5 Questions with Ryan Stover from Trex Company

New Castle Steel, led by owner Jason Alloway, a builder with over three decades of experience, specializes in high-quality steel deck framing. Alloway, who founded the company in 2022 by acquiring manufacturing capabilities, champions steel-framed decks as a durable alternative to pressure-treated lumber, which he notes has been declining in quality. The company's products are manufactured in Marietta, GA, emphasizing American-made steel and contributing to the domestic economy. New Castle Steel's framing offers several key advantages for distributors and builders. The material is made from triple-coated galvanized steel, ensuring superior durability, resistance to rot and termites, and providing flat surfaces that allow for longer spans compared to traditional lumber. It boasts a Class 1A fire rating, is WUI certified, and offers ignition resistance, making it suitable for projects in fire-prone regions. The company backs its product with a 50-year warranty, reporting zero claims to date, which helps reduce callbacks for distributors and enhances their profit margins. The product also complies with CCRR-0186 for exterior use, simplifying installation processes and meeting contemporary construction requirements. By offering New Castle Steel products, distributors can provide builders with a reliable, high-quality framing solution that can strengthen their reputation, improve customer satisfaction, and foster repeat business. Integrating steel framing into inventory provides measurable benefits for LBM dealers, including higher profit margins. New Castle Steel offers responsive customer service, including prompt pricing, custom framing plans, and support in inventory management and design assistance. The inherent durability of steel minimizes warranty claims often associated with wood, thereby freeing up resources for sales growth and customer service, while building trust and encouraging repeat business and referrals. By supplying American-made steel, distributors can position themselves as leaders in the market, aligning with the industry's trend toward domestically-sourced alternative framing solutions. This strategic partnership boosts profitability and strengthens relationships with builders, ensuring long-term success in a dynamic market. From a sustainability perspective, New Castle Steel's framing addresses the increasing demand for eco-friendly construction materials. The steel contains a minimum of 25% recycled American steel and is fully recyclable, contributing to LEED points and reducing environmental impact. Unlike lumber, which often involves unusable pieces, every component of New Castle Steel is usable, minimizing waste and reducing jobsite trips, thereby lowering carbon emissions. Scraps are also recyclable, further supporting eco-conscious practices. The chemical-free nature of steel framing contrasts with pressure-treated lumber, which can have harmful environmental effects. Engineered with a triple-coated galvanized finish over a carbon steel core, the product ensures decades of durability, reducing the need for material replacement over time. Domestic sourcing and manufacturing further contribute to a low environmental footprint. This allows builders to attract sustainability-focused clients by offering long-lasting, eco-friendly materials that enhance project resiliency and reduce maintenance costs. Steel framing also improves builder efficiency, particularly in times of labor shortages. Unlike wood, steel eliminates the need for time-consuming tasks such as grading, culling, planing, or taping. Its precise engineering ensures flat surfaces, preventing issues like twisting or crowning and reducing waste disposal and rework. This streamlined process allows for faster project completion with smaller crews. The exceptional strength of steel facilitates longer spans, simplifying construction and decreasing labor hours. By providing New Castle Steel, distributors offer builders a solution that accelerates project timelines and optimizes jobsite workflows. Furthermore, steel framing significantly enhances fire safety, especially in wildfire-prone areas. With its Class 1A fire rating, the highest standard, steel resists ignition and does not contribute to flame spread, thereby slowing fire progression and allowing firefighters more time to protect structures. Its compliance with Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) standards makes it crucial for hardening homes in high-risk zones, enhancing safety, potentially reducing insurance costs, and increasing property values. #SteelFraming #DeckBuilding #ConstructionMaterials #SustainableBuilding #FireSafety #LaborEfficiency #BuildingSupply #DistributorBenefits #MadeInAmerica