Because of its price point and ease of installation, vinyl siding has captured a significant portion of the siding industry. It has been marketed as an affordable, "maintenance-free" alternative to wood. While siding manufacturers have improved both the quality and look of vinyl siding, in the end, vinyl siding is still plastic and has some notable issues.
Those hoping to avoid the maintenance of traditional wood siding have frequently chosen vinyl siding for their homes – mainly because they didn't know there was an alternative. They wanted something maintenance-free, durable, and attractive that would provide long-lasting looks.
Unfortunately, many are disappointed when they find their vinyl isn't as maintenance-free as expected. Thankfully, there's another option for those who want a truly durable, low-maintenance, and attractive home siding option: fiber cement siding.
In this article, we're comparing vinyl vs fiber cement siding so you can decide which siding type is right for your goals.
10 Things to Consider When Comparing Fiber Cement vs. Vinyl Siding
There are several factors to consider when comparing fiber cement siding vs. vinyl siding. From durability, appearance, cost, energy efficiency, and more, here's a closer look at 10 of the top things to consider when comparing vinyl and fiber cement so you can determine where you land on the vinyl vs cement siding debate.
1. Durability and Maintenance
When it comes to durability and maintenance, fiber cement generally comes out on top. Fiber cement siding is truly as low-maintenance as many homeowners desire. It's a lot more durable than lightweight vinyl.
In fact, fiber cement siding is so durable and low-maintenance that when compared to the time and money most people put into their siding materials and maintenance over the years, it practically pays for itself!
Fiber cement siding also has a class A fire rating, meaning it will not burn or melt. This can be incredibly important for homes in fire-sensitive areas because they require non-combustible siding products as a first defense line. Unlike vinyl, you don't have to worry about your gas grill melting your siding or the UV rays reflecting off your neighbor's windows, warping your siding.
2. Weather Resistance
How do the two compare in various weather conditions?
Unlike vinyl, fiber cement performs well in the unrelenting heat of the sun in the south and the bone-chilling cold of the north. It does not expand, contract, soften, or become brittle in the heat or cold.
Fiber cement also better resists impact. Many homeowners have tried to figure out how to replace a piece or two of siding when the lawnmower kicked up a stone, a weed whacker got too close, or a hail storm blew in. Cracking and breaking are all too common occurrences with vinyl siding. Fiber cement is impact-resistant and stands strong even against hail.
Vinyl sidings also experience "blow-offs," where the wind lifts the siding off the house. While it's not as serious, vinyl siding can rattle in the wind, which can be incredibly annoying if you live in a windy climate. Fiber cement siding can withstand over 100 MPH winds and has survived hurricanes. In fact, the last house standing in Hurricane Michael was sided with fiber cement siding. Ultimately, when it comes to fiber-cement siding vs vinyl siding and weather resistance, fiber cement is the clear winner.
3. Wood-Like Appearance
Most siding products are created to look like wood, and almost all siding products look good after they are installed. Some, obviously, look more realistic than others. For example, some vinyl siding is less plastic-looking than others because additives can create a matte finish. Additionally, certain molds can create a more realistic grain.
The more expensive vinyl sidings come close, but the vinyl J-channel trim is a sure giveaway that it isn't. No matter the cost of vinyl siding, its plastic moldings make it pretty obvious that it isn't wood.
On the other hand, fiber cement siding uses a trim and installation process that closely mirrors a wood installation. The fiber cement siding manufacturing process also allows for a more realistic wood grain. That's why when it comes to getting a wood look, many choose fiber cement when deciding between vinyl siding vs. cement board.
4. Color of the Siding
One of the biggest selling points for vinyl siding is that the color goes straight through the materials, so if it got scratched, you wouldn't see a color change. While this can be a benefit, it can leave you in a bit of a bind.
For one thing, your color choices will always be limited to what's on the market right now, which means that your home color will be driven by trends, not by your own personal taste. For some homes, this is fine, but for homes where color is a major part of the architecture, you could find that the colors you're looking for just aren't available. And because you can't paint vinyl siding, if you get tired of the color after a few years, you have no options for changing this beyond completing your home.
Fiber cement siding can be painted like wood, so you have options! Choose from thousands of shades and colors to find the perfect match for your home. If you'd like a fresh new look ten years from now, you can repaint the boards just like wood. Fiber cement siding gives you options that you might not get otherwise with vinyl.
5. Siding Appearance
When vinyl siding first came out, it was marketed as an alternative to both wood and aluminum. Because aluminum was so flat, vinyl was considered an attractive option. While it is more realistic looking than aluminum, anyone standing on the street and looking at your home can still tell that you don't have wood on your home. Why? Because vinyl siding is a type of plastic, and it shows.
