If you are building a new home, garage, addition, workshop, or barn — or if it’s time to replace the old, weather-beaten siding on the house — consider using fiber cement siding.
What is fiber cement siding and what options do you have? Like traditional siding, fiber cement siding is applied to the exterior of buildings to protect them from natural factors. The product comes in a variety of colors and styles, similar to traditional siding materials, especially stucco, cedar shingles and wooden partitions. It is mainly made of cement, sand and wood fiber (usually recycled wood fiber waste). This combination makes the material very durable.
The cost of fiber cement siding is usually a little higher than vinyl siding, but lower than stucco. It is also more durable than competitors-usually decades-because it can withstand many common hazards, including fire, wind, insects and rain. It is recommended to use fiber cement siding in all climatic conditions, but it is very suitable for hot and humid areas. No matter how wet it is, it will not rot. Due to the content of cement and sand, it is resistant to termites.
Due to its durability, fiber cement siding reduces maintenance costs and is less likely to be landfilled compared to traditional siding. Unfortunately, there is currently no recycling program for fiber cement siding. However, it is an inert material and should not endanger the environment if it is eventually sent to a landfill.
Although many builders and homeowners have just discovered its benefits, this material has been around for a long time—nearly 100 years—so you won't try new products.
Fiber cement boards made of wood grain or smooth finishes are very popular. They are 4 to 12 inches wide, so if you are building an add-on or garage, you can match the existing siding. Wall panels with vertical grooves and soffits with overhanging bottom surfaces are also provided.
Fiber cement siding can be primed and painted in factories or construction sites. (Some manufacturers prime all of their products.) I recommend factory-primed and painted siding, which usually comes with a warranty of up to 25 years. For those who want to base and paint on their own, manufacturers usually recommend alkali-resistant primers and 100% acrylic topcoats.
If you want to change the color later, no problem. The water-based acrylic paint adheres well. Fiber cement siding does not expand and contract like wood siding, so the paint stays in place better. It rarely flakes or foams, reducing maintenance time and cost.
Fiber cement siding can be found everywhere and can be purchased at home improvement centers and logging yards. Perhaps the most famous manufacturer is James Hardie, which offers three products: HardiePlank, HardieShingle and HardiePanel. Other manufacturers include CertainTeed, Cemplank and Maxitile. SureTeed products are available in 16 colors.
Before installing new siding, you may need to remove all old siding-this is a time-consuming and demanding job. You also need to rent a trash can to drag the trash away. If the old siding is not painted or treated with chemical preservatives or lead paint, you can recycle the old siding or burn it in a wood stove.
As long as you have basic construction skills, time and patience, applying the new siding is relatively simple. You also need some tools: circular saw or split saw, cordless drill or hammer, sawhorse, ladder, dust mask, goggles, spirit level, straight edge, chalk line, and bevel gauge for marking the end siding of the gable.
If you do not have the necessary skills, please hire a professional. A good contractor will do the job correctly, and in a short period of time, it needs a do-it-yourself person. For those who want to undertake this project, please read the manufacturer's instructions first and follow them closely. Manufacturers such as James Hardie provide detailed information on their websites. If the siding is not installed correctly, you may end up with costly problems and void the warranty.
Like traditional wood siding, fiber cement siding can be applied to wood and steel nails, but it is usually connected to an exterior wall sheath (oriented strand board or plywood) on top of a suitable weathering barrier, such as Tyvek. Some fiber cement products can be applied to rigid foam insulation materials. Before installing the siding on a concrete or concrete block wall, you need to install vertical wooden slats to which the siding will be attached. Check the manufacturer's recommendations for the spacing of the burr strips.
Fiber cement is fixed with corrosion-resistant galvanized or stainless steel nails or screws that can penetrate the stud or outer sheath. Many fiber cement siding panels can be nailed to the outer sheath with blind nails so that no nails appear (advantage compared to traditional wooden partitions). To do this, nail each board down about 1 inch from the top edge. Place the next board so that it overlaps the nails and hide them. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully, because there are some restrictions on blindly nailing wider boards to prevent wind rising. (If they are only attached to the top, the wind can lift wider boards.)
Fiber cement siding can also be nailed on the surface, so that the nail heads are exposed. However, due to the hardness of the material, staples cannot be used. Do not knock down nails or screws.
No matter which system you choose, check the manufacturer's recommendations for placing fasteners (nails or screws) on the end and top edge of the board. Refer to the wind table provided by the manufacturer for recommendations on fastener spacing, stud spacing, and other factors in your area.
When cutting fiber cement siding, please use a circular saw with a special blade to minimize dust, such as Hitachi's Hardiblade or Dewalt's PCD fiber cement blade. You can also cut these products with a sea bream clipper or a guillotine cutting machine.
