For many homeowners, it can be difficult to find the perfect siding. Looks obviously factor into the decision, but so does durability and how much maintenance the product may require.
For these reasons, many homeowners over the years have tried out aluminum siding on their homes. After all, aluminum is a metal; it should be durable and therefore low maintenance and able to maintain its looks for decades, right? Unfortunately, aluminum is not as low maintenance and durable as it seems, which means that many homeowners end up switching it out for another material long before they thought they’d have to. One product that does live up to its reputation, however, and that many homeowners moving away from aluminum choose, is fiber cement.
Style and Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is one of the most important parts of your home’s value. Curb appeal is all about how well your home looks from the street, and your siding plays a big role in that.
Aluminum siding may come in a horizontal lap style that is similar to the most popular style of wood siding, but from the street you can still tell what it is – smooth metal. Most aluminum siding has little to no texture or variation in its appearance, which can detract from the home’s curb appeal over time.
Even worse, aluminum siding has a tendency to fade over time, which can give the home a chalky appearance after just a few years.
Fiber cement siding, however, is made differently. It’s formed to resemble real wood, so it has a more realistic looking texture and finish. Fiber cement is also available in numerous styles, including:
1. Horizontal lap siding
2. Board and batten siding
3. Architectural panels and reveals
4. Shingles
5. Rustic shingles
6. Octagon and other decorative shingles and trim
This means that you can easily match your home’s style with a product that is as versatile as it is attractive.
Durability
Aluminum siding was often installed by homeowners under the mistaken impression that metal siding would be durable. Unfortunately, aluminum siding has a tendency to dent with any type of impact. This means that a stray baseball or a short hail storm could put unsightly dents into the siding. While small dents can be either filled with putty or popped back out again, larger dents require you to remove and reinstall large sections of siding to repair them.
Unlike aluminum, which is a hollow shell leaving a large gap between the siding and building to collapse into, fiber cement is a heavy, solid, durable product. Installed properly, it doesn’t give or move, which means that it is more resistant to large, unsightly dents in it even if your kids get a little too crazy with their baseball practice.
Maintenance
Aluminum siding was once thought to be a low maintenance product, because it doesn’t rot or peel like wood siding does. Unfortunately, it does fade over time. This is problematic for a few reasons:
1. The fading paint actually rubs off when touched – a guest who accidently bumps against your home will come away with large streaks of chalky paint on their clothes.
2. The color can fade unevenly depending on how much light your home gets, meaning that your house will look patchy in color after just a few years.
3. If you need to replace any planks, the color of the new planks won’t be likely to match the color of the old.
All of this means that you still have to repaint your aluminum siding every few years. You also have to worry about those dents and what to do about them, whether that means filling them, popping them, or replacing the boards themselves.
Fiber cement siding, on the other, is a truly low maintenance product. Your home will simply continue to look as good for years to come.
Make the Right Choice
Every homeowner wants the same thing for their home; durability, style, and low maintenance coverage. Fiber cement offers all of that plus versatility and ease of installation. Make the switch from aluminum to fiber cement to get a product that truly delivers on its promises.
