the game-changing framing system includes an intuitive ledger and convenient joist lengths for an installation process similar to lumber. In fact, some argue that using a comprehensive steel framing system is actually easier than working with the time-honored building material. There’s no playing in the lumber, no grading it and no taping.

Watch our step-by-step installation tutorial available on our YouTube Channel.

Next steps

Want to capitalize on the proven performance that a steel deck substructure offers? Check out our Where to Buy page to locate a dealer near you or Find a Contractor who can help you get the job done.