Most people asking about steel framing are planning composite boards and want the frame to last as long as the decking. This guide uses the makers' code reports, warranties and install guides, the standard wood span table and published cost data. Every number has a source listed at the end.
Is steel deck framing worth it in Texas?
Steel framing is worth it when the boards on top will outlast a wood frame, when the deck is tall or has long spans, or when termites and wet ground are a worry. It is usually not worth it for a small, low deck on a tight budget, where treated pine does the job for less: on Fixr's national ranges, installed wood framing runs about half to two-thirds the cost of metal.
The case for steel is simple. Fortress says its Evolution framing is "invulnerable to rotting, warping, splitting, and insect damage" and backs it with a 25-year limited warranty. In Dallas the building code's climate table lists termite hazard as "very heavy," and Texas A&M says the risk is high wherever wood touches soil.
The case for wood is just as real. How long a wood frame lasts is disputed: Fortress claims wood framing typically starts deteriorating after 10 years, while the USDA Forest Products Laboratory says wood kept under a water-beading finish can give 40 or more years of service.
Pick steel (or aluminum) if:
- You are putting down composite or PVC boards and want the frame to last as long as they do. Board warranties are separate from framing warranties; see Trex vs TimberTech vs Fiberon for the board side.
- The deck is high off the ground or needs long open spans with fewer posts.
- Part of the frame will sit close to soil or stay damp, where termites and rot do the most damage.
- You want a perfectly flat surface: steel joists "are flat and will stay that way," as Fine Homebuilding puts it.
Stay with treated pine if:
- The deck is small, low and simple, and budget matters most.
- The deck is next to a pool and you want the steel warranty to cover it (it may not; see the pool section below).
- Your builder has not built with a steel system before and you do not want to pay for the learning curve.
Steel deck framing pros and cons vs pressure-treated lumber
Steel is flat, noncombustible and immune to rot and termites, but it costs more, needs metal-cutting tools and touch-up paint, and its warranty comes with strict care rules. Treated pine is cheaper and familiar to every crew, but it moves as it dries and needs careful detailing to last.
| Factor | Steel framing (Fortress Evolution as the example) | Pressure-treated pine |
|---|---|---|
| Installed framing cost (Fixr, national, 2023) | $25 to $40 per sq ft for metal (steel or aluminum) | $12 to $25 per sq ft |
| Joist span at 16 in on center | 14'-10" for a 16-gauge 2x6 joist (Fortress's code report) | 9'-0" for a No. 2 Southern Pine 2x6, 14'-0" for a 2x10 (AWC DCA 6) |
| Flatness | Stays flat | Uniformity "can be very inconsistent" and boards move as they dry; usually sold wet |
| Rot and termites | Cannot rot or be eaten (Fortress claim) | Many builders believe today's treated lumber rots sooner than pre-2004 CCA wood, JLC reports; cuts and end grain should be field-treated |
| Fire | Noncombustible; Class A, flame spread index 0 in Fortress's test | Combustible |
| Corrosion | Galvanized and powder coated; rusts where cuts or scratches are not painted | The wood does not rust, but its steel connectors can corrode in treated lumber |
| Tools and skill | Metal-cutting saw or grinder, files, touch-up paint; a learning curve | Standard carpentry tools |
| Warranty | 25-year limited, prorated, not transferable | Depends on the lumber treater; not covered here |
| Code path | Third-party evaluation report reviewed by your building official | Written directly into the IRC deck section |
What does steel deck framing cost compared to pressure-treated lumber in 2026?
No maker publishes a 2026 price list, and we found no Dallas or Texas price for steel framing. The best published data put installed metal framing at $25 to $40 per square foot against $12 to $25 for wood (Fixr's national figures, 2023), and a 2021 JLC review put Fortress framing at a little under twice the cost of treated lumber.
Fortress says pricing comes only through a local dealer, so any real number for your deck will come from a quote. Here are the four published cost figures, each labelled for what it is.
