ACRE Composite Building Trim, Siding & Decking Review

District: Various

Owner: Modern-Mill, Inc.

HDLC Staff: Dennis Murphy

Rating: Unrated (New Construction)

Applicant: Zane Swanepoel

Permit #: N/A

Description: Review of new ACRE brand composite building trim, siding and decking for consideration of Staff-level approval where consistent with the HDLC Design Guidelines for alternative materials.

Previous ARC Recommendations:

08/15/2023: The ARC voted to recommend conceptual approval of the request for Staff-level review and approval of smooth-finish ACRE brand composite trim, siding and decking, where the HDLC Design Guidelines currently allow for installation of similar alternative materials. The ARC also agreed the product appears to have several advantages in terms of material properties, dimensional stability, moisture resistance, and low vulnerability to insects such as termites. The products also appear to have dimensions and profiles like comparable wood elements and can be painted to match the appearance of wood, as required by the HDLC Design Guidelines. The ARC requested Staff contact SHPO for their input on this new material and to track approvals granted for installation of the product for the purpose of case studies and additional evaluation to better understand its long-term performance in our local climate.

Staff Recommendation:

Staff recommends the Commission vote to ratify the ARC recommendation for conceptual approval so that Staff is empowered to review and approve requests for installation of these products, where consistent with the HDLC Guidelines for alternative wood materials.

ACRE Product Information - Submitted by Applicant:

ACRE Product Information.pdf

Summary of Product Information:

No special tools or blades required to cleanly cut or route material.
Monolithic material without a finished exterior layer (similar to Miratec).
Dimensions, thicknesses and profiles similar to comparable composite building trim, siding, and T&G decking products.
Resists water and moisture deterioration well, as per informal Staff "bucket test."
Appears to be appropriate for use at new construction and addition projects as building trim, siding and decking where comparable alternative materials to wood would otherwise meet the HDLC Guidelines for Staff-level approval. Similar to fiber cement and other composite materials, it may not be appropriate for use at larger areas of millwork such as fascia, beam and column wraps.
Based on the information provided, it is unclear how the material will tolerate New Orleans's local climate conditions over longer periods of time in terms of bending, warping, dimensional and material stability. The product literature also includes an "Extreme Heat Warning" indicating that sunlight or exposure to high heat and heat sources (such as window reflections) can change the physical properties of the material and may accelerate its deterioration by causing it to warp, sag, melt, discolor, expand and contract. It also notes that specialty paints, primers and stains are required to mitigate these heat-related effects.