Case Study: Winthrop, MA

A Boston-area construction company chose to rely on Chelsea Building Products, makers of Everlast® siding, when faced with resurrecting an ocean-front condominium’s exterior cladding this past summer.

Just east of downtown Boston sits The Residences at Atlantis Marina, a five-story, 44-unit condominium in Winthrop, MA. The building offers residents outstanding views of the Atlantis Marina, the Boston skyline, and the Belle Isle Marsh below.

The condominiums were built in 2007 and initially clad in fiber cement siding. Just ten years later, its seaside locale combined with a poor original installation resulted in severe damage to the building’s exterior. According to PointsNorth Construction Management owner Nick Hall, this was the worst fiber cement siding failure he had seen in his career.

“Typically, if there is going to be a failure with a fiber cement building envelope, you’ll know it within the first five years. Unfortunately, that was the case here and the system failure just got worse and worse,” added Hall.

PointsNorth had no choice but to completely replace the siding at The Residences at Atlantis Marina. Even after the fiber cement manufacturer agreed to cover costs included under warranty, building owners said no to using the material a second time for the restoration. In search of a product that met their expectations for visual appeal, longevity and durability, they selected Everlast® advanced composite siding.

To remedy the situation, PointsNorth performed a complete exterior remodel, which included stripping the building back to its sheathing and installing a new adhered water-resistive barrier. Then, crews removed the previous fiber cement siding and trim, replacing it with Everlast® siding and trim over 2" of rigid insulation.

“We had previously completed two smaller projects using Everlast® siding, and my entire crew held the product in high regard,” said Hall. “From that initial experience, we saw no negatives in its performance, so it was an easy choice to use it again on the Atlantis Marina project.”

Hall selected Everlast® siding’s 6-7/8" reveal in Seaside Gray. The siding’s mineral composite construction is ideal for ocean-front locations where moisture and salty air are a constant strain on the exterior. The product’s appearance mimics that of real wood but with performance characteristics that far surpass wood, vinyl and fiber cement.

“When we initially discussed the project with the building owners, I refused to use fiber cement again,” added Hall. “It’s simple. I won’t have callbacks if I use Everlast® siding.”

Everlast® siding consists of a thick and solid composite substrate called C CORE®, which is made from a composition of inorganic minerals and polymer resins. The substrate is then fused molecularly to a color-tinted acrylic capstock and embossed with an authentic cedar grain finish, producing durable, naturallooking siding.

Everlast® siding also features an industry-leading warranty that protects against excessive color change and ensures the product will not peel, flake, crack, rust, blister, or corrode — keeping homes beautiful, regardless of color choice, for life.

The remodel of The Residences at Atlantis Marina began in August 2018 and was completed in June 2019.