Fiber-Cement Siding A durable exterior cladding material.  For homeowners that want the look of wood but don’t want the hassles and costs associated with it, fiber-cement siding may be a satisfactory alternative. This product is available from several manufacturers in a variety of textures that are said to provide the appearance of wood. Fiber-cement siding should be more durable than wood -- it is termite-resistant, non-combustible, and warranted to last 50 years.
Fiber-cement siding is composed of cement, sand, and cellulose fiber that has been autoclaved (cured with pressurized steam) to increase its strength and dimensional stability. The fiber is added to reinforce the concrete and to prevent cracking, which is inherent in concrete. The planks come in 5¼" to 12" widths and are about 5/16 inches thick. 
 | The cost of fiber cement siding is more than vinyl and less than stucco and wood siding, making it an affordable higher perfoming siding. |  | |  | Because it is not susceptible to rot and infestation, fiber cement siding offers a long lasting alternative to typical exterior finishing. |
Products are commercially available. Check your nearest building supply store or contact the companies below for location of nearest distributor. The color is surface-applied and the topcoat requires maintenance. There are restrictions on blind nailing products with greater widths due to wind uplift. Face nailing can be used with all products, but staples cannot be used at all. Excessive dust creation while cutting may require additional control methods. Please consult manufacturer's recommended practices when these conditions are present.
The installed costs of fiber-cement are reported to be less than traditional masonry or synthetic stucco, equal to or less than hardboard siding, and more than vinyl siding.
Not Applicable
Fiber-cement siding is recognized as an exterior cladding by the National Evaluation Service (NES), Inc. and has issued National Evaluation Reports (NER). On February 1, 2003, America's four building-product evaluation services officially combined their operations under the International Code Council. The four "legacy" evaluation services that came together to form ICC-ES were the National Evaluation Service, Inc.; BOCAI Evaluation Services; ICBO Evaluation Service, Inc.; and SBCCI Public Service Testing and Evaluation Services, Inc. Information on these NERs can be obtained by contacting ICC at their web site shown below (www.icc-es.org) or by clicking on any NER report number listed below under contacts.
Bruce Davis Construction: Washington Square, La Plata, Maryland Carl Franklin Homes: The Vista at Kensington Park, Dallas, Texas MADE Project: Bowie, Maryland Oakwood Homes: Green Valley Ranch. Denver, Colorado
Like wood siding, fiber-cement siding is installed over studs or exterior wall sheathing with an appropriate water-resistant barrier, using galvanized nails or screws that penetrate into wall studs. The fiber cement planks should be cut with a blade designed specifically for fiber-cement dust reduction, such as Hitachi's Hardiblade or Dewalt's PCD Fiber Cement Blade. Alternatively, snapper shears, or a guillotine-type cutter can also be used. For finishing, fiber-cement products come either primed or unprimed. They require an alkaline-resistant primer, and manufacturers generally recommend using a 100% Acrylic topcoat.
Some manufacturers warrant the siding for up to 50 years.
Manufacturers emphasize that fiber-cement siding is appropriate for hot and humid climates because it is resistant to rot, fungus, and termite infestation. They also state that it has excellent weathering characteristics, strength, and impact resistance. | ICC Evaluation Service | |
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