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PENTWATER YACHT CLUB

A COMMERCIAL CASE STUDY

THE
ARCHITECT

JOSH STRAUTZ

Licensed Architect, Rockford Construction

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THE
CONTRACTOR

CAMERON BUCK

Owner, C. Buck Professional Builders

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THE
MATERIALS

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A CLUB’S VISION

Families have been spending summers on Pentwater Lake for generations. Since 1935, the Pentwater Yacht Club has been a fixture in the community. Originally a waterfront 19th Century logging mill, the structure was approaching the end of its useful life. Club members were not looking for a new home, but the deterioration of their old structure due to water damage and the harsh Michigan weather made repairs cost-prohibitive. Once they decided to build new, they outlined priorities for the new building:

  • Commercial building performance
  • Home-like look that reflected the character of the old club.
  • One-story design with more outdoor space
  • Low maintenance to reflect the recreational nature of the club
  • Durability to support the club's good times for generations

A DESIGNER’S
CHALLENGES

Architects design most commercial buildings with an expected 30-40 year lifespan but club members wanted more with an emphasis on minimizing maintenance in the future, being able to handle four seasons of extreme weather, and standing vacant for many of the coldest months. A key design challenge was creating a durable, moisture-tight commercial structure, compliant with all commercial building codes, but designed with a cottage-like appearance, reflecting surrounding structures and the old club itself.

TRADITIONAL DESIGN

The Yacht Club wanted the latest in durability and flexibility, but didn't want to sacrifice the look and feel of their historic club.

EXTREME COLD

The winters of Northern Michigan regularly reach 20 below, and rapid drops in temperature are not uncommon.

EXTREME HEAT

Four seasons of weather, including hot summers, means materials must be durable in all conditions.

MOISTURE

Located right on the water, the Yacht Club needed to be extremely resistant to the usual elements, and then some.

TIGHT DEADLINE

The new Pentwater needed to be rebuilt entirely over the winter and ready for business the first day of the season. That meant easy-to-use materials.

PRECISE CLIENT

From using local companies to ensuring the design complimented the existing neighborhood, stakeholders had requirements any materials would need to meet.

AZEK SHINGLE SIDING

The look of hand-crafted, natural cedar, with none of the maintenance or installation challenges, and a Lifetime Limited Warranty.

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AZEK TRIM

Extreme durability and low-maintenance meets a huge variety of moulding profiles and options, to fit every project.

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AZEK BEVEL SIDING

Indistinguishable from traditional cedar, but without knots or imperfections. Resists moisture, swelling or warping but adheres perfectly to paint. Available regionally.

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TIMBERTECH DECKING

With innovative materials technology, our decking resists fading and staining – and won't splinter, peel, crack, or rot. So your deck will look and perform beautifully for decades without the worry and maintenance of wood.

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TIMBERTECH RAILING

TimberTech Railing delivers enduringly beautiful designs as well as superior performance, whether choosing from our composite, PVC, or metal railing collections.

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INSTALLATION EFFICIENCY

Demolition began in the fall, with the goal to be ready for the next summer. The build schedule was aggressive, so speed and efficiency at every step were critical to completing the construction in time for sailing season. Because AZEK Trim and Siding can be installed using the same good building principles used to install wood products, there were no delays. Our products can be cut, drilled, or routed using the same tools and techniques used for lumber.

Joe Guenther, Commodore, Pentwater Yacht Club

“The AZEK products basically satisfied all of what I call our critical to quality characteristics. It gave us the cottagey feel that we had in the exterior of our other club, yet it gave us the confidence in the durability that it's going to be here for a long, long time.”

Joe Guenther, Commodore, Pentwater Yacht Club

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For our French Canadian Visitors

See the AZEK Building Products advantage on our TimberTech French language site. There you can browse our full line of capped composite decking and railing products.

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