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 |  | Small House: $5,600-$11,250 |  | Average: $12,864-$13,539 |
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Made from cement, wood fiber (cellulose), sand and other components, fiber cement siding can be manufactured to have the realistic appearance of wood, stucco or masonry. Promoted as environmentally friendly because it requires fewer trees, fiber cement siding won't burn, never rots, extends the life of a paint job and usually is warranted for 50 years. This is a relatively new product that's gained in popularity in recent years. Its main drawback is that it's heavy to lift, needs specialized cutting tools and installation is often a dusty process.
Typical costs: | - Fiber cement siding comes in a range of styles and grades of quality. Construction industry estimates for having it installed range from $4.50-$9 a square foot, or $5,600-$11,250 for 1,250 exterior square feet. However, a nationwide survey by RemodelingOnline.com[1] pegs the average cost for an upscale project replacing 1,250 square feet of existing siding with high-quality fiber cement around $13,000-$14,000, or $10 -$11 a square foot.
- Do-it-yourself materials (including goggles and dust masks) run about $1,200-$2,000 for 1,250 square feet, plus $200-$500 for specialized cutting tools (either power shears, which create very little dust, or a dust-collecting circular saw with a fiber cement blade)."
Related articles: Vinyl Siding, Wood Siding, Aluminum Siding
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What should be included: | - A high-temperature pressurized-steam curing process used during the manufacturing of fiber cement siding makes this product exceptionally strong and stable. However, fiber cement siding is more difficult to cut than real or engineered wood. Installers must use special equipment to cut it, and must wear masks and goggles as protection against harmful dust. Plus, fiber cement siding weighs about 1.5 times as much as wood siding. If installed correctly, fiber cement siding is more durable than wood, vinyl and aluminum, and the only maintenance required is occasional power-washing. However, incorrect installation can cause moisture problems, including mold and rot in the sheathing or structural supports. The Portland Cement Association[2] provides an overview.
- HammerZone.com[3] gives step-by-step do-it-yourself instructions.
- Before getting quotes or buying materials, check with the local planning department to see if there are any local regulations governing types of siding, especially if the neighborhood is in a historic district or overseen by a homeowners association.
Additional costs: | - If a home's existing exterior walls haven't been properly maintained, there could be water or weather damage requiring additional carpentry or other repair costs. The amount will depend on the extent of the damage.
Discounts: | - Find nearby neighbors who also want fiber cement siding installed, and negotiate a reduced price for multiple projects in the same area. Price estimates may be lower during the off-season, when contractors are often looking for work.
Shopping for fiber cement siding: | - Major manufacturers include James Hardie, Certainteed[4] , Cemplank[5] and Nichiha[6] . Contractor referrals are available from the manufacturers. It's important to choose someone with experience installing fiber cement siding.
- Get several estimates, making sure what is (and isn't) in each quote; understand whether all prep and clean-up work is included. Request and check references. Ask to see a completed project; joints should be neat and evenly caulked. Ask about the contractor's length and type of experience. Be sure the contractor is properly bonded, insured and licensed in your state[7] . Check for any complaints with the Better Business Bureau[8] .