No matter what texture or shape of the vinyl, no matter what color it happens to be, it still has a slight plastic sheen to it. The planks also have a uniquely rounded edge that cuts under to the next boards that do not and never will look like real wood. So, while your home might look nice to someone casually glancing at it as they drive by, anyone who pays closer attention will notice the vinyl no matter how nice a quality it happens to be.
Fiber cement siding has a more realistic appearance than vinyl does. This is because the fiber cement boards are formed to mimic the look of wood. This gives the finished boards the actual texture, shape, and appearance of wood siding. They have natural-looking edges and corners and a more natural-looking grain that looks just like wood siding from the road. That's why when people compare cement board vs. vinyl siding, they often prefer the look of fiber cement.
6. Longevity and Ongoing Maintenance
Looks aren't the only factor when considering siding. How it performs over the years is. Vinyl siding boasts that it maintains its look and doesn't require refinishing. But, like all surfaces, vinyl siding is affected by weathering, UV rays, dirt, and grime. Over time, the finish dulls and fades.
While you can technically repaint vinyl siding, it does present some challenges. For example, when you paint vinyl, you often cover up the wood grain look, and since vinyl expands and contracts, the paint does not hold up as well as it does on other surfaces.
Fiber cement siding comes prefinished or primed and ready to coat. The finish system fiber manufacturers use has been made specifically for longevity and has a 15-year warranty. Since fiber cement siding does not expand and contract like vinyl, the coating performs great. It looks closer to painted wood than any other siding.
7. Green Building Friendly
When comparing fiber cement siding vs vinyl siding, green building is a major concern for many homeowners. On the surface, vinyl seems like an attractive option for those concerned with the environment. However, vinyl manufacturing is not at all environmentally friendly. During manufacturing, tons of VOCs (or Volatile Organic Compounds) are released into the air, which can have a devastating effect on greenhouse gases and the environment. Vinyl planks also don't decompose and are difficult to recycle, so they will likely end up in a landfill if you ever remodel.
Fiber cement siding is a much more environmentally friendly choice for your home. No VOCs are released during its manufacturing process, so it's much less harmful to the environment. Some forms of fiber cement siding also use green building materials in their formation, such as recycled glass in the reinforcing mixture. No chemicals are used, and the materials break down or are recycled much easier than vinyl, so you don't have to worry about polluting the environment.
As a bonus, fiber cement siding is also naturally flame retardant without any additional chemicals applied to its surface. Therefore, fiber cement siding can actually help to protect your home in the event of a fire. Vinyl siding offers less protection, and if your home were to catch fire, vinyl siding would melt, releasing additional VOCs into the atmosphere.
8. Cost
The price of your new siding will always contribute to what you eventually decide to put on your home. When comparing the cost of cement siding vs vinyl, you need to consider the quality, durability, and overall cost.
A good quality vinyl siding, which looks more attractive and is more durable than some of the other, less expensive options, will run you a little more than $10 a length for the material. High-quality fiber cement siding usually costs less – typically around $8 a length. Adding in the fact that all fiber cement siding, even the less expensive options, will be lower maintenance and more durable than the highest quality vinyl, fiber cement comes out on top.
Part of the cost of any product also includes any ongoing maintenance that may need to be done over time. Fiber cement siding is less likely to break, crack, or require repairs than vinyl, which means that over the course of 10 years, you'll save even more money on fiber cement than vinyl siding.
9. Energy Efficiency
Most homes over 50 years old are under-insulated, meaning they don't have enough insulation to make them truly energy efficient.
So, when it comes time to replace the siding on your home, you may want to consider an option that can help improve this. How does fiber cement versus vinyl siding compare?
Both vinyl and fiber cement on their own are not great insulators. Still, both have space for extra insulation behind them to help improve your home's energy efficiency. Head-to-head, these two are about the same in terms of energy efficiency.
10. Increased Resale Value
Your home's curb appeal plays a big role in what you can sell it for and how quickly it sells. Nearly everything you do for your home in terms of improvements can help you increase its resale value.
According to recent research, new siding is one of the top 10 ways to improve your home's value, and fiber cement siding has a return of 88.4% versus 80.2% with vinyl siding. So, when comparing the ROI for cement board siding vs. vinyl siding, the fiber cement comes out on top again.
Vinyl Siding vs. Fiber Cement: Make the Right Choice for Your Home
When it comes to choosing new siding for your home, there are many factors to consider. However, selecting the material that's right for your home's exterior may be as simple as comparing attributes between popular types.
Fiber cement siding may not have been around as long as vinyl, but it's quickly becoming the go-to choice for homeowners who want the best of both worlds—durability and maintenance-free siding that is also attractive and can be painted in a rainbow of colors.
If you've been considering vinyl for your home, be sure to consider fiber cement siding as well; you'll likely find that fiber cement is the better choice for your home. If you're interested in fiber cement siding,request a sample from Allura today.
