Fiber Cement Siding vs. Vinyl Siding: What's The Better Choice?

Choosing the right siding for your home is not a decision to be taken lightly. Siding is a big investment that majorly impacts the appearance of your home. As you work to make your decision, weigh the pros and cons of fiber cement siding vs. vinyl siding to ensure you have the best products protecting your home's exterior.

Fiber Cement Siding vs. Vinyl Siding: Key Differences

Fiber cement siding is made from a mixture of natural materials like cement, wood fibers, cellulose, and sand, while vinyl siding is made from plastic materials. Fiber cement siding is more durable, energy-efficient, and temperature-resistant than vinyl siding but comes with a higher price tag and can be harder and more costly to install. 

What Is Fiber Cement Siding?

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Fiber cement siding is a type of composite siding made from a combination of several materials, which may include Portland cement, cellulose fiber, wood pulp, fly ash, water, and silica sand. The final product varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, so the exact makeup of your fiberglass cement siding can vary, influencing your board’s specific properties. Keep this in mind as you consider the following pros and cons of installing fiber cement siding on your home.

Best for: 

• Homes in fire zones or in climates with severe weather like tornadoes, hurricanes, or hail

• Households wanting to mimic the appearance of other siding materials without the upkeep of those materials

• Homeowners looking for a durable, long-lasting, and low-maintenance siding

Pros of Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement siding is one of the most durable siding materials on the market. Because the siding uses Portland cement, it’s far more resistant to fires, water damage, pests, and rot than some of the other types of siding. 

Fiber cement does come at the higher end of the price point, but its longevity makes it a solid long-term investment. For example, Hardie board siding has a life span of up to 50 years with proper maintenance. And the best part is that you don’t have to spend much time or energy maintaining your fiber cement siding. This tough material is resistant to the elements and typically needs few repairs over time—only a paint job and caulk touch-up every 10 to 15 years. 

If you’re looking for a sustainable material, you’ll also find that fiber cement is a great option for sticking with your eco-friendly goals. Fiber cement is made from sustainable materials free from fossil fuels. Fiber cement can also make your home more energy efficient—with a high resistance value (R-value) ranging from 2.0 to 4.0. This means fiber cement reduces your home’s energy loss.

Cons of Fiber Cement Siding

Perhaps one of the biggest disadvantages of fiber cement siding is installing it. Unlike vinyl or aluminum siding, fiber cement is heavy. Since the material is up to five times thicker than vinyl, it’s also harder to cut to size. The installation requires more labor and has the additional process of being painted, which isn't necessary with vinyl siding. 

Not only is fiber cement harder to cut, but silica sand can offset hazardous crystalline silica particles into the air when cutting the siding. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the sawdust particles can cause silicosis—a deadly lung disease—if inhaled. It’s important to wear the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect your airways. 

While fiber cement siding requires less maintenance than most other types of siding out there, compared to vinyl siding, it needs a little more maintenance. This material is more prone to fading than vinyl siding, so you’ll need to caulk and paint fiber cement boards over time as it fades.

What Is Vinyl Siding?

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Vinyl siding is a popular type of siding made from a plastic polymer called polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin, which is designed to withstand weather and mimic the appearance of natural siding, such as wood siding. Here are the pros and cons of vinyl siding to help you determine if this siding is right for your home.

Best for: 

• Homeowners on a tight budget

• Those looking to DIY a siding installation

• Homes in mild climates 

Pros of Vinyl Siding

If you’re on a budget but still want to update your home’s old siding, vinyl siding is a cost-friendly material that can transform your home into stylish curb appeal without breaking the bank. Vinyl siding is around $2 per square foot cheaper than fiber cement siding, which can really add up once you’ve factored in the total square footage of your home’s siding.

For the price, vinyl siding is an economical material. Vinyl siding can last for 30 to 40 years, but just how long your siding lasts will depend on the climate, installation, and how well you maintain it. Since vinyl is so lightweight, it’s also easy to install and repair any boards that become damaged over time. 

Depending on the type of vinyl siding you choose, some—like insulated vinyl siding—feature an insulation option that helps you save on energy costs. Insulated vinyl siding has an R-value comparable to that of fiber cement siding, ranging between 2.0 and 4.0.

Cons of Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding has a life span of between 20 and 40 years on average, which is shorter than fiber cement, natural stone, brick, and aluminum but longer than wood and engineered wood siding. Your vinyl siding’s life span can be much shorter if you live in extreme temperatures, however. 

Since vinyl is a type of plastic, it’s susceptible to UV damage and scorching hot temperatures and can become brittle and break in extremely cold temperatures. Vinyl siding is probably not the best choice for homes in climates with extreme temperature changes. Also, as a human-made material, vinyl siding is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Post-consumer PVC is notoriously difficult to recycle and is usually burned in a landfill, emitting pollution.

Lastly, traditional vinyl siding is less energy-efficient than most other siding. It only has an R-value of around 0.61 without additional insulation, further making the siding less-than-ideal for areas with extremely hot or cold temperatures.

Fiber Cement Siding vs. Vinyl Siding

Style Options

Compared with any siding option, vinyl wins out in terms of the style it offers homeowners. Vinyl comes in a wide range of styles, colors, and decorative options and suits historical homes to modern homes. There are many types of cement siding options, but the selection pales in comparison to vinyl. A benefit of fiber cement is that since it requires painting, you can choose whichever color you want.

Best in style: Vinyl

Durability​

Vinyl and fiber cement are both durable siding options. However, fiber cement is more durable than vinyl siding overall. It has a longer life span and needs fewer repairs than vinyl siding. It also doesn't warp or become brittle from UV rays or extreme weather conditions.

