At some point, homeowners decide to give their house a facelift. They could be preparing to sell the house, or they could simply want to upgrade an older home for their own enjoyment. In either case, the exterior requires thoughtful attention. Shall the owners use vinyl siding or some other material? With any choice, the considerations are ease of maintenance, attractiveness of the material, life of the material and affordability. May we respectfully and enthusiastically suggest fiber cement siding for a home’s facelift? There are many advantages to this wonder siding material, and it has enjoyed a well-deserved popularity in the recent past. Here’s what this siding can do for your house.
Durability
Mention fiber cement and people picture in their minds many different things. However, the material is constructed of sand, cement and wood particles. It is weather-proof, bug-proof, rot-proof and fire-proof. The siding has been known to outlast its cousins by decades. It is often warranted for between 25 and 50 years due to its durability.
Homes in all climates benefit from fiber cement siding:
- Hot, humid conditions don’t faze fiber cement, so termites and mold won’t get a toe-hold.
- Dry, arid atmospheres are the perfect places for this siding. If wildfires begin, a house sided in fiber cement won’t burn, which will thrill the insurance companies.
- Even if homeowners live in the frozen north, fiber cement won’t crack or split in below-zero temps.
- Sea salt, humidity and blazing sunshine won’t harm fiber cement on coastal properties.
Appearance
Every homeowner wants his house to pop. Fiber cement siding is often constructed to look like cedar shakes, wood clapboard or stucco. The material must be painted or stained at the factory. The siding can be painted in custom colors; trending now is every shade between dove gray to the deepest gray. White trim against it looks stunning. Some siding is painted to look like grained wood in beiges and browns. Cedar shakes in every color from, well, cedar to any shade of gray looks amazing against white trim.
Maintenance
Because fiber cement doesn’t expand and contract like wood, it holds its paint longer than wood. Paint won’t flake or peel or become faded by weather. Although the siding is often promoted as set-it-and-forget-it and maintenance-free, it does require painting every few years.
Interior Protection
When hurricane-force winds, biting cold and salty sea air can’t break down a building material, what’s behind the building material is safe as houses, you should pardon the pun:
- Termites won’t be snacking on the sub-flooring.
- Moisture or water damage from storms won’t rot the walls where homeowners can’t see it.
- Mold and mildew won’t affect any asthmatics in the family.
- Hail and debris blown against it won’t cause breaks that will harm what’s inside.
Green
Fiber cement is made of natural materials that won’t do much damage in a landfill. Its ingredients can conceivably be recycled. It uses no chemicals in its fabrication and puts off no dangerous gases. The latest siding uses recycled materials.
Since fiber cement only costs a little more than vinyl or wood, however, it’s just about indestructible and virtually maintenance free. That kind of savings highly recommends the material to homeowners contemplating a face lift for their homes. We’ll be glad to tell homeowners more about it when they contact us for further details.
