Nobody sees the substructure, which is why it is the first thing people economise on. And it is the thing that decides whether the terrace is still flat in five years.
Timber joists are cheaper and faster, and on a small pad by the house they are enough. The DeckKing steel frame is 110,000 ₸/m² and gives what joists can't: height adjustment, no rot underneath, and a written six-year "no sagging, no breakage" guarantee. The rule is simple: the larger the area and the dearer the board on top, the more an inaccurate substructure costs you.
A 15–20 m² terrace by the house on a level base — joists will do the job.
The material costs less, the install is quicker, and more contractors can do it.
A joist can be cut out and replaced with ordinary tools.
Putting a steel frame under pine at 31,600 ₸/m² makes little economic sense. We won't propose it either.
The plane is set with a level and can be trued later. A timber joist that has moved can't be adjusted.
The wettest part of a terrace is under the board, where it never dries. That's exactly where a timber substructure dies first.
"No sagging, no breakage", in writing. Plus a frame check and adjustment at every service visit.
If karagach at 67,500 ₸/m² goes on top, the substructure has to be more accurate than the board. Bent C-profile, sandblasted, powder coated, 100% stainless fixings.
| Timber joists | DeckKing | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | lower | 110,000 ₸/m² |
| Height adjustment | none | adjustable pedestals |
| Rot underneath | the main risk | none |
| Guarantee | usually none | 6 years, in writing |
| Service | none | 8 visits under Legacy |
| Fixings | galvanised or black | 100% stainless |
| Best for | small areas | large areas and expensive board |
Price the board across the whole area. If it costs more than the frame, economising on the substructure makes no sense: you're laying an expensive board on the thing that will decide its geometry.
A small terrace, an inexpensive board, a level base and a tight budget. We'll say so at the site visit — we don't want a job where the frame costs more than the deck.
Thermowood or larch
Thermowood or composite
Karagach or ash
Timber joists are cheaper and faster, and on a small pad by the house they are enough. The DeckKing steel frame is 110,000 ₸/m² and gives what joists can't: height adjustment, no rot underneath, and a written six-year "no sagging, no breakage" guarantee. The rule is simple: the larger the area and the dearer the board on top, the more an inaccurate substructure costs you.
Price the board across the whole area. If it costs more than the frame, economising on the substructure makes no sense: you're laying an expensive board on the thing that will decide its geometry.
A small terrace, an inexpensive board, a level base and a tight budget. We'll say so at the site visit — we don't want a job where the frame costs more than the deck.