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My mother taught me that all home fixit-projects can be accomplished with either duct tape or WD-40. If something shouldn't move and it does, use duct tape. If something should move and it doesn't, use WD-40. || Posted September 30 2013
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: WPN in arvada, CO. | Posted: September 1st, 2017 08:09AM |
| Sq Ft of House: 1200 | Manufacturer: hardie |
| Contractor: colorado window source |
Contractor performed all work. R/R old wood siding with hardie, windows (4x) and gutters |
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| Posted by: Howard Pruitt in BELTON, TX. | Posted: February 17th, 2016 01:02AM |
| Contractor: LD Home & Pro. |
Replaced 154sqft of Hardie. Repaired all rotting wood from leak damage. |
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| Posted by: MM25 in Beaverton, OR. | Posted: May 28th, 2015 03:05PM |
| Sq Ft of House: 2500 | Manufacturer: James Hardie |
| Contractor: Lifetime Remodeling Systems |
Contractor supplied all material and performed all work: tearoff of cedar siding, replacement of some plywood, install of all new moisture barrier, install of flashing, siding, & trim, & paint. Cost for prepainted siding was the same. |
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| Posted by: MCASKC in Atlanta, GA. | Posted: August 24th, 2014 03:08PM |
| Sq Ft of House: 1700 | Manufacturer: Hardy/CertainTeed |
Me and friend (residential contactor) resided my rental home with concrete fiber board. We took off all of the old ceder siding, sofits carnish, corner boards, facial and trim boards, and replaced with all concrete fiber siding, concrete 1X8 1X4 perferated sofits solid sofits 5/4 board . Also rebuilt the pourch with all new 6X6 porch post, and railing. Culked/foamed in all the windows, and hung bed mold, and also used house wrap under the siding. Replaced some of the insulation boards under the siding, and ran some new electric lines for adding outside lights.
This was a lot of work, but we did it on our down time, and spare time. Total time took was about 10 weeks, but we just did it at our leasure. We also fixed a minor water damage spot, and old termite damage. Also doing some framming that wasn't done right when the house was built. I will be having painters come in and paint, for me and my friend are deffently not painters.
Saved a ton of money doing this job myself, and luckly for me my friend had most of the tools for the job.
The $4800 was just for concrete materials bought for the home, and does not include what I paid my friend, nor does it cover the cost of running new gutters, painting, and buying stuff like nails, and saw blades. |
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| Posted by: [email protected] in Scotch Plains, NJ. | Posted: April 25th, 2013 09:04AM |
| Contractor: Myself and siding contractor |
Covered about 1200 sqf with certainteed fiber cement lap board 6" exposure |
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| Posted by: Brian Jasmer in Green Bay, WI. | Posted: September 1st, 2009 02:09PM |
| Sq Ft of House: 1300 | Manufacturer: James Hardee |
| Contractor: myself |
Price includes siding for 1300 sq ft house with a 5 3/4 inch reveal. Plus James Hardee 4 inch trim boards. 2 fiber cement mitre saw blades for cutting the trim, a fiber cement electric shears, hot dipped galvanized nails and a set of lap siding brackets to hold the siding in place during nailing. Don't use a nail gun--they damage the siding. Use a hammer. Don't buy the cheap fiber cement siding--it may not be as pliable as say, James Hardee, and it may be subject to cracking and pre-drilling as with slate. James Hardee is pliable enough where you do not need to predrill in most spots (except butt joints), nor will break easily if it bends. And at $10 per board you don't want to waste any. |
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| Posted by: Laura Montgomery in Higginsville, MO. | Posted: July 18th, 2009 01:07PM |
| Sq Ft of House: 1500 | Manufacturer: Hardie |
| Contractor: Montgomery Cabinets |
Purchased all materials. Removed all metal siding, osb over cedar siding, house wrapped, retrimmed, and hardie from 42" up. House is 100 years old. Hardie imitates cedar 5" lap beautifully! Did ourselves. Couldn't be happier!! |
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| Posted by: RogerV in Lexington, SC. | Posted: January 20th, 2009 10:01AM |
| Sq Ft of House: 2900 | Manufacturer: Hardie |
| Contractor: Sub-contractors |
Purchased all materials, rental of scaffolding and paid labor on hourly basis. Had stucco removed and replaced with Hardie Plank siding and MiraTec trim boards. Siding contractors estimates ranged from $20k and up. |
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External Resources: | - www.remodeling.hw.net/2009/costvsvalue/national.aspx
- www.cement.org/homes/brief15.asp
- www.hammerzone.com/archives/exterior/siding/replace1/fiber_cement/install.htm
- www.certainteed.com/products/fiber-cement-siding
- www.cemplank.com/siding.shtml
- www.nichiha.com/
- www.contractors-license.org/
- search.bbb.org/
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