Lake houses are often among the most sought-after properties on the real estate market and it's easy to understand why. The picturesque views and serene environment beyond the edge of the deck are hard to beat. And of course, there's also the appeal of water-based activities like boating, swimming and fishing. One of the best ways that homeowners can fully enjoy all that lakefront living has to offer is to commission an inviting outdoor living space. For many, a dream outdoor living space on the lake includes an expansive deck that maximizes their water views.

To give clients a safe and durable lake house deck that lasts, contractors need to carefully consider the framing material. Because here's the thing. The right deck substructure is what makes it all possible, providing the strength needed to (literally) support today's evolving list of deck functions. Steel deck framing, which is all muscle and brawn, is up for the job.

To understand what makes steel deck framing a smarter choice to materialize a homeowner’s vision for their lakefront deck, we sat down with Fortress® Alliance Member Nick Stevens of Legacy Decks and Outdoor Living and Legacy Decks Academy. Stevens shares with us why he recommends steel to his lakefront clients in and around Greenville, South Carolina.

Q: First off, what do you consider to be the biggest advantage that steel deck framing offers over traditional wood framing?

A: Framing with steel has a greater advantage over wood because of the longevity of the material. You don’t have to worry about insects or rotting, which gives peace of mind. And for us at Legacy Decks, the biggest advantage is not having to go back for repair work or warranty work, which is not profitable. So, we can actually deliver a project that will more than likely outlast the number of years that most homeowners remain in their home.

Q: What are some project challenges specific to your area that are solved with steel deck framing?

A: There are many lakes where we live and work in Greenville, South Carolina. The houses on these lakes often have a very steep hill with walk-out basements that lead into the backyard. Homeowners naturally want to maximize their backyard to fully appreciate the view of the water. Framing decks with steel allows us to create greater spans and open up more usable space below the deck. In fact, on multi-level deck projects, steel makes it possible for us to double and sometimes even triple their outdoor living space.

*For reference, Fortress Building Products offers engineered steel beams that can achieve longer spans between supports, which eliminates excessive posts and obstructed views on lakefront properties.

Q: What is one of the top selling points of steel deck framing that resonates most with your clients who own lakefront homes?

A: One of the top reasons our clients choose to go with steel deck framing is because they can practically eliminate deck maintenance. Homeowners only need to hose off the pollen and blow away the leaves during the fall. This is different from a wood framed deck, which needs intensive and regular upkeep. By using low maintenance steel deck framing, we can make sure that the project our clients have invested their money in is going to look the same from the day it was installed to 25 years down the road.

There’s also the appeal of steel’s modern aesthetic. Steel deck framing, with its lasting black powder coating, truly makes for an outdoor space that’s beautiful from top to bottom. In fact, the best compliment I’ve ever received was from a homeowner who told me he was disappointed we were laying decking material on top of his deck’s steel frame. That meant he could no longer look at the framing from the inside of his home and would have to go outside to look at the framing substructure underneath the deck.

Want to be more like Stevens and make the switch to a smarter deck framing system? Participate in Fortress® Master Class (different workshop formats available) so that you gain full confidence in how easy it is to sell and install Evolution Framing. Get more information here.