By Don Browne
For the Polymeric Exterior Products Association (PEPA), South Carolina has been a focal point of the organization’s advocacy efforts, following two years of fostering key partnerships, educating stakeholders and advancing a bill in the state legislature to prohibit local bans on vinyl siding and other modern materials for home building and renovation.
In South Carolina, local restrictions on specific building materials result in missed opportunities to preserve and even enhance the state’s beautiful Georgian-style architecture.
The state’s Georgian tradition is the legacy of Irish architect James Hoban, who settled in Charleston in the 1780s. It wasn’t long before his Georgian designs appeared on the city’s most prestigious buildings and homes. Perhaps the most notable is the Charleston County Courthouse, modeled after the Leinster House in Dublin, Ireland. During a visit to Charleston in 1791, George Washington was so impressed with Hoban’s work that he invited the Irish architect to submit design plans for the White House. Not only did Hoban win the job, but he also restored the White House after it was severely damaged during the War of 1812. This signature design was also inspired by the Leinster House.
Georgian-style buildings, including those designed by Hoban, are still prevalent in Charleston and throughout coastal South Carolina, but this raises the question: How do these exteriors withstand the hot summers and strong wind events that are also common in the area? One can imagine a lot of costly painting, maintenance and replacement of wooden materials.
But PEPA’s website has a dedicated Design Styles section where one can imagine an emulated Georgian style with vinyl siding and other polymeric exteriors. This gallery also includes hotspots to view specific treatments, such as cornice molding held in place by the F-Channel to finish the topmost siding profile, a Pilaster base as a decorative door surround, a Windowsill Lineal for decorative trim and many more options.
In addition to the design quality, these polymeric exterior building products have superior and cost-effective performance attributes, including durability, expanding and contracting with heat, wind endurance and energy efficiency, especially beneficial in South Carolina’s challenging climate.
To learn more about how vinyl siding is redefining the way we think about home design, click here.
If you and your firm are struggling with local regulations banning polymeric exteriors, contact Alex Fernandez, Vice President, Government Affairs and Advocacy.