by John MacGregor
HomeOwnerNet Columnist
As house siding choices become more plentiful, look at the many options in siding colors, siding prices, and siding companies. It's also important to think about your environment. If you live in a dry climate with fire dangers, fiber cement siding provides several advantages over the wood it mimics. It's less expensive than wood, but more expensive than vinyl siding costs. Fiber cement siding is usually installed by professional siding companies.
Fiber Cement Siding: Combining the Best Features of Wood and Vinyl Siding
On one hand, vinyl siding is inexpensive, it comes in many colors, and it requires minimal maintenance. But it provides little fire resistance, and it can have a different appearance than some traditional wood siding options. On the other hand, wood siding can be expensive and it's susceptible to termites and fires. Fiber cement siding prices generally fall between those of vinyl and wood siding. Fiber cement siding looks like wood, but termites won't eat it and it gives your home an extra level of fire protection. At this time, fiber cement siding must be painted, just like wood siding.
Home and Garden Shows: Check Out Fiber Cement Siding Yourself
There's no substitute for going out and seeing siding products in person. If you go to a home and garden show, you can talk with siding companies and compare their products. You may even be able to view a computer rendition of what your house would look like with one of several siding options. Siding is generally a major home exterior job, and professional siding installation companies can provide warrantees with hassle-free service. For a home exterior that shows well in a fire-prone area, it's hard to beat the looks, protection and costs of fiber cement siding.
Source
Bobvila.com
About the Author
John MacGregor is a freelance writer and real estate investor with degrees from the University of California in Comparative Literature and Law. He has bought and sold several homes for profit.
