How Long Does Fiber Cement Siding Last?

 H2: Structural and finish warranties

Fiber cement siding is a durable and long-lasting material that is a popular choice of material for house sidings and, due to its qualities, it often comes with warranties that are far better than any other material on the market.

 

Fiber cement is made from a mixture of sand, cement, glass, and cellulose fiber.  These create a material that is not only durable but is resistant to insects, fire, moisture, and UV light.  Unlike some other types of siding, fiber cement doesn’t rot, fade, or peel and it can easily be pressure washed regularly to remove dirt.

 

As it’s such a robust material manufacturers often provide warranties of around thirty years on the boards, which means that the siding boards are guaranteed to last for that period of time so long as they are correctly installed and well-maintained.

 

However, the paint finish on the boards doesn’t come under that warranty but has a separate one of its own.  This is because the finish is generally put on the boards in the factory, and not by the manufacturers themselves.  The finish is usually guaranteed to be free from peeling, chipping, or fading for around ten years.

 

H2: Outside studies

The warranty of the material is not the only method that is used to determine how long the siding should last as there have been many studies done by organisations such as the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors and the National Association of Home Builders.  As a result of their studies, both of these groups claim that fiber cement siding can last for around 100 years or more so long as it is properly maintained.

 

Therefore, if you chose to install fiber cement siding on your home then you are unlikely to ever need to replace it.

 

H2: Comparing longevity with alternative siding materials

The main benefit of the longevity of fiber cement siding is shown when it is compared with the other materials that are commonly used for house sidings.

 

Wood sidings require a lot of regular maintenance - the finish on wood siding generally needs to be sanded off and reapplied every three years.  Not only that, but wood siding boards need to be checked regularly for any signs of rot or warping as this could quickly result in the entire siding board needing to be replaced.  Rotting, warping, and swelling can often happen when the caulk around a door or window has failed.

 

Aluminium siding fairs better than wood as it generally lasts between 20 and 40 years before it needs to be replaced.  However, it still requires maintenance as sunlight can cause the colour of the finish to fade, which can lead to the paint flaking and rubbing off.  Therefore, it will often require repainting so that it maintains its desired colour.

 

How long vinyl siding lasts really depend on the quality of the material used as cheaper material can crack in cold weather or blister and swell in hot sun, therefore needing to be replaced approximately every seven or eight years.

 

Vinyl that is of a better quality lasts much longer and can often last for approximately 20 years before needing to be replaced.  However, it still needs regular maintenance to keep it looking its best as any cracks would need to be repaired and boards can sometimes need rehanging if any have fallen off.

 

Therefore, fiber cement is easily the most durable and long-lasting material that you could choose for siding material, with the exception of brick or stone.  It’s not just its longevity that is an advantage, as it is available in many different styles, so there’s always going to be something to suit your needs, and it can be painted in pretty much any colour you like.

 

H2: Long term choice

The aesthetics of a house is often an important factor when choosing home siding, and therefore it’s important to choose a material that will last for a long time without needing much maintenance.

 

Therefore, fiber cement certainly ticks all the boxes and would make a great choice for siding material as it has a reinforced structure and the external appearance of natural wood grain and will not need to be replaced any time soon so long as it is looked after properly.

 

H2: General pricing guidelines

Inevitably, there is going to be a downside to fiber cement, and in this case, it is the cost.  Fiber cement siding boards can be quite expensive - often costing two or three times as much as vinyl or aluminium siding does.  Although the actual cost of fiber cement is quite similar to that of wood and insulated vinyl siding it is much more than standard vinyl siding.  The cost of installing the fiber cement is also higher as it takes a lot of manpower to do the job.

 

Fiber cement can easily cost between $5.00 and $13.50 for every square foot once it’s installed and often the brand, style and finish, and the installation costs can have a massive impact on the price.  Between the installation costs and the cost of the materials themselves, it generally costs between $6,000 and $20,500 to have fiber cement siding installed on your home, and in some cases it can cost much more.

 

Therefore, if you are planning on selling your home in the next few years then it might be a good idea to choose a different siding material as the costs will outweigh the benefits.

 

H2: Fiber cement sidings need to be repainted

Although the finish on fiber cement siding is guaranteed for around 10 years, it will eventually need repainting, and this job can often be a factor when deciding whether to use fiber cement siding as it can be quite a difficult and expensive job to do.  By comparison, neither vinyl nor aluminium sidings need to be repainted.

 

H2: Return on investment in fiber cement siding

Although it can be expensive to install, fiber cement siding can be a good investment in the long run.  A report in 2019 showed that a fiber cement siding replacement could recoup around 75% of its cost, which is far better than a replacement roof (68.2%), a new bathroom (58.1%), or replacement windows (70.8%).

 

However, it’s important to remember that those figures do not take into account the cost of regular maintenance.  Fiber cement siding often requires new caulking and does eventually need to be repainted.  The cost of repainting fiber cement siding can be anything between $3,000 and $6,000 which isn’t cheap.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How To Prevent Mould

  1.  Regular cleaning Mold travels through air and will attach itself to surfaces and grow if it is given the chance to.  A good way to prevent it is to clean regularly (usually every couple of months) as this will prevent  it from building up too much on surfaces.  It will also allow you to check regularly for any new mold that has begun to grow.  The best way to clean siding surfaces is with a hosepipe and a soft brush.  Always remember to spray the water downwards though, so that it doesn’t gather in the siding panels.   2.  Direct sunlight Mold thrives in places that are dark and damp and one of the best ways to stop mold from growing is to allow plenty of sunlight onto the outside of your house.  This could mean that you need to trim back trees or shrubs in order to allow as much light as possible through to your house.  Another advantage of trimming back the trees is that it will allow the air to circulate easier which will k...
Read more

Figurative Language

  We use words every day to describe places, people, or situations, and although we use various different words and phrases to convey our meanings, there is nothing quite so descriptive or imaginative as figurative language.   What is Figurative Language? Words and phrases that go further than their literal meaning in order to explain something or to convey the point that the speaker or writer is trying to make are known as figurative language and it is often used for a particularly dramatic effect.  Figurative language is often used in stories to make them more interesting and dramatic for the reader.   There are a number of different types of figurative language and they are all used differently.  However, there are five main types and they are:   l  Simile Similies frequently use the words “like” and “as” and is used to compare two things that you wouldn’t usually associate together.  For example -   Tom was as strong as an ox.   Fear...
Read more

Cardinal Numbers

  Cardinal numbers are an essential part of everyday life and many people will use them all the time without even knowing that they are doing so.   Cardinal numbers are numbers that are only used for counting and are usually called counting numbers.  Cardinals are the numbers that are used to determine how many of something there is or the quantity.  If you want to know how many of something there is then you have to count them, and that is where the cardinal numbers come in.   The lowest cardinal number is one.  Zero is not a cardinal number as to count how many  of something you have, you have to have something in the first place, but every number up from there is a cardinal.  However, fractions and decimals are not cardinal numbers as they are not whole numbers, they only represent a part of a group or set.   Cardinal numbers are numbers that are on their own, digits such as one (1), two (2), three (3), four (4), five (5), six (6), seven (...
Read more