Sustainable Strong and

Here, Marnie Oursler reveals her favorite weather-resistant materials.

“We are building in some of the harshest weather conditions: intense winds, hurricanes, salt and sand are hitting the house all the time,” Marnie notes. “Selecting durable finishes is one of the most important aspects of building a beach house that will stand for generations. PVC is one of the most weather-resistant materials we use. It’s easy to work with, and it holds up well against the harsh oceanfront weather conditions.”

Marnie uses PVC and other weather-resistant materials to make her homes resilient:

• DECKING: “We used ipé decking on the rooftop and second floor decks. This is our standard, because it’s naturally resistant to rot, disperses heat so it won’t burn your feet, requires minimal care—and looks great. There’s no sealing required! Over time, the wood will turn to a sun-bleached silver color. As long as that aesthetic works for you, you won’t have to seal the deck. On the ground floor deck (including the crab shack), we used cedar decking that can easily be hosed down.” • RAILING: “Our white exterior rails are made from a cellular PVC with aluminum running through the middle for added strength that will hold up over time. As you can see on the rooftop railing, we added decorative panels to provide an architectural detail,” Marnie points out.

• SIDING: “PVC siding or fiber-cement siding are two of our favorite types of siding for oceanfront homes, because both stand up against salt air and water and require minimal maintenance,” Marnie says. She recommends two low-maintenance options that come in a variety of colors:

“HardiePlank siding by James Hardie is a popular choice; it’s made from fiber-cement siding,” Marnie says.

“For Paradise Point, we used NuCedar siding in ‘Aleutian Blue’ from Jain Building Supply. Made from PVC, this siding offers homeowners the look, warmth and charm of cedar … with none of the maintenance,” Marnie explains.