Minimalist mountaintop home turns to Versatex
Chip Wade’s minimalist mountaintop home project needed an exceptional exterior-trim solution: One that would combine extreme weather resistance with the warm look of hardwood — plus the unique length, one-piece trimboard dimensions to cover an 18-ft. long, 29-ft. high wall in a single clean sweep.
For Pinhoti Peak, his modernist north Georgia showhouse, he chose the Canvas Series — a premium PVC innovation from Versatex Building Products.
Canvas offers builders and homeowners a range of durable, realistic woodgrain surfaces, permanently bonded to high-performance, maintenance-free WP4 or T&G trimboards.
“On the job, it was everything I’d hoped it would be,” Wade said. “The material’s consistency really is unrivaled, but what made it absolutely ideal was that Versatex was willing to deliver the WP4 in 18-foot lengths. That enabled me to install long, unbroken, seamless stretches of what looks just like hardwood with no interruptions or imperfections.”
The continuous lines are essential to the home’s spare, modern aesthetic — just as Canvas’s indifference to rain, wind, and sun is critical to Pinhoti Peak’s rugged wilderness setting.
Thanks to the product’s lightweight and proprietary fastening system,
Wade said a two-person crew was easily able to cover one side of the home in less than a day.
“I also love Verstex’s VZClip hidden fastener system,” he added. “It’s simple, accurate, and secure, while allowing boards to ‘float’ just enough for normal expansion and contraction. And, if need be, you can replace a board without damaging any other part of the installation.”
In selecting a color, Wade opted for Turner Oak, one of nine Canvas Series finishes.
To integrate the shade with the overall structure, he replicated it on the surface of the massive exposed steel beam that supports the roof.
