What is fiber cement siding? Fiber cement siding is the most rapidly growing siding product today. Fiber cement siding is an alternative to wood and vinyl for the exterior of homes. Wood requires a lot of...
Fiber cement siding is an alternative to wood and vinyl for the exterior of homes. Wood requires a lot of work and upkeep for a homeowner, because every decade wood needs to be repainted and maintained. Fiber cement siding provides the appearance of wood, but is cheaper and lasts longer. It is termite resistant, non-combustible, and warranted to last 50 years. Fiber cement siding is the most rapidly growing siding product today.
"It's been around in other parts of the world for many years, decades in fact," says Walt Hoyt who is the director of marketing and communications for CertainTeed Siding Products.
The product has been really popular in the United States over the last 10 years; while vinyl siding is probably 40 percent of the industry. Fiber cement is probably 15-18 percent and growing. Fiber cement siding has a tremendous impact; you can get a very realistic wood grain. CertainTeed manufactures that as well and it typically is installed with a wider exposure, meaning that you would go probably five, maybe six to eight inches, in terms of the exposure.
"When installing, the product is overlapping, so it tends to have a wider lap as opposed to a three inch reveal, which we see particularly up in New England," Hoyt says. "This look is very popular in vinyl." About 95% of the product has the sealant called Fiber Tech.
According to Toolbase.org, fiber cement siding is composed of cement, sand and cellulose fiber that has been autoclaved, which means it has been cured with pressurized steam, to increase its strength and dimensional stability. The fiber is added to make the cement stronger to avoid cracks, which cement eventually does in the future. The planks come in 51/4" to 12" widths, and are about 5/16 inches thick. Fiber cement siding is available in your nearest building supply store or can be bought through a local distributor. The price of fiber cement siding is more than vinyl, but less than hardboard siding. The price is very comparable to wood, but really varies by market. CertainTeed recommends consumers go on their website, click on dealer locator, and then enter their zip code to get pricing from a local distributor.
"Overall, it is a great product," says Hoyt.
This product can be painted any color once it is installed and it looks very similar to wood siding. It is thicker and stronger than vinyl and another added bonus of cement siding is it is not limited in colors.
"Vinyl comes just in a specific number of colors, so that limits the streetscape or look of a neighborhood," says Botrell. Fiber siding can also be pre-finished and pre-painted in a variety of colors and comes with a 15-year paint warranty. The product does not expand or contract like wood, so the paint does not chip or peel. The natural expansion and contraction of wood is what causes paint to chip on wood products. "People like our product because it is low maintenance, noncombustible, and it gives them the ability to create the look of a shingle or a plank that you get with siding, without the maintenance issues," he says.
