Fiber Cement Siding: Beauty & Brawn

Fiber cement siding is worthy of consideration for your next siding project. Fiber cement combines a fibrous material with a Portland cement binder to create a durable siding and trim product that looks as good as it is durable. When picking the right siding for your home or commercial project you want a product that not only looks good, but is durable, low-maintenance, and affordable. Fiber cement siding does all four for just a fraction of the cost of other siding materials.

Best known for use in single-family home construction, now architects regularly specify fiber cement siding for commercial and institutional projects because it holds down cost without compromising aesthetics. Clients can enjoy the beauty and character of patterns of their choice as well as resistance to just about anything.

Although it was originally developed in Japan during the 1970’s, the product has been manufactured and installed successfully in the US for several decades and is well-known under the James Hardie brand.

Is fiber cement made of cement?

Well, sort of. It’s actually a composite material made of sand, cement, and cellulose fibers that are bonded together by a process called autoclaving (a treatment of high temperature system) into the size, shape and pattern desired before applying a protective coating.

Commercial grade cement fiber is produced to a higher standard in terms of the material itself as well as the installation system, due to more rigorous code requirements.

How does it look?

Over the years, the appearance of fiber cement products has improved, with more options available than ever before. Many styles are readily available at local lumber yards and home center stores for residential construction.

• Surface: smooth for a sleek, contemporary appearance or textured to appear like brick, stone or wood
• Size: small and easy-to-handle or large format which requires special handling to prevent damage
• Color: both standard and custom color choices are available to suit the project. Residential grade product is often painted in the field. Commercial products are typically pre-finished in a range of colors and textures with a corresponding warranty on the total finish.

Is it easy to install?

Installation of residential fiber cement products is similar to that of traditional lumber products. It is facilitated using traditional carpentry skills and tools including a jig saw, drill, lap gauge, and power nailer. As with any siding project, special care must be taken to prevent water infiltration behind the siding.

Because fiber cement products contain silica, an eye and respiratory irritant, care must be taken when handling and cutting, drilling, or abrading the product to prevent the release of silica dust.

Commercial projects require a durable high-performance envelope, incorporating an air and moisture management system. Because of this, installers on commercial projects have the specialized skills required to implement a fully-engineered wall system. Hidden fasteners are often used to create a clean, modern appearance.

Why should I consider fiber cement products?

Fiber cement products offer an abundance of advantages, especially relative to traditional residential wood and metal siding. We have specified fiber cement products for the following reasons:

• Lower cost
• Holds paint and stain well
• Impact resistant
• Insect resistant
• Woodpecker resistant
• Resists damage from extreme climates
• Resists flame spread

Learn more about the commercial use of cement fiber siding:

http://www.nichiha.com/

http://www.jameshardiecommercial.com/