Fiber cement siding | James Hardie siding
Fiber cement siding, more often called by the brand name of the most popular manufacturer, James Hardie, is a highly durable synthetic exterior material. Well known for its all-weather durability and unique design, this product has dominated the market since the 1970s when it was first invented. Offering a more natural aesthetic than vinyl or other synthetic materials, it maintains the easy upkeep of its synthetic designation. Across the board, these boards are well-like and high performing.
History and manufacturing of Fiber Cement siding
As the name implies, fiber cement siding is made of fiber and cement. Natural wood fibers are mixed with cement, adhesive, sand, and water to form a thick paste. The paste is then shaped into the desired molds–be they mock boards, bricks, or stones–and baked at high temperatures.
This removes all remaining moisture from the product, transforming it into the impact resistant exterior material it is known as. From beginning to end, this process typically takes somewhere between twenty-four and forty-eight hours.While a relatively short process, it is by no means a sub-par products. As a matter of fact, most fiber cement manufacturers guarantee their product for a minimum of twenty-five years. That’s an impressive product lifespan.
ColorPlus Victorian House – Green
Just as tissues are commonly called Kleenex in many areas of the United States, so to is fiber cement called James Hardie.
This particular title refers to both the product’s original creator and the most popular brand of the material. James Hardie, the man, created and introduced fiber cement siding onto the construction market in the 1970s.
The product was very popular and his company quickly grew, becoming a dominant player in the siding sector. His self-titled business is, to this day, the most popular fiber cement company, with a legacy of quality and a top-notch team of ever-improving engineers to its name. Today, James Hardie fiber cement is lighter, more adaptable, and easier to install than its original product. There are even different formulations of the material designed to withstand a number of different weather conditions and climates.
ADVANTAGES OF FIBER CEMENT SIDING (HARDIE SIDING)
Fiber cement and vinyl siding compete for the honor of highest ranking synthetic siding. By many metrics, fiber cement is declared the winner. This remarkable material combines a huge number of desirable traits, offering an industry’s worth of options and advantages.
Advantages of fiber cement exterior paneling includes:
Adaptable Appearance
Fiber cement, in all of its iterations, is an attractive material–and it has many iterations. This highly malleable material is able to take on the appearance of stone, brick, and natural wood, among others. Whatever your desired aesthetic, fiber cement has an offering to suit your project.
High Durability
When properly installed, fiber cement products are virtually indestructible. Their cement construction allows them to be highly impact resistant, as well as resist the adverse effects that moisture typically has on organic siding materials. Thanks to this property, fiber cement commonly lasts upwards of fifty years without any trouble.
Rot Resistant
As another advantage offered by the cement properties of fiber cement siding, the material is also insusceptible to the common issues of dry rot, termites, and various infections. This can be of particular help to those whose homes are in a wet or shady area.
Stable Structure
Many organic materials, particularly natural wood siding, change their shape and size in accordance with the weather. This can damage structural soundness and cause paint to wear and chip at an accelerated rate. This, however, is not an issue with fiber cement. The cement construction of the product allows it to remain static. Paint and other coloring products rarely chip or wear. Because the texture remains so uniform, you can simply paint over the product when you do want a change in appearance.
Flame Resistant
As perhaps one of fiber cement’s most impressive features, the material offers a high level of fire resistance. Cement is not a flammable material and so too with its derivatives. Many homeowners are delighted by the peace of mind that this non-flammability brings. Some fire insurance policies will even provide a discount to those with a certain percentage of fiber cement materials on the exterior of their home.
Painted and Primed
Fiber cement products are generally offered in pre-painted and/or primed versions, making the pigment more durable and long lasting. In most cases, these paint jobs come with a fifteen year warranty. While they do cost a bit more than you would pay to paint the boards yourself, most homeowners find that it is well worth the cost when they take the longevity of factory paint into consideration.
James Hardie Colors available:
MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY
In most cases, the warranty on a fiber cement product will last between thirty and fifty years. These warranties provide for issues arising from original factory defects, making fiber cement siding a safe investment.
FIBER CEMENT SIDING INSTALLATION
Fiber cement is one of the more difficult siding materials to install. When done properly, it can last for decades and provide impressive improvements to your home. If done improperly, however, it is highly susceptible to damage and will likely degrade much more quickly than it would have otherwise. When it comes to such a critical aspect of your home, it is best to seek out a professional for the installation process. The quality of the installation will be just as critical to the longevity of the product as will be the quality of the fiber cement material itself.
Denver Siding has the highly trained experts that you need. Our team is composed of top notch professionals with years of experience in this region and with these materials. We would love to speak with you regarding any questions or concerns you have regarding your home, fiber cement materials, and siding installation. Pick up the phone and give us a call! We can help you discover all of the ways that fiber cement can improve the value, appearance, and security of your home.
Call for a free estimate!