Dennis Choiniere’s 48-year career with Eastern Heating and Cooling in Albany, N.Y., has honed his skills in technical installation, problem solving and leadership. With help from subcontractors, his connection to the pro trades helped Choiniere take on the challenge of renovating his family vacation home in Pottersville, N.Y., part of the Schroon Lake Region of the Adirondack Mountains.
Located on a 6-acre, wooded, river-front lot, Choiniere purchased the place in 2020 knowing that the exterior was way overdue for renovation. The siding and trim had become weathered and water-damaged over time, which would require significant work to restore to its original charm.
“We started in February with replacement windows and new sliding doors,” Choiniere recalls. “Then it was time to deal with the original cedar shake, which had rotted, mildewed and turned dark over the years. I considered the option of cleaning and repainting the shake, and some neighbors even suggested tackling one side of the house each year, which would take four years! That cycle seemed like it would never end, and look awful, so I started looking for replacement siding.”
After researching several options, Choiniere consulted with a friend who had renovated a vacation place on the shores of Lake George, another popular lake retreat in the Adirondack region. His friend sent him photos of the home’s exterior, which had been updated with Beach House Shake, the authentic composite shingle from Tando Composites.
“I really liked the photos, so I drove down to get a closer look and, sure enough, it looked like real cedar shingles. I took a few panels up to our place and held them against the house. That was it—nothing out there had those color and texture variations that would give the authentic individual cedar shingle feel,” Choiniere says.
Upstate New York’s Adirondack region first became popular in the late 1800s when New York City industry moguls commissioned architects to design palatial summer vacation homes with a Swiss Chalet motif. Those opulent influences are still part of the region’s landscape, along with more natural, earthy designs that were built in Craftsman fashion and Vernacular, a style that drew from readily available local materials like wood, stone and vine.
Along with the iconic Adirondack chair, the region’s eclectic woodsy look has endured, and Choiniere and his wife, Donna, wanted their improvements to reflect that aesthetic.
“We wanted a quality look that would last and look like the day it was installed, and we got an amazing result from the Beach House Shake Pacifica,” Choiniere remarks. “And the Beach House Shake corners complemented the shake and gave it that seamless natural look—a ‘wow’ factor that made it look that much more like real cedar. The overall effect blends in well with our surroundings.”
Although his family plans to use the home year-round, Choiniere and his subcontractors worked from late winter through early summer to get ready for the peak warm weather months. To gain proper access to the steep, upper level of the multi-storied structure, he rented hydraulic lifts. He also faced challenges from the irregular angles of contemporary design, which created several hard-to-reach niches.
“The 3-foot lightweight panels made it much easier to handle, compared to a cedar shake, especially with the heights we were dealing it,” Choiniere explains. “It saved time and allowed one person to be up there installing, as opposed to two, which would have been much more cumbersome.”
Erie Materials supplied 36 square (3,600 square feet) of Beach House Shake for the project. The Tando Composites supplier has provided superior customer service to its clients since 1973.
“I worked with Rob Orsino from Erie Materials throughout the process,” Choiniere states. “He supplied and delivered the materials in a timely manner, as well as helped with color selections as we decided on corners and trim.”
Unlike traditional cedar shingles, Beach House Shake panels will not discolor or fade over time. The authentic composite shingle gives the undeniable look of cedar shingles with the added assurance that the visual appeal will endure for the life of the home. Beach House Shake also meets Miami-Dade County High-Velocity Hurricane Zone standards to mitigate the harsh variations in New York’s Adirondack Mountain weather patterns.
Completed in time for Fourth of July festivities, the Choiniere family was able to focus on enjoying the peaceful Adirondack vibe and outdoor activities, like boating, kayaking and fishing on Schroon Lake.
“This is a special place for our kids and grandkids to gather for many years to come,” Choiniere reflects. “We wanted a one-and-done maintenance-free place, and that’s what we achieved. Now, there is nothing to paint on the exterior and there won’t be any trim touch-ups down the road. Any additional cost is offset by the elimination of never-ending maintenance.”
Beach House Shake is available in four natural shades: Choiniere’s choice, Pacifica, which resembles the look of freshly cut western red cedar; Sandcastle, which delivers the look of fresh eastern white cedar; Atlantica, a silvery gray that replicates the charm of a New England cottage; and Hatteras, a deeper gray reminiscent of a classic seaside retreat or farmhouse.
“Everybody loves it,” Choiniere enthuses. “Our place is right on the river, and we’ve had boaters go by and slow down to tell us how much they like the place. We get so many compliments from anyone who visits. People get up close to touch it, thinking it’s real cedar shake. I would recommend it to anyone who has a similar project.”
