Fiber Cement Siding Vs Engineered Wood Siding

Two materials that a number of homeowners consider include fiber cement and engineered wood siding.

Fiber cement siding vs engineered wood siding.

Fiber cement lap boards come in 12 foot lengths while engineered wood can be manufactured in 16 foot lengths. However in the comparison of fiber cement vs engineered wood siding only one meets all the needs that most homeowners have and that s fiber cement. Via upside to smartside this guide covers both products from all angles that matter to a homeowner looks durability cost of materials and installation and pros and cons of each option. May split or crack over time.

Is easier to install than fiber cement. The upside of value. Homeowners can choose from several types of wood including cypress pine spruce and cedar siding. Engineered wood siding is lighter than fiber cement and comes in 16 foot board lengths for fewer seams compared to fiber cement 12 foot boards.

Kramer construction now the main competitor fiber cement is fabricated from a blend of wood pulp and portland cement that is extruded into long boards. Installers need to wear protection while cutting fiber cement siding due to harmful dust. Both materials are less maintenance than regular wood and more environmentally friendly than vinyl. Fiber cement aka hardieplank and or hardieshingle siding and lp smartside engineered wood siding.

Sometimes referenced as clapboard or lap siding. Even though wood has a long history as a siding material that doesn t mean it looks outdated. Engineered wood siding consists of wood strands or fibers bonded with a resin under heat and pressure. Requires special tools for installation.

Climate james hardie fiber cement siding. Engineered wood may be less expensive than fiber cement siding. Vinyl siding also has composite competitors. Wood is a classic exterior siding option that comes in many forms from clapboard to shingles to engineered wood products.

For this reason installers may prefer working with engineered wood over fiber cement. The extra panel length makes engineered wood faster to install and can result in fewer seams. This siding can come in longer 16 foot planks. Resists shrinking and swelling in the face of shifting heat and humidity which leads to better paint and finish adhesion.

Traditionally oak pine and spruce are the natural wood grains that are used in this style but really any wood grain can be used for lap siding this is the most common style on homes in north america. Engineered for climate to withstand wet or freezing conditions in the north and hot humid conditions and blistering sun in the south. It also weighs about 1 5 more than wood siding. In order to select the best siding for your home s exterior it s useful to weigh the pros and cons.

It is usually what other materials such as vinyl and fiber cement mimic so as to blend in with other homes in the neighborhood or region.