Stop Building 50-Year Decks on 15-Year Frames

Stop Building 50-Year Decks on 15-Year Frames

From The Deckheads Podcast by Shane Chapman

May 14, 2026 · 57 min · Episode 288

About this episode

The episode discusses the longevity of deck boards versus frames and explores various framing systems and wood protection products available in 2026.

Modern deck boards last decades. Most deck frames don't. We break down the four framing systems contractors and homeowners are choosing between in 2026, plus the wood-protection products that extend a PT frame when budget rules out an upgrade. Real costs, real warranties, real failure modes. 10:25 Deck Framing Topic Switch 10:53 Composite Boards Vs Framing 13:28 Cedar Redwood Framing Talk 15:01 Treated Lumber Changed 17:36 Colors And Chemicals 19:29 Tape Your Joists 22:43 Alternative Framing Options 23:55 Fortress Steel Overview 26:13 Steel Pros And Cons 28:18 Tools for Steel Framing 29:13 Big Spans and Clean Fascia 30:19 Cost Reality Check 31:37 Rust Risks and Warranty 32:49 Steel for Pergolas 33:39 QuickBuild Aluminum System 36:42 Design Tools and Materials 39:00 OC Lumber 48:22 Hybrid Framing Best Of Both 55:14 Final Takeaways and Wrap

People in this episode

Host: Shane Chapman

Topics covered

  • deck framing systems
  • wood protection products
  • composite boards
  • treated lumber
  • steel framing
  • cost analysis

Keywords

  • deck framing
  • composite boards
  • wood protection
  • treated lumber
  • steel framing
  • cost reality
  • framing options

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Fortress Steel

Products: Composite Boards, Cedar Redwood, Treated Lumber, Hybrid Framing, QuickBuild Aluminum System, OC Lumber

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