Stucco siding is a highly recognizable style that has been around for ages. As new exterior siding styles have become popular, the soothing wave and stubble style of stucco still remains as one of the most common choices for residential and commercial buildings alike.
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/143693044330868291/
Innovative building materials, like fiber cement, are beginning to serve as serious competition with stucco — and for good reason. When lined up side by side, stucco and fiber cement share some great similarities, along with some noticeable differences, which is causing many property owners to turn to fiber cement siding that looks like stucco, as a way to get the best of both worlds.
Stucco Siding Pros and Cons
One of the biggest advantages to stucco siding is its link with classic architecture and building approaches. Stucco is instantly recognizable, and it often generates a pleasant familiarity because of its traditional look. Stucco is both beautiful and timeless, which are, by far, two of the main reasons that it has stayed in style over the years.
Another advantage of stucco siding is the fact that it is fairly easy to work with because of its basic material composition, which is typically Portland cement, sand, and water. With a little bit of practice on the application technique, most individuals are confident in their abilities to install stucco siding panels. In general, DIY projects are very appealing to homeowners in today’s market, and the fact that stucco siding installation is quite simple to tackle at home proves as an advantage.
Unfortunately, this beloved siding style also has some major drawbacks. For example, stucco siding does not perform well at all in heavy rains, making it a problematic exterior siding material for homes and businesses in areas that see heavy snow, rain, sleet, or humidity, even seasonally. As most know, water damage can lead to discoloration and mold, as well as compromising the integrity of the siding.
Stucco siding is fairly affordable to install, running about $8 per square foot, but the amount of repair required can cost quite a lot, especially for stucco-sided homes that see regular damage from rain, snow, and moisture. Maintenance can also be tricky. It’s even recommended to avoid using a high-pressure washer on stucco siding panels, as it can damage the surface.
Fiber Cement Pros and Cons
Fiber cement, on the other hand, is widely regarded to be one of the strongest exterior siding materials on the market. Because fiber cement uses a carefully formulated composition, it is able to perform with much more durability than other traditional siding materials. For example, fiber cement is able to withstand extremely high winds, in addition to being both fire-resistant and moisture-resistant. This makes fiber cement an ideal choice for property owners in areas that commonly see severe weather.
One of the keys to achieving maximum weather-resistance is proper installation. While many experienced homeowners and skilled hobbyists have no problem working with fiber cement panels, it may be better to hire a professional contractor that is familiar working with fiber cement, as fiber cement requires a certain level of expertise and care in order to deliver protection at peak performance.
Another advantage of fiber cement panels is the incredible range of colors and textures that are available on the market. Fiber cement is available in a wide array of styles, including traditional and contemporary styles, so property owners have many options to choose from.
Panels, shingles, and shakes are all available with fiber cement, and the cost of these products varies, depending on the style selected. However, those who select fiber cement siding can expect much less expense in the long run, as fiber cement is extremely low-maintenance and rarely requires significant upkeep or repair.
A Pragmatic Approach: Fiber Cement Stucco
Allura offers an innovative approach to exterior stucco wall panels by providing fiber cement siding that looks like stucco. Fiber cement stucco is not technically a form of classic stucco, but it achieves all the surface-level glamour that typically draws designers to the traditional style of stucco. The appearance of fiber cement siding that looks like stucco is really spot on — enough to fool most people at first glance and even upon closer inspection.
The real advantage to choosing fiber cement stucco-look siding is that the panels are so sturdy from the incredible strength enhancement of fiber cement. Fiber cement siding uses a unique material formula that enables the siding to withstand severe weather conditions without impacting the beautiful surface aesthetic.
This means that fiber cement stucco siding panels offer the best of both worlds: the beautiful, recognizable look of stucco and the enhanced durability of a modern, innovative building material. And that’s exactly why fiber cement stucco siding panels are the best choice for modern buildings.
Contact the fiber cement siding experts at Allura today for more information on a better stucco-look siding product.
