If you’re renovating your home, siding will be part of the conversation, even if it’s in the context of how it looks or if any updates should be made to it. If you’re working with a team that will be building your home from scratch, siding will certainly factor into the discussion when it comes time to make your final material choices.
The siding of your home is something all Ann Arbor area homeowners have to consider at some point. Like all parts of your home, siding plays a vital role in protecting your house from harsh elements. Plus, it’s a major factor in the overall appearance of your home.
If you're looking for siding options, you'll find that there are several to choose from, including wood, vinyl, and fiber cement. Knowing what to look for is important. All siding options have their unique properties, strengths, and weaknesses. Knowing these differences will help you make the right choice.
For many homeowners in Ann Arbor, fiber cement siding is a type of siding that's growing in popularity (and for good reason). This is a type of siding that offers many benefits, such as durability and aesthetic appeal, throughout its lifespan.
What Is Fiber Cement Siding?
This type of siding first came on the market in the 1980s. It was designed to replace siding using asbestos as a reinforcement material. As the concern for asbestos products became widespread, fiber cement siding became a solution. Over time, the product began to grow in popularity. James Hardie was the first manufacturer to exclusively carry this type of siding, and today, they are the leading manufacturer in the nation for cement siding.
Mighty Dog Roofing is a proud partner of James Hardie fiber cement siding, and we’re proud to offer this home-building solution to homeowners looking for trusted quality. Want to learn more? Call us today, and we’ll help you answer your questions about your home’s siding needs.
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What Is Fiber Cement Made Out Of?
Fiber cement siding is made out of several materials mixed together. These materials, shown below, help give fiber siding planks the distinguished durability it is known for:
- Cellulose fibers: These fibers come from wood pulp and allow the siding planks to be flexible and resilient. They also help to prevent any cracks from forming in the panel.
- Sand: In addition to adding texture, sand also adds a level of bulkiness to the planks, helping contribute to their durability. Additionally, sand contributes to the fire-resistant properties of these panels.
- Silica, fly ash, or another granule filler: Used to help bulk up the mixture so that the siding panels are dense and strengthened.
- Water: This helps dissolve the wood pulp and hardens the cement.
- Cement: Helps bind all the ingredients together, providing the strong and durable feature these planks are known for.
These materials are mixed together to create planks ranging from five to 12 inches, with thickness typically between 4.5mm and 18mm.
Other Types of Siding
To understand the quality of fiber cement siding, you should also have a general understanding of other leading siding options on the market. Currently, the most common type of siding you'll find for use on residential homes are:
Vinyl Siding
This is perhaps the most popular type of siding used across the U.S. You’ll see vinyl used more often in certain parts of the country, such as Michigan and Ann Arbor. However, it’s also growing in popularity throughout all parts of the nation.
Vinyl is incredibly popular because it is affordable and easy to install. Although it’s the most affordable option, it does have its drawbacks. It is not fire-resistant. In fact, it can even melt if sunlight from a nearby window is concentrated on the siding for too long. Vinyl can also crack and is not an environmentally sustainable product as it’s not recyclable.
Engineered Wood Siding
Engineered wood siding is a type of siding that uses scrap wood and other composite materials. It’s designed to mimic real wood and is strengthened with water-resistant waxes and a zinc borate mixture. While it offers the visual benefits of real wood, it’s much weaker and prone to issues like rot and mold. Engineered wood siding is slightly more expensive than vinyl but nowhere near the cost of real wood siding.
Cedar Wood Siding
Cedar wood siding is one of the most popular types of real wood siding used nationwide. This type of siding is popular because real wood, like cedar, is strong, durable, and creates a beautiful look. Unfortunately, some drawbacks include a high price point, detailed installation, rot, and mold. The type of wood you use will determine the overall cost, as some natural woods are more expensive than others.
What Are the Advantages of Fiber Cement Siding?
