Fiber Cement sidings are here since some time. James Hardie became the number one brand by selling these. Technology and manufacturing processes has improved so much, that today, fiber cement sidings are made to mimic any design you could possibly look for. They are available in wide range of colors. They are marketed as being affordable, durable and maintenance free. That is true to some extent. They are long lasting. They come with 50 years limited warranty and 15 years for exterior finishing design. They are durable and can withstand any kind of usual wear and tear. They don’t crack, don’t expand/contract, they don’t rot. Importantly they are fire proof and are pest resistant as well. What else would you ask for? Well, some argue that it falls flat down in terms of cost. Let us find out by how much.
All about Cement fiber siding cost
So, how much does fiber cement siding cost? You can find out about the average cost to install fiber cement siding in many websites, even can get a quote for the materials from Hardie’s website. There are many websites and research materials which claim different numbers. Some claim per square foot cost to be $3 to $5, while some quote it to be as high as $10.
Average cement fiber siding cost per square foot should consider all below factors.
Factors of Cement fiber siding cost
This is the material cost. While there are many grades of material available, average cost per square foot here would cost between 1.5 to 2.5 dollars. There are many manufacturers of cement siding boards like James Hardie, Nichiha etc. You can get quotes and compare these from multiple vendors.
Labor Cost
This is the cost involved for direct labor. As well known, cement boards are made of heavy materials, and they are heavier compared to other sidings. They need special equipment and more labor to do the installation work. It would take 50 to 80 hours of labor time to finish siding for a 1200 square foot house, making it cost between 1500 to 2200 dollars.
Other Accessories and Equipment Cost: Working with cement board will require some special equipment like nailer, saw, jigsaw, shears etc. Even if you do it yourself, the equipment and accessories will cost around 1000 dollars.
Considering all this, average cost per square foot can turn out to be between 4.5 to 10 dollars.
Cement fiber siding cost vs vinyl
Vinyl siding has been in market for close to 50 years. It is being marketed as the cheapest option of siding material available. How much is cement board siding cost more compared to Vinyl siding cost? Some say cement board siding costs at least 1.5 times to that of Vinyl siding. While Vinyl siding costs $200 for 100 square foot, fiber cement costs more than $300. Even labor costs are more by 1.2 to 1.5 times. Sometimes also called hardiplank siding cost, it costs even 3 to 5 times when compared to least possible cost.
Conclusion
While no doubt fiber cement siding has its advantages, cost is definitely a factor where it falls behind vinyl. Where vinyl sidings are considered unattractive by many, cement fiber comes across as next best option. Both are durable and easy to maintain. While fiber cement score in terms of resistance to fire and thickness, affordability is also important. Being close to twice or three times the cost of vinyl, it becomes a tough decision to choose between the two. Hence, it is the owner’s choice ultimately to choose.
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