Home spaces, and the way people interact with them, have undergone dramatic changes in the past several years, and few residential living spaces have seen as much change as outdoor elements such as decks. The materials available for deck substructure have also seen recent advances. This course will cover the history of deck materials, including new options, and the considerations and challenges involved in building decks — with a particular focus on all-important substructure materials — that will withstand the tests of time and the elements.


Learning Objectives

  • Learn about the evolution of decking surface materials and the parts of a deck’s substructure.
  • Explore the main types of materials traditionally used for deck substructure and understand the pros and cons of each.
  • Learn about treated laminated veneer lumber (LVL), a recent innovation that provides the benefits of pressure-treated lumber and metal without the drawbacks.
  • Learn about key considerations for installation and maintenance of substructure built with new treated LVL materials.

Pre-requisite: None.