1. Fixr's national framing ranges (2023)
Fixr lists wood framing at $3 to $13 per square foot for materials and $12 to $25 installed, and metal framing (steel or aluminum) at $7 to $17 for materials and $25 to $40 installed. The table below runs those ranges on a 300 square foot deck.
| 300 sq ft deck, framing only | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Wood framing, installed | $3,600 | $7,500 |
| Metal framing, installed | $7,500 | $12,000 |
Calculated from Fixr's 2023 national per-square-foot ranges (300 x $12 to $25, and 300 x $25 to $40). These are framing only, not decking, railing or stairs, and they are not Dallas prices. For full project numbers, see what a deck costs in Dallas.
2. JLC's builder review (2021)
In a 2021 Journal of Light Construction review of Fortress Evolution, the builder-author put the cost of Fortress Evolution framing at a little less than double the cost of treated lumber and about 35% more than generic light-gauge steel. Once he counted labor and future upkeep, he put the gap at about 25% over treated lumber. That is one builder's estimate from 2021, not a price list.
3. A steel seller's per-joist prices (2024)
Advantage Lumber, which sells steel framing, quoted about $95 for a 1-5/8 x 8 in x 12 ft, 18-gauge steel joist against about $20 for a 2x8x12 treated joist. Treat this as a seller's figure, and note the two joists are not the same size or strength.
4. Fortress's side-by-side build (2024)
Fortress commissioned two freestanding 16 x 18 decks in late May 2024, one framed in wood and one in steel. It reported that steel framing materials cost about 275% more than the wood framing, that the total material difference was 21%, that the steel frame took 34% fewer labor hours, and that prepping the wood (planing and joist tape) added 5.5 hours. Its conclusion was a total project cost difference to the contractor of "only 6%." This was paid for by the manufacturer, it gives percentages only, and it does not explain how the 275% and 21% figures fit together.
Aluminum is not a cheaper way out: TimberTech says its own aluminum framing is "often more expensive than wood and steel."
How far can steel joists span compared with wood?
A 16-gauge Fortress 2x6 steel joist is listed to 14'-10" at 16 inches on center, about the same as a No. 2 Southern Pine 2x10 in the American Wood Council's table, which can mean fewer beams and posts. The two numbers come from different documents and different design methods, so they are shown below as two separate tables.
Table A: steel and aluminum joists (makers' Intertek code reports)
| Joist (10 psf dead + 40 psf live, no snow) | 12 in on center | 16 in on center |
|---|---|---|
| Fortress Evolution 2x6, 16-gauge | 16'-4" | 14'-10" |
| Fortress Evolution 2x6, 18-gauge | 15'-4" | 13'-11" |
| TimberTech aluminum field joist, with joist hanger | 17'-4" | 15'-9" |
Source: Fortress CCRR-0313 Table 2 and TimberTech CCRR-0523 Table 4. TimberTech's spans drop with other brackets, for example to 13'-0" at 16 inches with the adjustable or short L-bracket. Fortress lists maximum cantilevers at 16 inches on center of 4'-3" for the 16-gauge joist and 3'-11" for the 18-gauge.
Table B: No. 2 Southern Pine joists (AWC DCA 6)
| Joist (10 psf dead + 40 psf live, wet service) | 12 in on center | 16 in on center |
|---|---|---|
| 2x6 | 9'-11" | 9'-0" |
| 2x8 | 13'-1" | 11'-10" |
| 2x10 | 16'-2" | 14'-0" |
| 2x12 | 18'-0" | 16'-6" |
Source: AWC DCA 6 (2015 IRC basis), Table 2. DCA 6 also says ledgers and joists that carry guard posts must be at least 2x8.
Comparing the tables: at 16 inches on center, the 16-gauge steel 2x6 (14'-10") runs about as far as a pine 2x10 (14'-0") and well past a pine 2x6 (9'-0"). TimberTech's aluminum joist (15'-9" with a hanger) falls between a pine 2x10 and 2x12. TimberTech also says a 2x8 aluminum joist is similar in strength to a 2x12 wood joist. This is a comparison of Fortress's and TimberTech's tables with AWC's table, which use different design methods. Follow your own stamped or permitted plans, and never exceed the maker's spans: the Fortress guide calls that critical.
