1. What is fiber cement siding?
Fiber cement siding is popular on homes because it is sturdy, long-lasting, and requires little maintenance from the owner. It is made of cement, sand, and wood pulp. It is designed to be fireproof, insect proof, and weatherproof. It is usually given wood grain patterns so it gives a natural look. It comes in a variety of colors semi-rigid material that is durable enough to provide protection while retaining natural flexibility.
2. Is fiber cement siding expensive?
This is a complicated question since it depends what you compare it to. Fiber cement is more expensive than vinyl siding but requires less maintenance and lasts longer. If you were to compare the two for the cost over a lifetime the cost of investment becomes a lot closer. Fiber cement siding is generally less expensive than cedar siding and with less maintenance.
3. How durable is fiber cement siding?
Like anything, quality can depend on the brand. At EMA Construction we only use James Hardie siding which is a high quality and performing product. According to James Hardie their fiber cement siding is designing to be:
- Non-combustible. It will not ignite when exposed to a direct flame, nor will it contribute fuel to a fire.
- Created to withstand damage from moisture and rot.
- Engineered to stand up to the demands of your specific climate.
- Unappealing to woodpeckers, termites and other pests.
As you can see, James Hardie fiber cement siding has many advantages over wood and vinyl siding.
4. Does fiber cement siding require a lot of maintenance?
James Hardie and other fiber cement sidings require very little maintenance, especially when compared to cedar or vinyl siding. Fiber cement is long lasting and resistant to most forms of damage that cause other sidings to require maintenance. The most common maintenance item is to re-paint fiber cement siding every 10 to 15 years.
5. What does fiber cement siding look like?
One of the best features of fiber cement siding is that it can be a bit of a chameleon. Fiber cement can resemble stone, wood boards, cedar shingles, wood shakes, logs and more. Given that it can resemble most types of siding without the disadvantages of those other sidings it is considered a premium choice. In terms of color, James Hardie siding has a wide variety of colors to choose from and the material can always be painted if none of the available colors suit your taste.
6. What is the best brand for fiber cement siding?
Admittedly, this question has a fair degree of subjectivity involved with this question. That being said, there is no list that does not include James Hardie: HardiPlank. One reason is that James Hardie does not make any other products so their name has become almost interchangeable with fiber cement siding. The quality, durability, and reliability has given James Hardie a well-earned reputation for being among the best for fiber cement siding.
If you’re interested in James Hardie’s fiber cement siding in the Cincinnati, Dayton, and Northern Kentucky area then contact EMA Construction for more information or to schedule a free estimate.