Cut these materials outdoors, away from other people and pets. When cutting or sawing wood boards or other fiber cement materials, anyone in the area should wear a dust mask.
When applying new siding, consider installing additional insulation in the wall cavity or external sheath. If you add rigid insulation to the outer sheath, you must also build windows and door trims.
Check local building codes to determine if you need to get permission to install new siding-and make sure that the work done as planned meets the requirements. Local building codes may waive the usual requirements for fiber cement siding, which is a waterproof layer between the outer sheath and the siding, but it is a good idea to install construction paper.
Good house packaging under the siding is an important part of a green building because it "breathes" and allows moisture to escape to the outside. This prevents mold, which can cause health problems and damage your home. In addition to Tyvek, there are Benjamin Obdyke's Home Slicker, Cosella Dorken Products' Delta Reflex and Gempack's Construction Film.
Fiber cement is more expensive than vinyl, but the price is similar to wood-if you only consider the material cost. Fiber cement products tend to be more expensive to install because they require the removal of existing siding and more preparation work. (Vinyl siding can usually be placed on existing siding.) The cost depends on several factors, such as whether the siding is pre-finished or painted on-site, the style of paint, the type of siding, and the size of the house.
Estimated cost per square foot of removing the existing partition siding and installing fiber cement siding:
Contractor’s total cost per square foot, including materials, labor, and mark-ups: $9.00
Including house packaging, insulation panels, and paint and primer for new siding. Cost is the national average and does not include sales tax.
Cost of alternative materials installed per square foot (not including removal of existing bulkhead panels):
Fiber cement siding usually has an impressive (and transferable) warranty of up to 50 years. Infrequent painting (every 15 to 25 years, as opposed to traditional wood siding every three to five years) means that fiber cement siding can save you a lot of money during its lifetime.
In terms of return on investment, the 2007 annual "Cost and Value" report of Remodeling magazine rated the new fiber cement siding as one of the most valuable projects. If the house is sold, the average return for every dollar invested is 88 cents.
When working on any home improvement project, plan what you will do and make a complete list of the materials and supplies you need. This will save the extra travel of going to a hardware store or home improvement center to purchase or return materials, save you time and reduce fuel consumption and vehicle wear.
Dan Chiras taught a seminar on renewable energy and green buildings through The Evergreen Institute.
I heard that fiber cement siding is difficult to install by yourself (very heavy). Isn't it true? I got this advice from the protection and construction of Texas, that is, it is best to hire someone. Does anyone know the weight of a single peices?
Great information is here. I accepted your suggestion and tried to install some fiber cement siding on my house. Unfortunately, I installed it with little success, so I hired a local Houston professional, Advanced Home Exteriors, to install it for me. As a result, their installation is very good, so I would recommend them to anyone who needs professional siding installation. For more information about Advanced Home Exteriors, please feel free to check their website. www.advancedhomeexteriors.net
Of course it can be proved its durability-I have some cement fiber siding on my house, dating back to the turn of the century! It is shingle style-I have lived in this house for 17 years and only need to replace a small part, because there are some large debris on the edges, it is often beaten by big branches. It is very commonly used in our Midwest area, and I left something extra on the bedroom porch that I added to the house 20 to 30 years after the house was originally built. I am going to replace my soffit with James Hardie's soffit and hope to close the raccoon resort in my attic. Wood (even reinforced with hardware cloth) has proven to have no deterrent effect; however, the repair work I did on a siding was not destroyed.
Thank you for the informative article. It's refreshing to see accurate information about such an excellent siding product. In New England, we have been installing fiber cement products for more than ten years, and we have transformed hundreds of beautiful houses. I recommend fiber cement siding to anyone who needs to replace a currently malfunctioning siding, whether it's old brittle vinyl, rotting cedar, leaded wooden partitions, old asbestos tiles, etc. If you intend to maximize the value of your home, reduce long-term exterior maintenance and stay green, then fiber cement siding is the right choice. In fact, research conducted by Realtor Magazine shows that in the past 7 years, replacing existing siding with new fiber cement siding has brought the greatest return on your investment, even better than a new kitchen or bathroom. More. For more information, please visit www.roymelnick.wordpress.com or send an email to ramelnick@unitedhomeexperts.com
Thank you for the very useful article. I have been trying to use Hardi products in a few small jobs. The recommendation to buy a saw blade designed for this material is absolutely correct and essential. Fiber cement will immediately blunt ordinary carbide blades and produce incredible dust. The blade specially designed for the material is durable, and the dust is greatly reduced.
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