Rustic and rustic modern designs have been increasing in popularity amongst homeowners over the last several years. There’s something charming and romantic about the idea of a rustic cabin or home that often drives the imagination and inspires homeowners to want to create a cozier atmosphere for their home.
Wood siding and shingles are the most common methods of creating a rustic-style façade, but they aren’t always the best options. Wood shingles are highly susceptible to rot and insect activity, while rustic siding requires a great deal of maintenance and upkeep. For homeowners who want the look of a rustic home, but with lower maintenance and better durability, there is another option that can give you the same look - fiber cement.
Rustic Siding Options in Fiber Cement
Fiber cement siding is made of a unique mixture of sand, cellulose fiber, and Portland cement. This blend is formed into siding inside of a mold, which means that it can take on the appearance and shape of many different types of siding, including rustic styles.
This means that in addition to traditional horizontal lap siding, you can also get a variety of other looks for your home.
Board and Batten
For some homes, a board and batten installation can add rustic charm that can give your home a farmhouse or rustic-modern style. This method involves installing wider planks vertically, with battens or thinner planks covering the joins. The wider planks and the texture of the battens makes for a visually appealing effect that can elongate the appearance of the home, while calling to mind old farmhouses, barns, and ski resorts – all rustic-style buildings that can add interest to your home’s façade.
Cedar-Look Shingles
Cedar shingles are a popular option for creating a rustic exterior on a home. Cedar-look shingles made of fiber cement can also give you lots of possibilities to work with as well.
Each cedar-look shingle has the same texture and appearance of a true cedar shingle, but without some of the drawbacks that cedar shingles can have. You can find cedar-look shingles in straight or irregular edges that will allow you to determine the level of rustic appearance you want to give to your home. To get a truly authentic rustic look, you can also use individual cedar-look shingles in a variety of sizes to get the kind of authentic appearance you desire.
Rustic Modern
Rustic modern is a fairly new style that combines some rustic attributes with sleeker, more modern designs. This can be easily accomplished on the exterior of the home by mixing some shiplap planks with architectural panels. The result is a home that has texture, interest, and clean lines at the same time.
7 Rustic Siding Design Ideas Using Fiber Cement
There are countless ways that you can create a rustic design for your home using fiber cement siding. If you need inspiration, check out these seven design ideas:
1. Simple Planks
Sometimes less really is more, as is the case of this rustic building. A simple horizontal lap siding installation is done in a Redwood stain that perfectly complements the peeled wood logs framing the entryway. The texture is added through the use of fieldstone in the columns, which helps add dimension to the building as a whole.
This is a great example of how you can create a rustic design without needing to go overboard with texture and shape.
2. Mixed Styles
This chateau-style home has a charming rustic exterior done in Mahogany. To achieve the look, traditional horizontal lap siding is combined with cedar-look shingles on the upper story of the home. The same color is used everywhere, on both types of siding as well as on the trim. This puts an emphasis on the shape and texture of the siding, rather than on the color or the architecture of the house, creating a more dynamic and rustic-inspired design.
3. Shingles and Stone
You don’t need to use a natural wood stain to get a rustic look for your property. This home uses a Sterling Gray finish on the irregular cedar-look shingles to match the color of the fieldstone. The texture of the shingles also complements the large amounts of stonework on the property, creating a cohesive look for the exterior and making a charming country façade at the same time.
4. Board and Batten Accent
Combining materials and styles is always a great way to achieve a more rustic look. This home features three different types of siding - a fieldstone covering the lower half, a light-colored board and batten accent on the front, and a dark gray lap siding. The mixture of the fieldstone with the board and batten adds a lot of charm to the property, without making it look overdone.
5. Chateau Style
Depending on your location, you may want to create a rustic-style home with a chateau vibe. This property does a beautiful job of completing its exterior to capture this popular style. Ordinary lap siding in fiber cement is combined with natural wood and stone to lower the maintenance of the facade, while still achieving the chateau look.
6. Farmhouse Style
Farmhouse-style homes are frequently overlooked in the rustic style category, but they are a beautiful option for creating a semi-rustic look for your home. This property captures the farmhouse style perfectly by blending lap siding with board and batten accents, both in a rich burgundy color. The white trim and front porch help create some contrast that lightens up the facade.
7. Vertical Shiplap
If you want a more original and offbeat appearance for your rustic home, consider installing your siding in a vertical shiplap design. This property makes great use of the style by accenting with a darker colored trim. This makes the windows and doors pop against the lighter colored siding, and helps create a slightly more rustic look for the property.
Get a Rustic Look
Rustic-style facades are popular nearly everywhere, with many people enjoying the images that they can evoke. If your home is ready for a makeover, consider using fiber cement lap siding to help achieve a rustic style for your home that can give it a fresh new look.
