Condo Media - February 2011 - 38

VENDOR SPOTLIGHT

Superior Exterior Products
Maintenance-Free Fences, Decks and Rails — Guaranteed
by Pamela Schweppe

t’s a problem that plagues anyone who’s responsible for maintaining a condominium complex: keeping the property looking great. After all, proper upkeep helps the property retain its market value, gives unit owners value for their monthly association fees and makes it attractive to potential buyers. But that can be a difficult task — especially in New England, where snowy winters and hot summers take their toll on peeling decks and rotting fences and railings. What most property managers and association boards long for are maintenance-free exterior products that improve the overall appearance of the condominium complex — forever. Fortunately, Superior Exterior Products is around to provide exactly that service. Founded 40 years ago by owner and president Charlie Henry, the Lynn, Mass.-based firm offers a wide variety of fence, deck, rail and garden products, as well as removable screenhouses, for residential and commercial clients throughout New England. And they do it by using a material that has revolutionized the construction industry: PVC.

No Termites, Rotting, Rust or Corrosion — Ever
PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, was discovered by accident during the 19th century, when casks of vinyl chloride were left exposed to sunlight. While today it is used in a variety of products, PVC really excels in exterior products, where it gives the aesthetically pleasing appearance of wood — but without any of the drawbacks of infestation or decay. It is one of the most frequently used plastic building

materials because of its high performance, safety and variety of use in many different applications. It also is highly cost effective, according to Henry. “The initial cost of PVC may be higher than wood alternatives,” he states, “but that cost differential is quickly offset when you consider our lifetime warranty. Plus, PVC will outlast any wood equivalent by far.” He further points out that PVC has five times the tensile strength of wood and four times the flexibility. It also meets or surpasses industry standards for weather resistance, waterproofing and resistance to fire and contaminants, such as acid rain and bird droppings. As if that weren’t enough, it’s also environmentally friendly. It’s made from recycled materials, such as the milk cartons you throw into the recycle bin every week, and adheres to all building codes. According to Henry, an association that installs products made from PVC can apply for a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) tax credit — a direct financial benefit to the association. But how good is PVC, really? Imagine being charged with confining powerful, 1,200-pound thoroughbred racehorses that are born to run wild. That’s the task that confronts Steve Pini every day. Pini is the track superintendent of Suffolk Downs, a racetrack located in East Boston, Mass. “You can’t have any openings in any fence,” he warns. “It’s what the horse goes for.” To help him keep the horses properly contained, Pini turned to Superior Exteriors. “There’s a big white fence behind the starting gate, so people can see the horses better,” Pini says. At 15-feet high by 75-feet long, the fence

is big indeed, and Superior Exteriors was able to design it using interlocking panels. “That way,” Pini says, “if a horse kicks one of the panels out, we can easily replace it.”

No Two Fences Are Alike
Superior Exteriors extends that kind of customization to condominium clients, as well. In fact, according to Henry, custom fabrication of the entire product line is Superior Exteriors’ specialty. “We know our product, and we can tailor it to fit their needs,” says Henry. “No job too big or small.” In order to provide its customization services, Superior Exteriors maintains an 8,000-square-foot factory on premises, as well as a 20,000square-foot warehouse for storage. A walk through the tidy factory reveals samples of fencing, gates, trellises and other products, such as patio chairs, available in up to 30 colors and a picnic table made entirely from scrap. “Nothing is wasted,” Henry points out. In the workshop area, PVC is cut to order, with a computerized CNC routing machine providing precision spacing for the insertion of posts and rails. As Henry explains it, “Suppose you have to convert a 6-foot railing into a 4-foot by 2-inch length. It’s impossible to get the spacing right otherwise. That’s an extreme advantage.” The PVC is then lined with aluminum for sturdiness and loaded onto a truck, so it can be shipped to the job site for installation the next morning. Customization is an important consideration in terms of cost. “We measure during the daytime, then the crew manufactures what we need

Condo Media - February 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - February 2011