Benefits and Risks of Fiber Cement Siding

When it comes to siding for your home, we like to consider ourselves as unbiased experts. We have years of experience cleaning home surfaces of every kind, including a variety of siding materials. However, we don’t install or repair siding material ourselves, which means that we often are able to provide crucial information to consider on these topics with the knowledge that we won’t make any direct gain regardless of what you choose. We can pressure wash any surface, so you can trust we aren’t pushing you in any particular direction!

With that in mind, we thought we’d offer some helpful information on a material that’s been gaining some popularity as of late. Fiber Cement siding is an option that’s been around for decades, but recent trends in home fashion combined with new manufacturing processes that allow the material to take on an even wider variety of appearances than before have combined to bring it some great new popularity! There are a number of great reasons to consider fiber cement siding for your home, but also a few concerns to keep in mind.

Benefits

Durability

First and foremost is durability. Fiber cement is, as the name implies, a combination of wood pulp fibers with sand and cement material. This means it has a much higher durability than other options like wood or vinyl siding. It can withstand a variety of temperature and weather patterns, and stands up to storm damage far better than wood siding does. 

Versatility

Fiber cement is produced in boards and can be used in just about any scenario that wood can. Because it’s a manufactured product, it can be formed into a variety of shapes taking on the appearance of natural wood or even stone, and can also be painted like wood, meaning it can fit with a variety of home styles. 

Risks

Labor Costs

One of the biggest downsides to fiber cement siding is the labor costs associated with it’s installation. Because it is significantly heavier than other siding materials, it takes more time and may require more crew members to install. Also, because of the unique construction of fiber cement, it creates an unusually high amount of dust when being cut or drilled on the work site, which means it requires specialized tools to work with. 

Maintenance

Fiber cement does require more regular maintenance than the more common vinyl siding. It will need to be repainted every few years to keep its color. Fiber cement can also chip or break in some spots where vinyl siding might simply dent, which means patches or spot replacements may be necessary, again requiring more labor costs. 

Before you choose the siding for your home, we encourage you to consider all the facts to find what works best for you. Regardless of what type of siding you choose however, never forget that the specialists at the Kings of Clean are here to keep keep it clean and looking fantastic for years to come. To schedule a home washing, contact us today!

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