Fiber Cement Siding Vs Engineered Wood Siding

Wood is a classic exterior siding option that comes in many forms from clapboard to shingles to engineered wood products.

Fiber cement siding vs engineered wood siding.

Homeowners can choose from several types of wood including cypress pine spruce and cedar siding. The top two engineered lap siding brands are the defending champion hardieplank fiber cement and the up and coming contender lp smartside engineered wood siding. 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. Climate james hardie fiber cement siding.

May split or crack over time. Engineered wood siding consists of wood strands or fibers bonded with a resin under heat and pressure. Is easier to install than fiber cement. 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.

The upside of value. It also weighs about 1 5 more than wood siding. Both materials are less maintenance than regular wood and more environmentally friendly than vinyl. This siding can come in longer 16 foot planks.

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. Fiber cement aka hardieplank and or hardieshingle siding and lp smartside engineered wood siding. For this reason installers may prefer working with engineered wood over fiber cement. Installers need to wear protection while cutting fiber cement siding due to harmful dust.

Vinyl siding also has composite competitors. Resists shrinking and swelling in the face of shifting heat and humidity which leads to better paint and finish adhesion. It comes in 12 foot long planks. Requires special tools for installation.

The extra panel length makes engineered wood faster to install and can result in fewer seams. Fiber cement lap boards come in 12 foot lengths while engineered wood can be manufactured in 16 foot lengths. 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. Engineered for climate to withstand wet or freezing conditions in the north and hot humid conditions and blistering sun in the south.

Even though wood has a long history as a siding material that doesn t mean it looks outdated. In order to select the best siding for your home s exterior it s useful to weigh the pros and cons. To help you decide here s an in depth look at how engineered wood siding compares to james hardie fiber cement siding. 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.

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