Fiber Cement Siding: A Simple Guide for Homeowners

Siding can be a great way to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home’s exterior, improve energy efficiency, and even boost home value. Numerous factors come into play when selecting the right siding. For example, you must consider costs, climatic conditions, durability, and the style of your home.

Fiber cement is one of the most popular siding options. If you want the right balance of longevity, versatility, aesthetics, and lifecycle costs, fiber cement might be an excellent choice.

If you want to install new siding, read on to learn more about fiber cement siding so you can make an informed decision.

Basics of Fiber Cement Siding 

Fiber cement cladding is a type of cement that consists of four ingredients. These include water, wood pulp, fly ash, and Portland cement.

Water helps to dissolve the wood pulp, the wood pulp provides fortification, and fly ash works as a filler. The Portland cement, which constitutes of iron, clay, and limestone, holds together all the ingredients.

Types of Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement siding comes in a variety of textures and styles. Some of the most popular choices include panel, lap, shingle, and brick fiber siding.

Panel fiber siding comes in the form of large sheets. Panels are available in a variety of textures and finishes.

Lap fiber cement siding is essentially thick clapboards installed one row after another. Some common finishes include wood-grain, smooth, and rough varnishes.

Lap cladding fits well with many home styles including modern, mid-century, and Victorian. This choice of siding also adapts well to different climates.

Shingle fiber cement siding is available in separate shakes and foot strips. Depending on your home’s style, you could opt for shingles with a straight or patterned appearance.

While some shingles have a plain clean look, others come with decorative elements. Shingles are also commonly available in primed, stained, or painted finishes.

Also known as stucco, brick fiber cement siding is a great choice if you want a classic look for your home’s exterior. Brick fiber cement panels resemble traditional masonry and allow you to play with color and texture without the added cost of actual masonry work.

Advantages of Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement outperforms many of its siding competitors in several ways.

Fiber cement siding performs well in different climates, requiring minimum care and providing a long service life. This siding is resistant to the effects of wildfires in arid areas, salt and humidity in coastal regions, and the freeze-thaw pattern in cold regions.

Some siding materials such as wood or vinyl tend to contract and expand drastically with fluctuations in climatic conditions.

However, fiber cement siding is relatively stable, making this material a good substrate for paint. This means the paint lasts longer, therefore minimizing the overall maintenance costs.

Fiber cement siding is available in a wide array of styles, colors, and finishes. With fiber cement cladding, you can get the look of masonry, wood, or even fieldstone at a fraction of the cost of other siding options.

Disadvantages of Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement cladding has a few downsides.

The cement component makes this type of cladding comparably weighty. Subsequently, the costs of handling and transporting fiber cement can add up quickly.

Although a popular choice, fiber cement is not a cheap cladding material. Additionally, professional installation, which involves the use of specialized tools, is necessary to ensure the best results.

While fiber cement siding will not last forever, with proper maintenance, this choice of cladding for your home’s exterior can provide a reasonably long service life.

If you want reputable home exterior contractors, look no further than D.S. Bahr Construction, Inc. Call us today for a free estimate on new siding.

The post Fiber Cement Siding: A Simple Guide for Homeowners appeared first on D.S. Bahr Constraction, Inc.