Knowing the building codes related to deck construction can give builders a competitive advantage on pricing, according to Glenn Matthewson, the president of BuildingCodeCollege.com. 

"When you learn the code for yourself, you learn all the things that you're actually allowed to do," Matthewson said, who added that learning building codes around decks can help builders adjust costs that are passed on to consumers. "The code is minimum standard of safety and maximum allowable freedom, and that's a good reason to learn it."

Matthewson was one of 17 influential pool and spa leaders who were interviewed about a variety of topics at the 2021 PSP/Deck Expo.

Pool & Spa Professional, the Official Digital Media Brand of the show, provides backyard solutions for the builder, retail and service professional. 

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According to Matthewson, many of the new building codes around deck construction are not the typical mandatory type of codes that restrict what builders can do.

"They're the codes that are pre-engineered design codes," he said. "This is the first time ever we've had that in residential building codes."

Watch the full interview with Matthewson above.