Good siding should be tough enough to stand up to the elements, good looking enough to add curb appeal and easy enough to maintain that you won’t spend too much time taking care of it when you could be doing other things. A promising, newer siding material that fits all of these requirements is fiber cement. Although the material has only been around for 25 years, 15% of new homes already have it, and architects request it, since it keeps costs down while looking good.
What It Is and Its Cost
Fiber cement is made of four common materials:
Since these materials are all so readily available, this siding isn’t very expensive. Clapboards go for between $0.70 and $5.25 per square feet, while shingles are $2-$8. It can also be formed to look like anything from painted wood to brick.
Toughness and Ease of Care
The most you need to do to take care of this type of siding is spray it down with your garden hose every 6 to 12 months. Also, it’s a good idea to check the siding every few years for cracks and keep plants around your foundation pruned back so caulking can dry out after you wash your siding.
Even though it’s very easy to care for, fiber cement siding won’t rot, termites can’t get in it and its incredibly fire-resistant (see our earlier post on a residential fire that could have been worse without fiber cement siding). It will also stand up to the super low temperatures of Minnesota winters, won’t be damaged from the freeze-thaw cycle and can stand up to storm winds of up to 130 miles per hour.
As time continues to pass, newer, more impressive materials become available for new homes and home renovations. Fiber cement siding is an example of these types of advances.
Window Outfitters proudly offers installation of James Hardie fiber cement siding in the Twin Cities area.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
