Fiber cement siding came into favor as a safe alternative to asbestos-based materials. Today, it’s one of the most popular exterior building materials. This type of siding delivers the design appeal of wood but with increased durability and better resistance to fire and pests. If you’re considering fiber cement siding for your home, read on to learn more about it and how to take care of it.
How Is Fiber Cement Siding Made?
Fiber cement siding manufacturers combine Portland cement, sand, and cellulose fibers to make a slurry. This mixture gets extruded into sheets or boards in a process similar to papermaking. There are separate types of templates for cladding, soffit lining, and tile underlays. Another template allows you to substitute fiber cement instead of bargeboards and timber fascias.
After the fiber cement cures, workers pre-prime or pre-paint it, then cut it into various siding profiles. Ultimately, you receive a dimensionally stable product resistant to warping, rotting, and cracking.
Pros and Cons of Fiber Cement Siding
Like any building material, fiber cement siding has advantages and disadvantages.
- Durability and lifespan: Fiber cement can last 50 years or more with the proper maintenance
- Fire resistance: The material is non-combustible, which improves your home’s safety and could lower your insurance premiums.
- Pest resistance: Unlike wood, fiber cement isn’t attractive to termites.
- Versatility: Fiber cement can mimic wood, stone, and brick. It’s also easily painted if you want to change its appearance.
- Weather resistance: Fiber cement protects against heat, freezing temperatures, and high winds.
- Cost: Fiber cement isn’t the most expensive option, but you usually have to buy it from a retailer, which may increase the price.
- Weight: Fiber cement is heavier than vinyl and wood. That’s good for durability but makes installation more challenging and more costly.
- Painting requirements: You should repaint fiber cement siding every 10 to 15 years.
- Insulation: Fiber cement siding is not the best insulator, so you’ll need to pair it with top-grade insulation to get the highest energy efficiency.
Average Cost of Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement siding costs depend on brand, style, and region. According to Angi, expect to pay an average of between $6,627 and $23,125 for a whole-home fiber cement siding installation. Individual planks can cost between $2 and $15 per square foot, depending on size and shape.
Fiber cement is more expensive than vinyl, but the longevity and appearance justify the higher upfront cost.
Installing Fiber Cement Siding
The fiber cement installation process is rather simple, but you’d need specific tools and techniques to make sure it’s secured properly. You’ll also need all the expected safety gear like ear muffs, goggles, work gloves, a circular saw, and a respirator mask. Some experienced DIYers could tackle the project themselves, but in most cases, you’ll probably want professionals to do it for you, given the weight.
First, installers will sheath your walls with plywood, OSB, or foam, then cover the sheathing with felt paper or a housewrap. Then, they’ll cut, shear, or score the siding material to the necessary shape and size.
Roofing and siding nails are the fasteners of choice when attaching siding to studs. Some installers hammer it in by hand, but using a nail gun is usually faster and easier. The corner trim gets installed first, followed by the full siding.
Once installed, the siding needs a coat of paint. Some siding gets a coat of primer at the factory, and if that’s the case, you can wait as long as six months to add that first color coat. Caulk the joints and ends, then apply a top coat of 100% acrylic latex paint.
Fiber Cement Siding Types
There are three main types of fiber cement siding you can purchase. Each one suits different architectural preferences.
- Lap siding: Lap siding is the most popular choice for home use. It uses horizontal planks that overlap to create a classic look. You can find it in smooth and seamless styles or use a traditional wood-texture version.
- Shingles and shakes: Shingles and shakes lend a rustic appearance to country homes. Installing them is a bit different since there are many more pieces to deal with. Usually, a professional crew will stagger them to make a unique pattern, compared to perfectly symmetrical lap siding.
- Panel siding: Panels are more common for commercial buildings, though some modern homes use them as well. Installers lay outside corner tracks on a wall, then slide the panels in and fasten them next to each other with screws. They have clean lines and surfaces. You can find them in smooth and textured versions.
Does Fiber Cement Siding Fit Your Climate?
One of fiber cement siding’s significant advantages is its versatility across different climates. You can use fiber cement in any climate.
In hot and humid areas, it resists moisture and mold. Also, fungi and termites can’t survive on fiber cement.
Fiber cement withstands a lot of what Mother Nature can throw at it. It stands up to wildfires because it’s non-combustible. And it can handle strong winds and below-zero temperatures.
Comparing Fiber Cement Siding to Other Types
Sometimes, it’s easier to see the advantages and disadvantages of fiber cement when you directly compare it to another material:
- Vs. wood siding: Wood siding offers unparalleled natural beauty, but it’s less durable and higher-maintenance.
- Vs. vinyl siding: Vinyl is less expensive and easier to install but less durable, less fire-resistant, and has a shorter lifespan.
- Vs. steel siding: Steel is usually a bit less expensive, but it has more limited styles. You’re likely to have better curb appeal with fiber cement.
Fiber Cement Siding Repair and Maintenance
Fiber cement siding is a relatively low-maintenance material, but you’ll still need to follow these steps to keep it looking its best and maximize its lifespan:
- Wash the siding down with a garden hose and soft brush once per year.
- Inspect the siding for damage while you clean. Address any issues promptly.
- Repaint the siding every 10 to 15 years.
Some companies sell touch-up kits to help you patch up any holes or light damage to the siding. You should also take care to direct downspouts away from your siding and prevent any contact with de-icing salts that can erode your siding.
Fiber Cement Siding Frequently Asked Questions
You can cut fiber cement with a circular saw, shears, or by scoring it. Scoring it leaves the edges jagged, so the circular saw is the most popular choice.
If properly maintained, fiber cement siding can last more than 50 years.
Repainting fiber cement siding is incredibly simple and can be done by anyone in most cases. If your siding is unprimed, you’ll need to prime it with an acrylic primer before painting. If it is primed or you’ve already primed it, simply wash it off with a low-pressure water hose, and paint it like normal. Use a brush, roller, or sprayer to add as many coats as needed.
Fiber cement siding needs to be repainted every 10 to 15 years.
The average fiber cement siding installation will give you around an 80% return on your investment, larger than most other remodeling projects.
It largely depends on the size of your home, but the cost per square foot for fiber cement siding ranges from $5 to $13.50 per square foot. The average home is sized between 1,500 and 2,500 square feet. This means you can expect to pay a rough ballpark estimate of anywhere from $7,500 to $27,000 for a fiber cement siding installation.
If your fiber cement siding was installed before or around the 1980’s it could contain asbestos. Fiber cement siding made after that only poses a threat during the cutting process, where silica dust could get into your lungs. In general, however, fiber cement siding is perfectly safe.
