The true beauty of cement fiber cladding lies in its ability to mimic wood and wood-based siding materials with far less maintenance involved to keep it free of rot and damages caused by the elements.  It is also preferred over vinyl siding for its ability to keep its shape and color to a much higher degree.  For clarification purposes, the terms “cladding” and “siding” are interchangeable.

The cement fiber cladding is made from a combination of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers.  The siding is fabricated in layers and can be purchased in different exposures.  The variety of textures and colors also make the material desirable from an appearance standpoint and allows it to be adaptable to many architectural styles.

For harsh climates such as the salty air of the New England states, the cladding holds up better than some other materials.  The cement fiber material is resistant to rotting under salt spray or the effects of ultraviolet rays.  It is also welcome in historic preservation areas where many other exterior housing materials are prohibited.  Cement fiber siding also holds paint very well, making it conducive to matching the unique colors of historic homes.

A siding cost comparison of three siding options follows taking into account not only the cost of material and labor to install the siding but also its maintenance costs over the life of the material.

Vinyl siding remains the least expensive of siding types and typically requires little to no maintenance for 10-15 years.  It is not as durable as fiber cement or composite siding but doesn’t attract insects and animals.

Cement fiber has all the benefits discussed previously and is  typically 10-40% more than a good grade vinyl siding.

The most expensive of the siding materials is natural stone or brick siding.  The advantage is clear; there is virtually no maintenance required throughout its lifetime.  Natural stone, however, does not fit the style of many homes.

The cement fiber siding material sits somewhere in the middle of the affordability scale of siding products.  The benefit to the homeowner as to siding options depends on the look they want, the maintenance of the siding they are willing to undertake, the climate of the region, and the expenditure built into the initial siding budget.

Some additional and equally important factors go into the decision as well.  If the home is a historic one, perhaps under renovation by the homeowner, the choice of siding is far more limited.  Here, the cement fiber cladding would make the most sense.

Whether the home is historic or not, the style of the home is very important to the choice of siding materials.  The look of the home can be destroyed by a material that is not in keeping with the style.

Use our Siding Calculator to get a better understanding of how much fiber cement would cost for your home!