Still, in some circumstances, you may find vinyl siding to be a more durable option. For example, vinyl has a slight advantage over fiber cement when it comes to water resistance. Fiber cement is prone to water absorption. The absorption of moisture can lead to deterioration of the siding and potential rotting of the walls beneath it. In humid or rainy regions, this may significantly decrease your siding’s durability. 

Most durable: Tie 

Price​

The cost to install vinyl siding is much less than fiber cement. Vinyl siding cost ranges between $3 to $12 per square foot while fiber cement costs $5 to $14 per square foot. The price difference would be a couple of thousand dollars between the two. On average, the total price for vinyl is between $3,000 to $30,000, and fiber cement costs between $5,000 and $35,000.

Least expensive: Vinyl

Ease of Installation​

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Vinyl is comparably less heavy than fiber cement, making the latter a much more difficult process to install. Due to its heavy nature, fiber cement requires more manpower, which means an increase in labor costs. Additionally, fiber cement needs to be painted and caulked as part of the installation, whereas vinyl is ready to go once it's installed.

Easiest to install: Vinyl

Maintenance​

All siding will require some maintenance throughout its lifetime, but vinyl siding maintenance is much easier and less frequent than fiber cement siding maintenance. Cleaning vinyl siding is a simple household task even beginner DIYers can tackle. Fiber cement, on the other hand, will need to be repainted and caulked on a more frequent basis—every 10 to 15 years.

Keep in mind, however, that vinyl siding may require more repairs than fiber cement, which is a much more durable siding material. 

Low maintenance: Vinyl

Length of Life​

For a siding option that will stand the test of time, fiber cement is the best choice. Fiber cement siding can last up to 50 years, which is significantly longer than vinyl. Vinyl siding is on par with other siding options and can last 20 to 40 years.

Longest lasting: Fiber cement

Eco-Friendliness

When it comes to sustainability, fiber cement comes out on top. Fiber cement is a more eco-friendly product, as it is created with sustainable materials, and the use of fossil fuels is not required to make it. 

On top of that, fiber cement has a better R-value than standard vinyl siding—though insulated vinyl siding is comparable to fiber cement. For this reason, fiber cement is better at keeping energy costs down for homes in areas with extreme weather conditions.

Better for the environment: Fiber cement

Bottom Line: Which One Is Better?

When comparing fiber cement siding vs. vinyl siding, it's easy to see that both are great choices for homeowners. Overall, vinyl is likely the better option for you due to its superior durability, low cost, and extensive style options. If you're ready to get started improving your curb appeal, hire a local siding contractor to get the ball rolling.

Are There Other Siding Alternatives to Consider?

After sizing up cement siding versus vinyl siding, you may be wondering if there are other siding alternatives that better suit your home. Siding comes in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and materials. Here's an overview of other siding materials on the market.

Aluminum Siding

Aluminum siding is a popular alternative to vinyl siding. It’s waterproof, mold-resistant, weather-resistant, pest-resistant, lightweight, easy to install, and cost-friendly. Aluminum siding costs around $3 to $7.25 per square foot on average. 

However, its industrial appearance might not go with every style of home. Aluminum siding is also prone to weather damage, including extreme cold, extreme heat, hail, and saltwater. Aluminum also dents and scratches more easily than other siding options.

Brick Siding 

You can replace your siding with brick siding, too. Doing so can instantly increase your home’s value and curb appeal, but it does come at a cost. Brick siding is a durable material that can outlast and outperform competitors like vinyl siding. It’s fire-resistant, pest-resistant, and weather-resistant while also being low-maintenance.

You’ll pay between $12 to $22 per linear foot on the cost of brick siding, which is astronomically higher than most other siding materials. To save money on your siding, you can opt for brick veneer siding, which costs between $3 and $10 per linear foot and resembles the look of actual brick.

Engineered Wood Siding

Engineered wood siding is a type of composite siding that uses layers of plywood, wood veneer, adhesives, and a layer of real hardwood to give homeowners the authentic appearance of natural wood without some of the pitfalls that come with wood siding. Engineered wood siding is more affordable than solid wood siding, lighter, easier to install, longer-lasting, and attractive. You’ll spend between $1 and $6 per square foot to install engineered wood siding.

Since engineered wood is still wood, this material also is susceptible to water damage, fire, pests, and maintenance work—albeit less so than natural wood siding.

Stone Siding

There are many types of natural stone you can use for your siding. Which one you choose can impact the quality of the material. Real stone siding often comes in slate, limestone, granite, or basalt. This material is one of the most durable options that also has the highest ROI. 

The downside is that stone is expensive, heavy, and labor-intensive. Stone siding costs anywhere from $4.50 to $35 per square foot. Some homeowners go for stone veneer, which costs significantly less while still offering the appearance of natural stone.

Stucco Siding

As a popular and traditional material for homes, stucco siding is a plaster made from Portland cement, sand, and water. This material is durable and very long-lasting, with a life span of up to 100 years. At the same time, like vinyl siding, stucco siding can fade over time and may need more frequent maintenance. The material can crack and worsen quickly if not repaired ASAP. 

Stucco siding costs between $7 and $15 per square foot on average. The higher cost is not for the materials—it’s for the labor, which can take much longer than other types of siding.

Wood Siding

Natural wood siding comes with many pros and cons. Wood is an eco-friendly, recyclable material. It comes in all kinds of wood types, can be stained or painted, handles temperature extremes, and offers a warm and inviting aesthetic that may uplift your home’s exterior. 

The downside? Wood is susceptible to water damage, fire, and pests, making it a high-maintenance option. Wood siding costs anywhere from $1 and $35 per square foot. 

As with any investment, weigh the pros and cons of each siding option to decide on the right material for your home’s new siding.