You may have seenfiber cement boardor siding and didn’t even recognize it.
This siding material, which can resemble wood grain or even stucco, has been around for 100 years.
If you have ever wanted low-maintenance siding, fiber cement siding might be the right choice for your home.
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What Is Fiber Cement Siding?
It’s manufactured with cellulose fibers, cement, and sand, making it long-lasting and durable.
What Is Fiber Cement Siding Made Of?
Some manufacturers add a few proprietary ingredients for binding and durability.
Fiber cement siding does not contain asbestos but was considered a suitable replacement.
The planks can be installed horizontally or vertically.
It also comes in shingle and sheet form, which can beinstalledas an insulating underlayment for tile.
Fiber cement siding is also finished with a variety of textures.
Wood grain patterns mimic traditional wood siding, while smooth planks or stucco textures look clean and modern.
Its shingle form comes in individual 1- or 2-foot shakes and 4-, 8-, or 12-foot strips.
Sheets come in 2-foot by 8-foot panels, 4-foot by 8-foot panels, and 4-foot by 10-foot panels.
It’s also impact-resistant and paintable.
It comes in prepainted and unpainted forms.
Prepainted, it shouldn’t need painting for at least 15 years.
It might need painting within five to 10 years if you paint it.
It’s easy to maintain by washing it every six to 12 months.
Installation
Half of the cost of fiber cement siding is installation.
If budget is a barrier to getting fiber cement siding, consider doing the installation yourself.
Eco Friendliness
Fiber cement siding is not recyclable.
It also releases fine silica dust that is harmful to breathe in.
Also, cement production is energy- and water-intensive.
The ingredients in cement require quarrying, and cement production generates 8% of the worlds CO2 emissions.
Vinyl Siding vs.
Fiber Cement Siding
Compare several variables to decide if vinyl or fiber cement is your home’s best option.
How sustainable is fiber cement siding?Green Building Canada.
