Omaha homes endure some pretty harsh weather throughout the year, making the protection that comes from durable siding more important than ever. Siding serves the practical function of shielding a home from the elements, and plays a vital role in your home’s curb appeal. As with any major investment, gathering the facts about the pros and cons of siding options is a prudent way to make a decision on which material to use when siding replacement is needed.
At TeVelde and Co., we understand the challenges homeowners face when it comes to making a decision on siding materials. Siding protects your biggest investment—your home—year-round. Let our team present the options and help guide you through the siding material choice. We’ll help you find the best product for your needs. Our precision siding installation ensures your siding will perform as it was designed to for years to come, giving you peace of mind that your home is protected and secure.
Siding Replacement Options: Fiber Cement vs. Vinyl
When in the market for new siding, fiber cement siding and vinyl siding are two popular options to consider. Vinyl siding is known for its greatest attribute: affordability. And fiber cement siding is known for its outstanding durability. Learn the facts before choosing your siding material, and you’ll be satisfied for years to come with your siding. Here’s how these two popular options—fiber cement and vinyl—stand up to each other in several areas:
Durability
The makeup of your siding material impacts its long-term performance, and fiber cement proves to be the most durable siding material on the market. Vinyl siding can be marred with the hurl of a rock from a lawn mower. But durable fiber cement siding stands up to extreme heat, cold, wind, and snow and ice storms, which Omaha homeowners are familiar with.
Thickness
Fiber cement siding is made of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers. Its thick makeup helps shield your home. In contrast, vinyl siding is thinner and more vulnerable than fiber cement siding. Vinyl can actually warp from the heat and crack from extreme cold temperatures. Fiber cement is approximately 1/4” thick, which is significantly thicker than vinyl. Vinyl siding is .04” thick (about 2.5 times thinner than most fiber cement products).
Vinyl siding can be backed with insulation—increasing its overall thickness and insulation properties. When either fiber cement or vinyl siding are installed on a home, their thickness contributes to their overall strength, and therefore impacts their long-term performance.
Warranty
Long-lasting fiber cement siding usually carries a 30-50 year warranty, and can last even longer than that if it is well kept, preserving your home with strength. (James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding comes with a 30-year non-prorated warranty when installed by a James Hardie Elite Preferred contractor, like Tevelde and Co.) Vinyl can carry a warranty of up to 25 years, which is usually prorated, and could last up to 40 years if it’s well taken care of.
Appearance
If you love the look of wood siding, but want to skip the hassles required for its upkeep, consider fiber cement siding. Its thick makeup allows for deep engraving, making it appear more like wood than vinyl siding does. Vinyl siding isn’t thick enough to create the deep textured look of wood.
Cost
Vinyl offers the most affordable siding material option on the market today. It’s an attractive siding choice for investors and first-time home buyers. But initial cost isn’t the only thing to look at when making a decision on siding materials. Weigh the initial cost with the longevity of product performance when choosing your siding material. Home improvements always have an initial cost, but the lifespan of the materials installed can make a higher initial investment actually save you money in the long term.
When siding materials last, they don’t need to be replaced. Think about the benefits of investing upfront in the number one siding material nationwide: fiber cement. Once you have fiber cement siding installed, you can enjoy the benefits for decades! You actually gain the long-term results of an enduring product. So your initial investment saves you money and time for years to come.
Composition
Fiber cement’s firm makeup of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers makes it the top siding choice in America. It can mimic the look of stone or wood, and creates an amazing look for your home. Vinyl siding is lightweight and relatively easy for contractors to install. It’s made of PVC, and can be shaped to create a stone, tile, or cedar appearance.
Aesthetics
Both vinyl and fiber cement siding are completely customizable in both their texture and color. They both come in pre-painted colors directly from the factory. Additionally, fiber cement siding has the option of being installed primed, and then painted any color of your choice after installation. When it comes to fading, vinyl siding may be more likely to fade from the damaging impact of the sun.
Resistance to pests
Pest such as termites and carpenter ants can wreak havoc on homes covered in wood siding, but fiber cement and vinyl siding both offer homeowners resistance to pests—including termites. Avoid the hassles of the necessary repairs that follow pest infestation by investing in fiber cement or vinyl siding.
Fire Resistance
Since fiber cement’s makeup is largely cement, it resists both extreme heat and fire—making it appealing to homeowners for this significant safety feature. It doesn’t burn, isn’t explosive, and consequently doesn’t contribute to a fire. In contrast, vinyl siding is impacted by heat and fire much more than fiber cement. Fire retardant treated vinyl siding only decreases the speed at which a fire spreads. It warps as a result of the intense heat of a fire.
Protect Your Dwelling with Durable Siding
If you’re looking for a siding contractor in the Omaha area, get premium siding installation from the pros at TeVelde and Co. We make the siding selection process simple and your home improvement project seamless. Get a free consultation, and in the meantime, take a look at our gallery of recent siding installations.
