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Cladding expert selects CUPACLAD for personal residence

September 23, 2020

Mike Herbst has been Managing Partner of Environmental Building Products for more than 20 years. Based in the greater Minneapolis area, he represents and consults on architectural product solutions throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Suffice to say… he knows a few things about the process of cladding building facades.

lake minnetonka house slate siding

For years, Mike has owned a lake house, which was originally built in the 30’s on Lake Minnetonka. A great, picturesque personal cottage, the home has understandably required a certain amount of regular maintenance over the years, based highly on the fact that it was originally clad with natural cedar.

A wood-based cladding product, especially in the harsh Minnesota climate, constantly needs safeguarding. Over the years, we wanted to keep the original ‘look.’ But a decision was finally made that we had to undertake a major upgrade, one that was more permanent on our home.

Based on what I’ve learned over the years, a checklist of product characteristics was drafted, which would be ideal for this upcoming retrofit work. These properties included a cladding material that was so durable… it was practically indestructible. A material that presented no moisture problems whatsoever. I wanted something that would never fade, and would offer a textural surface that complemented other materials used on the perimeter of the exterior, as well.

minnesota lake house

Herbst went on to say that it was imperative this new material would be installed over a “drainage matrix.” Translated, this means any water that got into the wall could easily get out of it, just like that.

The biggest challenge was to clad this older lake cottage with the most modern, maintenance-free high-tech material. Over the last 30 years, the home has undergone eight phases of construction and remodeling. I wanted this to be the final re-do,” Herbst declared.

The plan was set, and it included a mandate that the renovated home, even with its new “look,” was to completely blend in with the surrounding area. “I wanted performance standards,” added Herbst, “but refused to sacrifice aesthetic standards”.

slate siding house

The rainscreen material selected was not difficult to decide upon, as the CUPACLAD system was almost immediately chosen. Herbst went on to state that once installed with CUPACLAD, the home’s energy efficiency would be 25-30% greater than what it was beforehand.

CUPACLAD is a sustainable, natural slate rainscreen system providing a range of cladding solutions, from traditional to contemporary, offering architects and specifiers a wide choice, suiting any individual design. Using highest quality durable slate, it is installed using a highly efficient system that has been designed and successfully implemented worldwide for decades. Unlike today’s manmade, “artificial” products, efficient CUPACLAD natural slate is handcrafted by skilled workers with no chemical products or additional treatment ever required. Systems are quick and easy to install by most any experienced facade contractors. Once installed, the slate is securely set in a safe manner. No maintenance is ever needed. And, CUPACLAD systems with their modern “look” offer great limitless design possibilities. The materials used are light and versatile… and, can be adapted to any surface used.

Being in the construction industry, I love planning new projects and watching them evolve. But for our lake cottage,” stated Herbst, “especially due to the CUPACLAD exterior, we just want to spend more time being there enjoying the home and the environment surrounding it.

slate house in lake minnetonka

When first introduced to the global marketplace, CUPACLAD was used almost exclusively for commercial work. But as more and more homeowners are deciding to settle on permanent residences, more and more decisions are being made to clad their homes with the ideal natural rainscreen material that offers a beautiful, maintenance-free, permanent installation.

I’ll vouch for that!” concluded Mike Herbst.