Longer joist spans do not change board spacing. Trex says joists for its decking should generally be no more than 16 inches on center, and 12 inches is required for diagonal decking.
Posts are where steel helps most on tall decks. Fortress's report lists its 3.5-inch post up to 120 inches (10 feet) and its 5.5-inch post up to 240 inches (20 feet) at 200 square feet of tributary area and a 40 psf live load. Its beam span tables go up to 20 feet. If your deck is a second story, read elevated and second-story decks as well.
The steel and aluminum framing systems on the market
In 2026 the main options are Fortress Evolution (steel, made by a company based in Garland, Texas), New Castle Steel (the former Trex Elevations) and TimberTech aluminum framing. Trex no longer sells its own steel frame.
| System | Material and coating | Code report | Warranty headline | Water and pool terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fortress Evolution | Galvanized carbon steel (G60; 18-gauge joists G90) with powder coat | Intertek CCRR-0313 | 25-year limited, prorated | Pool chemicals excluded; anything under, in the flood zone of, or constantly sprayed by water excluded |
| New Castle Steel | Hot-dip galvanized, baked-on prime, polyester topcoat; 18-gauge 1-5/8 x 8 in and 14-gauge 2 x 8 in joists | Ask the seller for the current report | 25-year limited residential, structural integrity only | Not for the splash zone of fresh water; pool chemicals and standing water excluded |
| TimberTech aluminum framing | Extruded 6063-T6 aluminum with powder coat | Intertek CCRR-0523 | Lifetime limited on framing members (residential), 25 years on fasteners and accessories | 10 years near pools and hot tubs; hidden clip not warranted there; no warranty at salt water pools |
Fortress Evolution
Its 2x6 joists come in 16-gauge (G60) and 18-gauge (G90); ledgers and rims are 14-gauge, beams are two 16-gauge "J" channels welded together, and posts are 11-gauge 3.5-inch or 12-gauge 5.5-inch square tube. Fortress says the steel is 50,000 psi carbon structural steel and that the framing works with any type or brand of decking, including wood, composite and PVC.
New Castle Steel (formerly Trex Elevations)
Trade press reported that Trex discontinued Elevations at the end of 2020 and that New Castle Building Group bought the manufacturing and relaunched it as New Castle Steel. Its brochure says it may not be installed within 3,000 feet of salt water and asks for a first maintenance inspection within 6 years, then every 2 to 5 years on a home.
TimberTech aluminum framing
TimberTech's report limits it to detached one- and two-family homes and townhouses not over three stories, and the frame works with every TimberTech decking line. Its warranty covers the system only with TimberTech's recommended fasteners, because other fasteners "can lead to galvanic corrosion."
Galvanized steel deck framing and corrosion: what the manufacturers say
Galvanized steel starts to rust once the zinc is gone, so the manufacturer guidance is consistent: paint every cut and scratch, remove shavings, and clean the frame regularly. Fortress also excludes surface corrosion from scratches, nicks and dents from its warranty.
What G60 and G90 mean. These are ASTM A653 zinc coating weights. G90 means at least 0.90 ounces of zinc per square foot (both sides combined), and G60 means 0.60. GalvInfo explains that coating life is roughly in line with coating weight, so G90 is about 50% thicker than G60 and expected to last about 50% longer before 5% red rust appears. Fortress adds a powder coat over its galvanizing, and New Castle uses three layers.
Fortress's care rules, from its current warranty:
- File burrs off every cut end and cover it with at least 2 coats of Fortress touch-up paint (3 near salt water).
- Put 3 coats over any nick that exposes bare steel.
- Remove all metal shavings, and clean off concrete or paint splashes right away.
- Clean the frame; Fortress recommends quarterly cleaning.
- If rust appears, sand it with 400-grit paper and repaint.
Fortress also requires reasonable maintenance with a record, or the warranty is void.
