For over seven years, Fortress® Alliance Member Nick Stevens has helped his team at Legacy Decks and Outdoor Living deliver stunning open-air spaces across South Carolina. As the company's senior sales consultant, Stevens takes a hands-on approach to understanding his clients' needs and recommending the best outdoor living solutions for their dream backyard. His customer-focused style has earned him a reputation as a trusted partner on more than 250+ custom deck builds.

Switching to steel deck framing to maximize his clients’ lakefront views

Over the years, Stevens and his team have become specialists when it comes to building lake house decks. These lakefront properties often have very steep hills with walk-out basements that lead into the backyard. Naturally, on these types of projects, Stevens wants to give his clients a strong, safe and long-lasting deck structure that maximizes their usable yard space. In turn, the homeowners can enjoy the water view they purchased when they bought their home.

While Legacy Decks has worked with many different building materials over the years, Stevens came to realize that pressure treated lumber was not keeping up with the demands of today’s bigger and better deck builds. “When lumber prices continued to go up, we saw the quality go down,” Stevens recalled. He knew that installing a below-par deck substructure inevitably leads to the deterioration of the entire deck system. Not willing to undermine his client’s hard-earned money and the trust they put in Legacy Decks, Stevens looked for a wood-alternative deck framing material that was long-lasting. This search led him to Evolution steel deck framing by Fortress Building Products.

Steel's superior strength and durability made it an excellent choice for Stevens' clients. "Time and time again, we recommend steel deck framing because it's the right fit for most of our applications," he reported. Incredibly durable, steel deck framing will not rot, warp or split after long-term exposure to South Carolina's hot and humid weather. Engineered steel deck framing profiles are also strong enough to support today's most in-demand outdoor amenities, like luxe outdoor kitchens. The material's capacity for load-bearing weight has a direct correlation with its ability to provider greater spans between supports. To the benefit of Stevens' lakefront clients, this frees up more usable space underneath an upper-level deck. In fact, on multi-level deck projects, "steel makes it possible for us to double and sometimes even triple their outdoor living space," reports Stevens.

Leading the next generation of deck builders from the frontlines

A seasoned professional, Stevens’ impact goes beyond his sales job at Legacy Decks. As a Lead Sales Trainer with Legacy Decks Academy, he also mentors and educates the next generation of deck builders, equipping them with the skills to stay ahead of emerging building trends and increase their business’ bottom line.

In addition to his role with Legacy Decks Academy, Stevens stays actively involved in the larger deck building community by participating in industry events such as the Master Class National Expo hosted by Fortress Building Products. This multi-day event immerses contractors in all aspects of working with steel deck framing; providing both hands-on training with the product as well as breakout sessions and expert Q&As focused on the sales side. According to Stevens, "If you're interested in building decks with steel, these are the types of events to attend." He believes that learning from professionals who've faced similar challenges and successes "helps accelerate your growth and makes you a better builder for your clients."

Want to be more like Stevens and embrace the next generation of deck framing? Participate in the Fortress® Master Class (there are four different formats available to help you master this new skill).