Fibre cement is a type of material that is used for exterior cladding or siding of your home. It's tough and durable, and a great choice for any residential home, no matter the style of the home or the area in which you live. If you need to choose an exterior material for siding or for cladding, note a few misconceptions you might have about this material or its use, so you can make the best decision about materials for your home's construction or needed upgrades.
It's heavy
Fibre cement is typically no more heavy than standard siding; it certainly couldn't be used on a home's exterior if it was very heavy and cumbersome! However, this doesn't mean you should expect to be able to install fibre cement yourself, as it usually takes specialty tools to cut the material without damaging it. You also need to be able to attach it to the home's framework and building materials properly, without causing the cement itself to crack. While it's lighter weight makes fibre cement a good choice even for older and weakened homes, it still needs a professional installer to ensure the installation is done right.
It's bumpy like concrete
Concrete or cement can be buffed to be smooth and shiny, but note that your home's driveway and walkways are purposely mixed and spread to be bumpy. This is so that you have traction when walking and driving; if those surfaces were smooth, you would easily slide around on foot or when pulling into the drive. The fibre cement used for siding is buffed and polished so that it's very smooth; you may not even be able to tell the difference between this material and aluminium siding. Fibre cement can also be stamped to have a wood grain or other such pattern, and painted any colour you choose.
It's high-maintenance
Fibre cement resists warping, chipping, cupping and bowing, and of course it won't rust or corrode like some metals. The colour also won't fade in direct sunlight or due to extreme weather conditions, as happens with wood siding. The material is also a poor host to pests, so it won't suffer termite damage or damage due to ants and other insects. The material will need regular inspections, just like any other exterior material, to check for any damage due to heavy storms or impact from hail, stray toys, and so on, but otherwise, the material should last for many years before it needs major repairs or replacement.
Share24 August 2017
Hello, my name is Ryan and this is my blog. I don't work in the roofing industry but I recently had to spend a week on the roof of my home trying to fix it up. I am pretty good at DIY, but in the end, I had to call in a roofing contractor to help me out. I decided to replace the entire roof and that wasn't a job I was going to take on my own. I have learnt a lot during the past few weeks and I hope to use this blog to pass on some of my knowledge.