Wood frames have a corrosion question too. The hangers and screws on a wood deck are steel. Simpson Strong-Tie says some wood-treatment chemicals are corrosive to steel connectors, and that ACQ-Type D tested more corrosive than copper azole, MCA or CCA-C. Simpson calls ZMAX (G185) or hot-dip galvanized connectors "the minimum recommendation for use with many of the new pressure treatments," with stainless steel the most effective option. The 2021 IRC's deck connector table, in the Massachusetts code text published on UpCodes, asks for G185 galvanizing, hot-dip galvanizing at 2.0 ounces per square foot, or stainless, and stainless within 300 feet of salt water.
Steel framing next to a pool or hot tub
Read the warranty before you frame a pool deck in steel or aluminum. Fortress excludes damage from pool chemicals, TimberTech cuts its framing warranty to 10 years near pools and does not warrant its hidden clip there, and New Castle excludes pool chemicals and the splash zone of fresh water.
This is not new. Fortress's 2019 warranty already excluded "pool water, pool chemicals." TimberTech's warranty defines "Fresh Water Applications" to include the splash zone or spray of chemically treated water, "including pools and hot tubs," and it gives no warranty at all at salt water pools.
Two practical points from the guides:
- Do not let metal shavings fall into a pool or hot tub. Fortress warns they stain.
- For load-bearing steel in indoor swimming pool environments, Simpson Strong-Tie recommends duplex-coated, post-hot-dip galvanized or ZMAX steel rather than stainless, because of the risk of stress corrosion cracking.
Salt water warranty cuts (for example, Fortress drops to 20% of the term within 1 mile of a salt water coastline and 40% from 1 to 10 miles) do not apply to an inland city like Dallas. For the board and surface side of a pool deck, see pool deck materials in Dallas.
How steel framing is installed (manufacturer guidance)
Steel frames go together with self-drilling screws and brackets, are cut with a metal saw, and every cut gets filed and painted. Decking then attaches with screws or clips made for metal joists.
- Fastening the frame. Fortress's report calls for Evolution #12-14 self-tapping screws, 3/4 inch long, with at least three threads through the steel. Blocking is required in every bay at joist mid-span.
- Cutting. Use a metal-cutting circular saw or a grinder, file the edges, do not cut over concrete, and apply Fortress's zinc-based touch-up paint (2 coats, 3 in salt water areas).
- Decking on Fortress. Boards are fastened directly to each joist. In JLC's Fortress install, the builder used Starborn Proplug face-plug screws and Camo Edge X metal hidden clips and found the Camo system "at least twice as fast as anything else" his crew had tried. That is one builder's choice, not a requirement.
- Trex boards on steel. Trex makes Hideaway Steel Framing Hidden Fastener Clips: glass-filled nylon clips with a preset stainless screw that hold grooved Trex boards to steel joists. A box of 90 covers 50 square feet.
- TimberTech aluminum. Decking goes down with 2 screws per joist (Cortex Driller screws on the flat of the joist) or TimberTech's AF hidden clip.
Fine Homebuilding's notes from the field: there is a learning curve and you need specialty tools, hot steel can burn, shavings stain decking and hurt bare feet, and cut ends need zinc paint. Steel posts are an odd size, so builders often use wood posts, and that connection gets fiddly.
The code reports also leave things out. Fortress's report does not cover wood support posts, joist splices, stairs or guard (railing) post framing, and post anchorage "shall be performed by a qualified engineer," with lateral anchorage needing additional design under IRC R507. AZEK recommends that an architect, engineer or building official review TimberTech aluminum framing plans. The installer is responsible for code compliance and permits.
Steel framing on Dallas clay: footings still do the work
A steel frame does not stop Blackland Prairie clay from moving the footings. Fortress, TimberTech and New Castle all exclude settlement or ground settling from their warranties, so the footings matter just as much as they do with wood.
