If you purchase metal decking then you have likely heard of Verco Decking or Vulcraft, or possibly even both. Did you know they are both divisions of Nucor?
Whichever decking manufacturer you are more familiar with will largely depend on where you are located within the United States. This is because Verco Decking and Vulcraft are split into different territories. Meaning, if you need Vulcraft decking but your job is located in Verco territory, you will need to get Verco decking accepted as a substitute. Vulcraft will not sell decking in Verco territory and vice versa.
Whether you are a contractor bidding on a job out of state, or have plans with specifications calling for decking not sold in your territory, it is important to familiarize yourself with the panels from both decking manufacturers. Although they are both divisions of Nucor, they are not the same company. While they do have similar looking panels, the panels are not identical nor do they go by the same name. However, familiarizing yourself with both types will enable you to recognize which panel may need to be substituted in case the one specified in the plans is not available in your jobs territory.
At Western Metal Deck we stock and supply Verco metal decking. On occasion, a customer will have a job on the West Coast with a specification for Vulcraft metal decking product. We have to explain that since the job is located in Verco territory, they will need to get Verco decking approved as a substitute. One way we assist them in getting the change approved is by providing submittal paperwork for the Verco ‘equivalent’.
Whichever territory your job is located in, we will go through the following to assist you on your next metal decking project:
Verco and Vulcraft are both owned by Nucor, however, they are two separate companies with manufacturing plants throughout the United States. Verco Decking mainly operates on the West Coast. Vulcraft operates in all other US territories.
The sales territory for Verco Decking is:
The sales territory for Vulcraft is:
If your job is located in Verco Decking territory and your job is specifying Vulcraft decking, you will need to get Verco decking approved as a substitute. Vulcraft will not sell in Verco territory, the same goes for Verco, they will not sell in Vulcraft territory.
Verco & Vulcraft both manufacture metal roof decking in different profiles with the option of different gauges, finishes, and sidelap connections. The profiles they have that are similar are 1 ½” Deep Type B Deck, and 3” Deep Types N Deck.
The panels are 1 ½” Deep, 3’ wide, and have a standard interlocking sidelap.
Type HSB-36 or PLB-36 is manufactured by Verco Decking Inc. It is available in: 16, 18, 20, & 22 Gauge.
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Types 1.5BI-36 or 1.5PLB-36 is manufactured by Vulcraft. It is available in: 16, 18, 19, 20, & 22 Gauge.
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Both Verco and Vulcraft make two different styles of Type N deck. Both styles are 3” Deep and have a standard interlocking sidelap. One style of the type N Deck panel is 24” wide and the other style of N Deck panel is 32” wide.
Type N-24 or PLN-24 is manufactured by Verco Decking, Inc. The panel is 24” Wide, 3” Deep. It is available in 16, 18, & 20 Gauge.
Type 3NI-24 is manufactured by Vulcraft. The panel is 24” Wide, 3” Deep. It is available in 16, 18, 19, 20, & 22 Gauge.
Type N-24 or PLN-24 is manufactured by Verco Decking, Inc. The panel is 24” Wide, 3” Deep. It is available in 16, 18, & 20 Gauge.
Type 3NI-24 or 3PLN-32 is manufactured by Vulcraft. The panel is 32” Wide, 3” Deep. It is available in 16, 18, 19, 20, & 22 Gauge.
Verco and Vulcraft manufacture composite metal floor decking. They each manufacture 3 different profiles that are similar. The three types listed below are all composite metal floor decking, with an embossment pattern on the vertical legs of the panels.
Each manufacturer has a different patented embossment pattern for their different panels. So even though the dimensions of each panel below is similar the panels are not identical due to the different embossment patterns and the slight variance in profile dimensions.
Both manufacturers produce a 1 ½” Deep panel, that is 3’-0” wide, has a standard interlocking sidelap, with embossments on the vertical legs.
Type B-36 FormLok & PLB-36 Formlok is manufactured by Verco Decking, Inc. It is available in 16, 18, & 20 Gauge.
Type 1.5VLI & 1.5PLVLI-36 is manufactured by Vulcraft. It is available in 16, 18, 19, 20, and 22 Gauge.
Both Verco and Vulcraft manufacture a 2” deep composite floor deck. The panels are 3’ wide, with a standard interlocking sidelap.
Type W2-36 FormLok or PLW2-36 Formlok is manufactured by Verco Decking, Inc. It can be made in the following gauges: 16, 18, & 20.
Type 2VLI-36 or 2PLVLI-36 is manufactured by Vulcraft. It can be made in the following gauges: 16, 18, 19, 20, & 22.
Verco and Vulcraft manufacture a 3” deep composite metal floor deck. The panels are both 3’ wide and have embossments along the vertical leg of the panel.
Types W3-36 FormLok or PLW3-36 Formlok are manufactured by Verco Decking, Inc. They are available in 16, 18, & 20 Gauge.
Vulcraft manufactures type 3VLI-36 & 3PLVLI-36. It is available in: 16, 18, 19, 20, & 22 Gauge.
The different types of metal decking listed above all have a standard interlocking sidelap. These interlocking sidelaps have a male and a female leg that can be connected using a button punch tool, or top seam weld. The other method of attachment is with the PunchLok II tool.
Read About Sidelap Types & Connections
When the decking is specified with the PL abbreviation in the name, the sidelaps are to be attached using the PunchLok II tool. Both Verco and Vulcraft have the same PunchLok II tool to be used on PunchLok II decking only. So whether you purchase PLB-36 or 1.5PLVLI-36, you will use the PunchLok II tool to attach the sidelaps.
Learn More About Punchlok II Decking
Your job location will determine whether you will end up using Verco or Vulcraft metal decking. Availability will depend on a number of factors, such as whether you buy from a supplier or from the manufacturer. If you purchase the decking from the manufacturer, you will have to wait a few weeks, since the metal decking is made on a rolling schedule. If you purchase from a metal decking supplier, they normally will carry the material in stock.
At Western Metal Deck, we stock Verco decking in different profiles, gauges, and lengths. We can supply you with metal decking cut to length or in our standard stock lengths the same day. If your job is specifying Vulcraft metal decking but the job is located in Verco territory, we can assist you in providing a similar panel along with paperwork to submit to help get the change approved.