Fiber cement siding is a type of building material that is available from several manufacturers in a variety of textures that are said to provide the appearance of wood. It is claimed to be more durable than wood: it is termite-resistant, water-resistant, non-combustible, and warranted to last for about 50 years. The resistance is accomplished while the fiber cement siding is composed of cement, sand, and cellulose fiber that has been autoclaved (cured with pressurized steam) to increase its strength and dimensional stability. The fiber is added as reinforcement to prevent cracking.
Fiber cement siding is used to cover the house and it usually consists of overlapping horizontal boards, imitating wooden clapboard; other formats include imitation shingle as well as sidewall panels.
Installation requires mechanized metal shears because the boards are too tough to cut using hand shears, and the cement material will dull most saw blades. The installing job has to be done carefully because the boards are prone to chipping and breakage if improperly handled.
One of the good qualities that fiber cement siding has, is the fact that it can be painted. This makes the first selection of color easier as you know that it can always be repainted.
