Fiber cement siding continues to be a popular choice for builders who want to not only offer the look of wood but offer their customers durability and different styles.

According to Donn C. Thompson of the Portland Cement Association, usage for fiber cement siding is at about 10 percent nationwide. “In some parts of the country usage has reached 20 to even 30 percent; in other parts of the country it’s not popular at all.”

However, Thompson points out that fiber cement siding is suitable for all regions, climates and design specs.

“Some of the advantages are that it is more durable and holds up to harsh weather conditions in hurricane or tornado zones. As far as looks, architects like the ‘clean lines’ it offers, while builders like its low maintenance as a selling feature,” he says.

Siding preference is also influenced by the harsh elements, weather, location or even a building’s style. “In the Northeast we’re seeing lots of smooth siding, mostly for historic preservation,” says Judi Ann Moore of CertainTeed, “though our big sellers continue to be cedar lap, lots of shakes and random staggered patterns for the rough rustic look.”

“We’re seeing our products more popular in certain parts of the country than others, such as a traditional cedar texture in the Midwest; a smooth look in the Northeast and colonial cedar in Texas,” says Tony Ellis of MaxiTile.  

In the multifamily construction space, CertainTeed is selling vertical panels, especially in the “new urban,” self-contained projects where the developer wants the residences to match the churches, schools and other parts of municipalities for that “old town” look.

“Some of the homes in these communities have the look and feel of an older home on the exterior but have modern amenities on the interior,” Moore says.

Protection against the climate
James Hardie recently introduced a new fiber cement siding product that could only be called the ultimate in weather protection. The HardieZone System, according to the company, is designed with specific performance attributes for the climate where the product is installed; in other words, different siding with a different makeup for different regions of the country.

Two product lines, HZ5 and HZ10, are engineered for a specific HardieZone “climate profile” in North America.

“We realized that homes across the country don’t exist in a universal climate—you have the sun and heat in Arizona and the cold snow in Minneapolis—and our new product helps protect against these elements in these specific regions,” says PJ Rosch of James Hardie.

The HZ5 family is designed for areas with freezing temperatures, snow and ice, while HZ10 is suited for areas with high annual rainfall and high humidity, as well as very hot and dry conditions.
Accessories and other decorative elements

The Portland Cement Association’s Thompson says the industry is seeing more manufacturers offer accessories, such as corners, soffits, trim and fascias. “When fiber cement siding was first developed, architects had less of a palette to work with and had to rely on other products to fill in corners and close the gaps. Now, most manufacturers offer a full line and more options that let architects be more creative,” he says.

Ellis says the industry has come a long way since the 1990s. “Now we’re seeing all kinds of accessories for cement siding, so builders can get the complete package. In the past, the dealer networks wanted to stock only product and not accessories, but builders pushed the dealers into carrying accessories.”

Nichiha is another manufacturer that offers builders a bevy of accessories, including “premanufactured outside corners, inside corner pieces and border pieces that come in two lengths,” says Nichiha’s Kim Bodily, who adds that many customers are requesting the stone tile look.

“KuraStone is a popular seller and emulates stacked stone tile. It comes in three natural colors and comes ship-lapped on all four sides to create a built-in rain screen to prevent moisture buildup,” says Bodily.

Sustainable and Green
Whether through the manufacturing process or promoting healthier jobsites, most manufacturers offer some sort of Green aspect to their siding.

“Green is not really a trend anymore; it’s here to stay and is being increasingly built into code and a part of the design,” says CertainTeed’s Moore. “We’re Green because we use 30 percent recycled content with fly ash to manufacture our products. This reduces the energy to manufacture it, saves water and sends less waste to the landfills,” she adds.

“We have a new plant that’s more local to us and dedicated to producing only siding, so we’re reducing our carbon profile by not having to ship from Mexico City. We also collect rainwater when it hits the roof and reuse that water in the manufacturing process. That means using less freshwater and putting less wastewater back into the environment,” says MaxiTile’s Ellis.

Other manufacturers keep builders breathing clean air on jobsites by offering products that are low in VOCs and don’t off-gas nasty chemicals.

James Hardie’s ColorPlus line is one example. “Our ColorPlus boards come prefinished with a laminated protective seal that gets peeled off after the siding is installed. That way, there is no painting step and no VOCs from painting on the jobsite,” says Rosch.
Ultimately, fiber cement has a long, sustainable lifespan, ranging from 30 to 50 years, which means less replacement and fewer trips to the landfill.

Fiber cement siding costs
There are three factors affecting the overall cost of the siding product you select: the cost of materials, labor, and paint or stain being applied. Of particular interest is comparing the total in-place, system price (including paint or stain) to other cladding systems.

Fiber cement costs about 75 percent less than natural stone, 37 percent less than cedar, 24 percent less than wood siding and slightly more than hardboard siding to install and finish on a new home.
—Portland Cement Association