Among
the many types of sidings in the market today, Fiber cement siding Ringwood NJ is one strong alternative to the other sidings
made of wood, engineered wood, and vinyl. These days, it had already surmounted
the previous criticisms which were more on installation issues rather than on
the material itself.
Promoted
as the one with low maintenance and long-lasting features, fiber cement had come
a long way to where it is today. It had long recovered its reputation among
home owners and professional siding installer companies regarding its claims.
Today,
the siding board still has its critics but it also has a sizable number of
followers who stand by its side. The following are some of the big points
regarding fiber cement.
Cons
One
of the heaviest criticisms thrown into the fiber cement material used mostly in
sidings is its weight. In matters of its transport all the way to installation,
the material is known as a two-man job. You need two men to carry it and two
men to install it, all because of its weight.
The
next big thing against it is the high cost of the materials themselves and in
the costs of installing them. The escalated costs of installation also go back
to its weight. The board siding needs more planning, takes a larger labor force
because it can take longer in installation because of its composition.
One
claim declares that the Fiber cement siding Ringwood NJ materials weigh around 300 pounds (for an estimated 100 square feet
use) as compared to just 60 to 70 pounds for vinyl sidings. The difference
increases labor and installation costs when the two materials are compared.
Lastly,
it is not altogether maintenance-free as claimed. The fiber siding materials
need re-painting jobs from time to time.
Pros
The
costs and the benefits that the fiber siding can give are all based on local
climate, the contractors involved, the current demands and the materials
themselves. There are guidelines on these that anyone can see.
For
homeowners who know how to balance things, the present costs are all trumped by
the siding’s many advantages over the other materials. Longevity is tops. Most
cement siding materials has 50-year warranties, including a limited
transferable warranty.
In
looks, the fiber material can approximate just about any other material (wood
lap boards, cedar shingles, wood shakes shingles, etc.), if you really want
some particular appearance. Even the virtually unlimited colors of these mimicked
materials are given at least 10 to 15 years warranty.
The
material is around 90% sand and cement, both of which cannot burn, and are
fire-resistant.
It
is also just as resistant to problems caused by storms. It can fend off damages
caused by water (which other materials cannot withstand) including hailstorms
in summer. Contactors know this as well
as satisfied home owners all over the country with differing climates.
Going
back to the weight problems, fiber cement manufacturers have been making their different
grades of their products. In making materials for fiber cement siding use, there are now several choices on the
thickness and weight for anyone to select.