Homeowners considering fiber cement siding for their home exteriors will be wowed by its benefits. It's durable, natural-looking, and accounts for about five percent of the country's siding market. Want to know how it stacks up against wood and vinyl? Here's the scoop on fiber cement siding!
Fiber cement siding, not to be confused with asbestos-cement or synthetic stucco sidings, is a concoction of Portland cement mixed with ground sand, cellulose fiber, and other additives. It became .popular in the late 1980s because it requires little maintenance.
Fiber Cement vs. Wood
When the cost of real wood is beyond your siding budget, fiber cement siding is a strong, attractive alternative. It comes in several styles, including: lap siding, shingle siding, vertical siding, and planks. It has a number of advantages over wood. Most notably:
Fiber cement won't rot
Fiber cement doesn't shrink or swell when exposed to moisture
It holds paint three to four times longer
It's resistant to termites, woodpeckers, and other pests
Fiber Cement vs. Vinyl
Fiber cement siding is more expensive than vinyl, but it's also fireproof, termite-proof (unlike wood), and can carry a warranty of up to 50 years. Other advantages of fiber cement siding over vinyl include:
It's noncombustible.
It holds paint longer.
It's more durable.
Homeowners who opt for fiber cement siding won't regret it. You'll love it for its beauty, durability and low maintenance. What will you do with all your free time now that you'll be doing a lot less painting, scraping, and re-siding?
