Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement siding is made from a mixture of several materials such as cement, sand, and cellulosic fibers used to prevent cracking.. Autoclaving, a curing process which utilizes extreme temperatures, gives fiber cement its strength and stability. Fiber cement panels are layered to give it its desired thickness and a variety of embossments are used to give it its specific texture such as wood grain or stucco.
A wide array of colors and designs are offered with fiber cement siding. Many of the traditional horizontal lap siding styles are available such as Dutch, beaded and traditional. Many architectural elements such as shingles, half rounds, octagons and random squares are also produced.. Fiber cement is also available in vertical siding as well and some of the textures include stucco, cedar wood grain and smooth.
There are several advantages of fiber cement over traditional siding products. Unlike vinyl products, fiber cement siding will not fade, warp or buckle. Over time, wood siding will eventually show signs of rot or insect and bird damage, where as fiber cement siding is impervious to both. Damage due to salt spray and ultraviolet light is also greatly diminished. Fiber cement siding will resist denting much better than aluminum siding and resist becoming brittle in freezing conditions or melt under extreme heat conditions as vinyl may. It is authorized for many historic preservation projects where traditional materials may not be. Fiber cement is also an ideal painting surface with some transferable product warranties lasting as long as twenty-five years.
The majority of fiber cement siding comes pre-primed from the factory and sealed or in some cases can be custom ordered to a specific color. Pre-priming the fiber cement helps preserve the product before installation and although it can be purchased un-primed, it is not recommended and may affect the warranty.
The overall cost of a fiber cement siding installation depends on three factors: the cost of the material itself, labor and the finish that will be applied. According to R.S. Means data, fiber cement costs 75% less than natural stone, 37% less than cedar, 24% less than traditional wood siding and just slightly more than hardboard siding.
Maintaining fiber cement siding is much easier than other choices, but it is not maintenance-free. Occasionally fiber cement will collect dirt or insect nests and will need to be power washed. Gaps between panels will separate during regular expansion and contraction cycles and the seams will need to be re-caulked using a high quality acrylic or latex caulk. Expect to repaint the fiber cement every seven to fifteen years.
With all the advantages offered by fiber cement siding, there are some considerations to be aware of. Although less expensive than some other siding choices listed above, it is significantly more expensive than vinyl. Installation time is also longer. Painting, although an advantage in that it gives the homeowner more choice, ultimately adds to the labor cost involved.
When choosing a contractor for installing the fiber cement siding, look for experience and references. Fiber cement installation requires special considerations and tools that a contractor who has no experience with the product may not have. Although installing fiber cement siding is not considered a DIY project, with proper instruction it can achieved by a homeowner who is familiar with working with tools and building materials and can reduce expense significantly.
References:
Tech. Brief 15,www.cement.orgwww.about.com
Lee Wallender, www.about.com
