Fiber-Cement Siding: A Bright Home Renovation Idea
by Wendy Croix
Home Improvement Ideas Columnist
The numbers are in for 2005, and fiber-cement has snagged nearly a third of the siding market, beating out the one in five homes that prefers wood and the one in six that's installing vinyl siding. Fiber-cement siding combines a cured cellulose fiber with cement and sand to produce a durable, yet beautiful, building material. Cement building products are so popular that Habitat for Humanity's Las Vegas branch built a concrete show house for the International Builders Show to display the versatility of fiber-cement siding, roof tile, and flooring.
Installing Vinyl Versus Cement Siding
If you have wood siding that you want to replace, chances are you're comparison shopping for alternatives. You want something that looks as good as wood, yet avoids the problems of wood, especially in hot, humid climates. Because vinyl siding expands and contracts with temperature changes, fiber-cement siding has become the siding of choice in new construction. Praised for its strength and stability, fiber-cement siding, like vinyl, resists the rot, fungus, termites, and mold that plague wood.
Vinyl Siding Versus Cement Siding Cost
Installing vinyl siding costs less up front that fiber-cement siding. However, a 1997 Boston University study of 58 houses found that concrete's insulating ability saved the average home owner $310 a year in heating and cooling costs. Also, fiber-cement siding beats vinyl in the categories of weather resistance and longevity. It's hail and impact-resistant, too, so fiber-cement siding offers homes in windy cities extra protection.
Choose Fiber-Cement Siding for its Beauty
Fiber-cement siding comes in the dark colors that are unavailable when installing vinyl siding. Even if deep, vivid color isn't your aesthetic, long-lasting color probably is. Fiber-cement siding retains its paint job for seven to fifteen years, say the pros, greatly outlasting the three to five years typical of painted wood. Though vinyl's color is permanent (the good news), vinyl can't be painted (the bad). The color you pick is the color you live with, and for some owners of vinyl siding, the lower cost isn't worth it.
With fiber-cement siding, the bottom line is the bottom line. Top manufacturers like James Hardie warranty their cement siding for 50 years.
Sources
- "Concrete Offers Builders Energy-Efficient, Sturdy Options," by Alan J. Heavens. Philadelphia Inquirer (PA) (Mar 30, 2003).
- "Fibre cement siding won't rot, can be painted," by Steve Maxwell. Toronto Star (Canada) (Dec 13, 2003).
- James Hardie Fiber-Cement Siding
About the Author
Wendy Croix, Ph.D. is a freelance writer, cultural critic and self-confessed home improvement junkie. She's also a university professor.
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