USDA describes Houston Black, a clay of large extent in the Texas Blackland Prairies, as high shrink-swell, with cracks 1/2 to 4 inches wide reaching 12 inches deep or more. Dallas's amended code requires exterior footings at least 12 inches below undisturbed ground, and its amended R401.2 says regulated footings are to be designed and sealed by an engineer registered in Texas; ask your builder and the city how that applies to your deck. For depth, pier types and the soil itself, read how deep footings go in Dallas clay.
How the steel systems meet the ground:
- Fortress (2026 guide): post-to-pier brackets anchored to a level concrete footing with 3/8 x 3 inch concrete anchors, with the concrete allowed to sit at least 1 inch above grade and cure 24 hours. The alternative is burying posts at least 36 inches deep on 3 inches of compacted gravel and filling the hole with concrete to 1 inch above the ground. When posts are not mounted on a footing, Fortress recommends helical piers, and it says post requirements vary by region, so ask local code officials.
- TimberTech: acceptable footings include poured concrete, precast stackable concrete, helical piles and alternate piers.
- Both code reports leave post anchorage to a qualified engineer.
Termites, rot and fire: where steel clearly wins
Steel cannot rot or be eaten by termites, which matters in Dallas, where the code's climate table rates termite hazard as very heavy. Fortress's framing also tested Class A for fire.
Texas A&M says termite risk is high wherever wood touches soil, and Formosan termites have been found in 31 Texas counties, including Dallas County. With wood, that is why the posts and ledgers should be UC4A ground-contact lumber, and AWPA notes that joists and beams that are hard to replace and critical to the structure may need ground-contact treatment too.
On fire, Fortress's Evolution framing scored a flame spread index of 0 and a smoke developed index of 15 in an ASTM E84 test run by Intertek (Class A is 0 to 25). Its code report classes the materials as noncombustible.
Is steel framing code-approved? (CCRR reports and permits)
The IRC deck section is written for wood and allows metals as alternative materials, so steel and aluminum systems rely on evaluation reports: Intertek CCRR-0313 for Fortress and CCRR-0523 for TimberTech aluminum. The final say belongs to your building official.
In the 2021 IRC text (Massachusetts residential code, 10th edition, published on UpCodes), R507.1 opens with "Wood-framed decks shall be in accordance with this section," and R507.2.5 says "Alternative materials, including glass and metals, shall be permitted." Fortress's report evaluates Evolution against the 2024, 2021 and 2018 IBC and IRC as cold-formed steel deck framing. These are Intertek reports, not ICC-ES evaluation reports.
The report itself says approval "can only be granted by a building official" with authority in that area, and Fortress parts must be labelled with G60 and CCRR-0313 at least every 96 inches. Bring the report to permit review. For how deck permits work locally, see Dallas deck permits.
When wood framing is fine (and how to make it last)
A treated-pine frame is still the standard and the cheapest choice, and Trex lists pressure-treated lumber or steel as its recommended framing. Wood is fine for low, simple decks if the posts and hard-to-replace joists are ground-contact rated, cuts are treated, and the hardware is G185 or stainless.
If your existing frame is still sound, you may not need a new one at all; see keeping an existing frame and replacing the boards.
Questions to ask any builder who quotes a steel or aluminum frame:
- Have you built with this exact system before?
- Which code report are you building to, and will you bring it to permit review?
- What is the footing and post anchorage plan, and who engineered it?
- Who files and paints the cut ends, and what cleaning schedule should I keep?
- Who registers the warranty within 30 days? Fortress requires registration within 30 days, claims within 30 days of finding a defect, does not pay labor for replacement, and does not transfer the warranty to a later owner.
Fortress's coverage also steps down over time: 100% of replacement value in years 1 to 7, 80% in years 8 to 15, 70% in years 16 to 20 and 60% in years 21 to 25. Based on that schedule, a claim in year 16 gets 70% of the replacement value and no labor, so "25 years" does not mean 25 years of full coverage.
More on vetting a contractor is in how to choose a deck builder. Archetex Outdoor Design Co. designs and builds custom composite and wood decks in Dallas and nearby cities, starting with a free site visit and a written price.
