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Fiber Cement Siding: A Complete Guide

Aug 21, 2024

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Written by: FTC Oury Group

A white house with black shutters and a gray roof.

Siding comes in many forms and can be made from a huge range of materials, including a material called fiber cement. Introduced to the market in the 1980's, fiber cement is rapidly growing in popularity for its durability and resistance to certain problems like moisture and pest infestation. Fiber cement siding comes in many forms, and since it can be painted, it presents you with an opportunity to change the color of your home from time to time.


FTC Oury Group is proud to provide fiber cement siding to homeowners in the Chicago area. We sell and install James Hardie siding products, one of the most respected fiber cement siding companies in the industry. James Hardie siding is so popular that some homeowners have started calling fiber cement "Hardie plank".


If you're interested in fiber cement siding for your home, we can help. Our experienced installation professionals are specially trained to work with James Hardie fiber cement siding. Here's what you need to know about fiber cement siding installation in the Chicago area.



What is Fiber Cement Siding?

Fiber cement siding is a type of siding that's made of a range of materials including Portland cement, water, sand, and cellulose fibers. Different manufacturers use different formulas to create their own fiber cement products.



Fiber cement siding is seen as an alternative to wood or vinyl siding. It can be shaped and textured like natural wood siding, but unlike wood siding, it doesn't need to be painted or stained as frequently. It's an exceptionally durable siding product that's not very susceptible to damage from environmental factors.

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Advantages of Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement siding has many benefits. Some of the reasons that homeowners choose fiber cement siding products for their homes include:

  • Highly durable. Fiber cement is made from very durable materials that are resistant to damage from moisture, rot, regular exposure to the elements, and other unfavorable conditions.
  • Long-lasting. Perhaps due to its durability, fiber cement siding is incredibly durable and can last as long as 50 years or more.
  • Fire-resistance. Fiber cement is highly fire-resistant. This makes it a popular option in areas where wildfires are a common problem, but homeowners all over the country benefit from the fire-resistance of fiber cement.
  • Aesthetic appeal. Fiber cement can be shaped to look like planks or shingles and can be textured like real wood. James Hardie siding comes in a range of stunning colors, and since it can be painted, it presents multiple opportunities for you to choose the right siding color for your home.
  • Low maintenance. Fiber cement is low maintenance. It requires regular cleaning (like other types of siding) but does not need to be painted frequently. Keeping it clean and in good repair is easy for most homeowners.



Types of Fiber Cement Siding

There are many types of fiber cement siding. When you're buying siding from James Hardie, we can help you choose the right siding style for your home.


Planks. Fiber cement siding planks are shaped like longboards and are designed to look like traditional cedar home siding.


Panel siding. Panel siding comes in large format panels that have a sleek, minimalist appearance.


Shake. Have you ever wanted the appearance of cedar shake siding without maintenance? James Hardie shakes look like milled cedar, but wear like fiber cement.



Installation Process

A stack of concrete tiles sitting on top of each other on a table.

Installing fiber cement siding is easy when you're working with FTC Oury Group. We'll start your siding installation with a free consultation to discuss your siding options. After the meeting, we'll produce a quote. We encourage you to read the full document and sign when you're ready, or come to us when you have questions.


After signing the quote, we'll put you on the schedule and order the materials for your siding installation. Remember that James Hardie siding comes in a range of colors. Consider your roof color, landscaping, and other colors in the environment as you choose the color that's right for your home.


We'll let you know when your siding installation is scheduled to take place. On the day of the siding installation, we'll start on time. Siding installation can take a week or two, depending on what needs to be done, what style of siding is being installed, and how big your house is. We'll let you know approximately how long your project should take.

Once the siding installation is over, we'll clean up and leave. You'll have an opportunity to look at the final product with us, then your project is done!




Maintenance and Care

Fiber cement siding is easy to maintain. Clean it on a regular basis with mild dishwashing soap and a soft cloth. Use a garden hose to spray down your siding.


You may decide to repaint your fiber cement siding as it ages. Watch for problems like color fading to decide when it's time to paint your fiber cement.


Inspect your fiber cement siding on a regular basis to look for problems like cracking, warping, breakage or other damage that needs repair. Fiber cement siding is highly durable, but if a weather event does happen to cause damage to your siding, it's important to address it as soon as possible. For more help with siding repair, talk to the professionals at FTC Oury Group to get siding repair from the professionals.



Transform Your Home with Fiber Cement Siding

Need to know more about what is fiber cement siding? The experts at FTC Oury Group can help. We've been in business for decades and have many years of experience working with fiber cement siding. People turn to us because we offer excellent customer service, we perform quality siding installation in the Chicago area, and we know how to get the job done efficiently.

To find out whether fiber cement siding is a good option for your home, contact us to get started with your free consultation.

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