Fibre Cement Siding

Fibre Cement Siding

Fortify Your New York Home With Fibre Cement Siding

In terms of durability, fiber cement siding is tough to beat. Crafted from a special blend of Portland cement, sand, and cellulose fibers, this home siding is like armor for your home. It not only resists damage from hail and heavy winds, but it’s also non-combustible and won’t ignite when exposed to a direct flame. Even through the long, frigid winters and extreme temperature fluctuations we experience here in Rochester, fiber cement siding won’t crack, swell, or rot. If you’re looking for a home siding option that will stand the test of time, fiber cement is the way to go. And there’s no better company in the New York, area to install your new fiber cement siding than Five Star Improvements.

If fiber cement were a character from a teen rom-com, it would be the nice guy. The reliable friend who is not too flashy or too demanding, but stands by you even as you opt for the flashier date; only to be there with open arms when you go over budget and realize you had the right answer standing in front of you the whole time.

OK, don’t focus too much on that metaphor; the point is that fiber cement cladding is a great, durable low-cost alternative to more extravagant cladding options like wood and stone. It is often a background material, the kind of lightly textured stuff that you could walk by every day and not really notice. But when you do notice it, you realize that it is actually quite beautiful. Maybe it is gently washed with gray tones, neatly accented with corner screws or tiled in a nice fractal pattern.

Fiber cement is usually compared to other budget-friendly heavily processed materials like PVC or aluminum panels. One of the main reasons that architects opt for fiber cement over other low-cost alternatives is that, when detailed properly, it looks like a much more expensive product. Dense, high-quality fiber cement panels can mimic the appearance of stone or concrete at a much lower cost.

Fiber Cement Cladding Categorization

James Hardie is the biggest name in the game, and in North America, Hardie board is almost synonymous with fiber cement panel. Other industry leaders include Equitone, Allura and Nichiha. Because manufacturing fiber cement panels is a heavy-industry process, there are not a lot of small or local brands, as there are with some other common building materials.

Shakes and Shingles: Fiber cement shakes and shingles are harnessed on both small and large façades. They are used to imitate the appearance of wood without the associated wear and tear. Shakes and shingles are available as both individual pieces and panels. They are also available in various shapes, including half-rounds and octagons. Most manufacturers create shakes with straight, wavy and thatched edges. For more information, see Allura’s shakes, shingles and half-rounds.

Horizontal Lap Siding: Horizontal or dutch lap siding is by far the most common style used for residential siding. This type of cladding involves long, even pieces of siding that are a bit thicker at the bottom than they are at the top. Installed from the bottom up, each subsequent piece is installed to overlap the previous one. Horizontal lap siding is available in a variety of widths, ranging between 5.25 to 12-inch wide panels. Edges can be completely straight or beaded.

Shiplap Siding: Unlike horizontal lap siding, where the bottom of one board overlaps another, shiplap boards appear to be butted right up against one another. Typically installed using a tongue and groove system, this creates a clean, smooth surface, which is common among contemporary homes.

Vertical Siding: With vertical siding, you may opt for a rustic board-and-batten look, or a cleaner look with simple minimalist lines. For more information, see HardiePanel Vertical Siding.

Soffit: Available in vented and non-vented style, many fiber cement manufacturers make soffit panels that will neither warp nor rot, making it easier to coat the underside of architectural eaves. Vented styles will allow you to better the control air flow throughout your building.

Thermal Insulation: On its own, fiber cement cladding has a very low R-value. In order to improve its thermal resistance, it is necessary to supplement fiber cement with additional insulation. Luckily, most fiber cement manufacturers offer thermal breakage products that can be incorporated to prevent heat loss through the building envelope. Talk to your manufacturers and tell them the minimum R-value that needs to be reached with your building.

Acoustic Insulation: Fiber cement sheets rate poorly in terms of sound transmission. However, similar to moisture protection and thermal insulation, additional layers can be added to enhance the building envelope’s overall performance. Make sure to let your manufacturer know if acoustic performance is a central tenet of your design.

Aesthetics

Color: Most large fiber cement cladding manufacturers offer products in an endless array of colors. However, if you would like to customize your own paint or stain, consider specifying pre-primed products.

Finishes: Fiber cement finishes range from smooth to highly textured, as well as those that imitate wood, stone and brick. Nichiha, for example, offers 15 different finishes that skillfully mimic a multitude of raw materials. While many architects shy away from imitation materials, there are a whole set of advantages to using fiber cement over organic materials like natural wood, that are well worth investigating.

Go To The Pros That Know

We install fiber cement siding from industry-leading manufacturer James Hardie because we believe that our customers shouldn’t settle for anything less than the best. We offer a wide selection of colors, textures, and profiles, so you’ll have plenty of design flexibility when it comes to customizing your home’s exterior. During your initial consultation, one of our product specialists will review the different styles with you and help you select an option that satisfies your aesthetic preferences. Choose from warm, subtle neutrals like white, gray, and beige or bold, eye-catching colors that’ll help your house stand out from all the others on your block.

Professional Siding Installation

Here at All Star Siding, we’re a James Hardie Preferred Contractor, so when you partner with us to have Hardie Board or other fiber cement siding products installed on your home, you can trust our team to get the job done right. Our installers receive ongoing internal and manufacturer training to ensure that they stay up-to-date with the best installation practices and during your project, they’ll treat your home with care and respect every step of the way.