Fiber Cement Siding - Pros/Cons
 

Residing the house and thinking about going this route. Doing the work myself.....anybody have any feelings either way on this type of siding?

Seem to hold up, though not around for all that long. I assume you are using the ones that look like shingles. Many ways to cut/trim. Some create a lot of dust. Sharp tools and dust mask. Never seen any applications with woven corners, so if you don't have corner board, you will want to be installing them.

Going with clap board not shingles. Yeah, I was reading about the dust so careful there.
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lots of dust. I had to clean my slide saw 4-5 times a day even though it was hooked up to a fein vacuum. Windows cuts I use an angle grinder with a masonary blade. Read up on the install instructions, they have changed over the years. Also stay away from hardi plank and go with certain teed fiber cement. My lumber yard stopped dealing with hardi plank due to warranty issues. Go pre-primed finger joint cedar, prime all you end cuts and use a super good paint and it will look just as good for half the cost and aggravation.

Make sure you read application how to....can lose warranty if applied wrong....make sure U make all joints water tight with water proof adhesive.

Go on line to the manufacturer "How To.".....U would be surprised how many contractors do not know how to install......companies R making contractor installers be certified ....same as they did for Corian.....to many screw ups.....:)

What were the issue with Hardie? That's what I will be going with if I go this route.....getting a good deal on it, that's why I am considering it. Was originally just going to go with vinyl.
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Perhaps you've answered your own question :hihi:

I put vinyl on my house in 1997 or 98 and very much appreciate not having to paint, before that I painted the whole house myself tinted primer, then 2 finish coats of paint on the body and trim. I was not going thru that again.
Over the years working in the construction field I have seen what goes on with the Hardi planking, it seems sensible and has lots of pros but changing out a board might be more difficult than vinyl if one cracks, the dust would kill me worse than cedar dust.

If you don't mind painting and like the traditional New England look of clapboards, I would go with red cedar clapboards.

Vinyl with aluminum coverage is very easy for a do it yourself job.

Good luck Kevin

What Slip said

I was never a big fan of vinyl and metal but have come around. When you do metal along with the vinyl you can eliminate all that J & U channel around openings and corners. Much nicer looking. IMO

every couple years I wash down the trim and vinyl on the front, gets it looking brand newy!

I hate paint ��

I like wood.
I have become a big fan of the PVC/Azek for trim work.
I have always been suspect of what is under vinyl or aluminum siding as there were so many problems that were just covered up in many applications done in the past..... especially the ones where the coil trim over the window casings are almost recessed. Just not a fan.

Siding products have come a long way just in the past 3-5 years. Look around before going cement. I installed cement twice and it's a bitch. I drive by one of them every now and then and it has really faded. Looks chalky. It's brittle too so if your kid likes to bounce baseballs off of it, you can expect some issues…The upside is that is doesn't expand and contract like vinyl products.

stain is much better than Paint imo

so can you stain that stuff or No?

yes. That's what they put on it. That has come a long way too.

Vinyl is Final....:)

Yeah, I think that's the way I'm going....thanx for the input guys

Kev if u have the budget i highly recommend cedar impression vinyl. Ours is brown and looks pretty nice and no maintenence
Just make sure that if u do it yourself to pay close attention to the spacing/ temperture guidelines during installation
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This may help, we strip the siding, metal cover trim with a deep hem at all trim boards & casings, then install the vinyl.

Nice clean look IMO

good luck

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...1&d=1436914397

I did everything in vinyl 10 years ago and don't regret it for a minute. Aside from a power wash every few years I don't have to do a thing.