![]() Some people believe that fiber cement is environmentally friendly because it is made from items like cement, fibers, or fly ash. Fiber Cement is Not the Most Environmentally Friendly Attention must be paid to the types of nails and guns used to prevent blowouts at the point of fastening on the panel.Ĥ. Care must be taken to properly store panels, which generally require two people to carry and install. Special saw blades, ventilation, and respirators can be used to limit silica inhalation to a safe level during installation.įiber cement can also be brittle before being installed on the wall. Inhaling too much silica can lead to silicosis, lung cancer, and COPD. Cutting fiber cement siding generates respirable crystalline silica, a known human carcinogen. In addition to religiously following installation instructions to avoid moisture concerns, installers must also take special steps to protect their health when installing fiber cement. Any violation of the instructions can create serious moisture concerns and void the product warranty.Ī third party study by Home Innovations Research Labs spanning the course of over a year shows that fiber cement retained less moisture than products like stucco and manufactured stone, but performed worse than brick, vinyl siding, and insulated vinyl siding. It is critical that all installation steps are very carefully followed by a professional to ensure all penetrations and gaps are properly treated with the appropriate paint or caulk to protect the panels from moisture infiltration.Ĭlose attention must be paid to all required gap clearances between rooflines and decks during installation, to not put fiber cement in continued contact with more moisture. However, many homeowners find themselves needing to repaint their home sooner, and warranties can be very particular about what is covered.Ĭaulking may also be required to help maintain the warranty and protect against the next problem with fiber cement siding we will cover, moisture absorption.Ībsorptive claddings like fiber cement can hold moisture, leading to panel damage, rot, and even mold problems. Some factory-painted siding panels are available, and come with up to 15 year warranties that cover peeling, cracking, and chipping. Products like Hardiplank fiber cement siding will require regular painting to maintain their beautiful appearance, unlike other sidings such as brick or insulated vinyl. ![]() Fiber cement is not the most environmentally friendly sidingġ.Fiber cement siding requires maintenance.While there are other resources that explain the benefits of fiber cement, this article will explore the five biggest problems with fiber cement siding, including: With so many siding products available on the market today, it’s important to understand the benefits, as well as the possible problems with James Hardie fiber cement siding. Some fiber cement manufacturers include James Hardie, Nichiha, and Allura. ![]() It has become common in some parts of the country, offering design versatility and a solid feel. ![]() Fiber cement is a siding material that was introduced to the market in the 1980’s as a replacement for asbestos cement siding products. ![]()
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