Fiber cement vs vinyl siding

by Don
(Lexington, KY)

Comparing cement siding to vinyl siding.

Say you have a 2,000 sq ft house ranch house and want to put new siding on it. You should first look at some of the different types, styles, textures and colors of vinyl siding. Every style possible is available in vinyl now days. And the prices are very easy on your wallet.

Vinyl siding generally runs around $4-$10 per sq ft installed. Cement board will cost 40%-50%+ more. The price difference can be substantial.

Both look like real wood. You have to touch them to tell the difference. Let's look at some quick numbers:

Vinyl vs Fiber Cement: 2,000 sq ft ranch house.

$4 sq ft x 2,000= mid grade vinyl = $8,000.
$8 sq ft x 2,000= cement board siding = $16,000.

If budget is a concern, vinyl is by far the best deal for the money. You can completely change the look of your house for around $8 to $10,000.

This raises the value of your house, and your property. You can create any look you want using different types, styles and colors of vinyl siding. Best of all you just take a water hose to it every year and it will look freshly painted for decades to come. Some premium grades of vinyl siding are even rated for hurricane force winds. That is why vinyl siding is the number one selling home siding material in the U.S.

So if vinyl siding is so good, why even consider fiber cement? Here's why. If you are the type of person that would spend twice as much for a better product, then fiber cement might be the thing. If you live in an area where weather is harsh, cold, hot or windy, fiber siding is much stronger than vinyl siding. It will hold up to harsh weather better. Most fiber cement boards are rated for hurricane force winds. Insects hate it, it doesn't rot, or get termites. It looks more like real wood than vinyl siding. In fact it looks so much like real wood you can't tell the difference without touching it, then it's hard to tell.

Fiber cement boards come pre-painted or pre-stained. Or you can just paint it any color you want.

Unlike vinyl siding fiber cement does need to be painted periodically. So you get a product that is stronger than vinyl siding, resists insects, weather, rot, snow, fire and rain, and looks just like real wood. Great product. But has more maintenance than vinyl.

Both products are good. Premium grades of vinyl siding with insulation are pretty close in price to fiber cement. Either product will perform nicely.

When you are trying to compare products, consider the geographical area you live in and what the weather is like, harsh winters, insects, or hot sun around coastal areas where salt and UV is also a problem. If you live in an area where any of these conditions are above normal, then the stronger fiber cement is probably a wiser choice.

If you live in an area where there is normal weather, normal bugs, normal sun then vinyl siding may be the best buy for the money.

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