Fiber Cement Siding – Pros and Cons

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.