There are many benefits to fiber cement siding:
Fire Resistant
This is perhaps the biggest advantage that fiber cement siding has over every other option on the market. Fiber cement siding has agrade A fire rating. It can withstand high temperatures and does not deform when exposed to those high temps. In the event of a fire, this siding acts as a first line of defense, which can help minimize damage to the rest of your home.
Durability
Fiber cement siding is known for its extreme durability. It’s one of the most durable types of siding on the market and is a sound choice for homeowners who want a product they can trust. Fiber cement siding is resistant to different environmental factors like harsh weather conditions, UV rays, and high moisture levels. Because of this, you won’t have to deal with issues like rot or mold, which typically plague Ann Arbor homeowners who have wood siding or engineered wood siding. Its durability also offers a stronger sound barrier and temperature insulation.
Low Maintenance
Once fiber cement siding is installed, it’s incredibly low maintenance. Unlike vinyl, wood, or engineered wood siding, you likely won’t have to deal with mold, rot, plank cracks, animal infestations, and other issues.
Long-Term Savings
While you’ll generally pay a higher price point up front when selecting fiber cement siding for your home in Ann Arbor compared to other products, you will reap the benefits of long-term savings. This type of siding helps you avoid common siding problems like damaged or chipped siding that needs to be replaced. Also, wildlife like birds and other animals don’t find the cement siding appealing, so you won’t have to deal with critters burrowing nests in your home. Termites are not an issue, and other wood-related maintenance is entirely avoidable because of the cement used to construct the planks. Because of this, over the long term, you can expect to save on maintenance and upkeep costs associated with your siding.
Curb Appeal
Fiber cement siding has a beautiful look to it. At Mighty Dog Roofing, we partner with James Hardie, allowing us to offer siding that can be designed to mimic the look of cedar wood siding. You'll find various colors and wood prints to choose from as well. You'll also be able to paint your siding the color of your choice if you have a distinct look you’re after. All planks come pre-primed, though you do have the option to shop for fully painted planks as well.
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What Are the Disadvantages of Fiber Cement Siding?
As with all products, there are disadvantages to consider when deciding the best siding choice for your home in Ann Arbor:
Cost
The price point of fiber cement siding is higher than cheaper alternatives like vinyl and engineered wood. While the cost hovers slightly above the range of real wood siding, the type of fiber cement siding you opt for, including the style and size of the slabs you need, will impact the final price. While the upfront cost can be high, you will save money in the long run as you won’t have to pay for maintenance or replace it as soon as other options.
Installation Process
The installation process requires much more detail and is not as quick and easy as installing other products like vinyl. Installation also drives the total cost of this siding option higher. Another important factor to consider with the installation is that when boards are being cut up, this can release particles of silica dust. This dust can be harmful to breathe in and requires builders to pay closer attention to details during the installation process. However, once fiber cement is installed, you won’t have to deal with ongoing maintenance concerns.
Weight
Another drawback to fiber cement siding is that the slabs are heavier than other products because of their cement construction. Because of this, it can be more difficult to handle the slabs. It’s important to select a qualified Ann Arbor siding contractor if opting to use Fiber Cement siding, so they can accurately quote and successfully install it on your home.
Are There Pre-Painted or Pre-Stained Versions of Fiber Cement Siding?
Yes. One of the biggest advantages of James Hardie siding is that you can shop pre-stained and pre-painted versions. Home-building or renovation can be tedious and complicated, forcing you to make many choices. Having pre-existing options to choose from can help simplify your decision-making needs.
If you do want to choose your own paint, that’s not an issue either. James Hardie boards are primed, so you can select the right color for your home’s exterior and have it painted on instead.
Is Fiber Cement Siding Worth It?
For Ann Arbor homeowners, opting for fiber cement siding is an investment. You're paying for a premium, high quality siding option with a higher upfront cost than other exterior products on the market. In return, you’re getting a siding option that will save you money over 25+ years, is more environmentally friendly, is incredibly versatile in terms of color and design, and that you won’t need to maintain as much as lower quality and less expensive options. We absolutely think it’s worth it!