Photo: certainteed.com
While it’s been around for years, fiber cement siding currently enjoys popularity with homeowners for a number of reasons. Some appreciate the sustainable aspects of its manufacture. Others favor the material for its architectural appeal. Although professional installation is recommended, ongoing maintenance costs are low. Once installed, fiber cement siding lasts a lifetime, and that more than anything may explain the high demand for it.
Maintenance and Longevity
Each of the major manufacturers offers a line of fiber cement siding that meets or exceeds standards set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials. The siding stands up, not only to the elements, but also to hazards like insects and noise pollution. After 15 years, refinishing becomes necessary, but maintenance duties are light otherwise. Indeed, manufacturers’ warranties attest to the product’s durability. 30- to 50-year warranties are the norm.
Sustainability
CertainTeed, one of the leading manufacturers of fiber cement siding, says it only sources wood fiber harvested from managed forests. Another maker of fiber cement siding, Nichiha, joins CertainTeed in using fly ash—a waste residue of coal combustion—rather than silica. Nichiha also boasts of observing a host of best practices in their production process, sourcing material locally, recapturing 95% of the water used in its facilities, and recycling 100% of the scrap material it creates.
James Hardie, the founder of fiber cement in the 1970s and world leader in the category, is equally committed to sustainability—sourcing 90% of their materials from regional suppliers, and employing waste minimization and solid waste recycling technologies to support Zero to Landfill initiatives. While cement, water, sand and cellulose fibers are used for Hardie siding products, fly ash is not: the company believes that it adversely impacts the durability of fiber cement.
Related: Composite Shakes and Slates: The Great Pretenders
HardiePlank Lap Siding from James Hardie
Architectural Appeal
Fiber cement siding comes in a variety of designs: Lap, plank, vertical, shake, curved-shake and geometric patterns are all available. A host of textures can be found as well, and the siding may be colored to virtually any hue the homeowner desires. Some fiber cement siding products are made to resemble wood, while others imitate the look of natural fieldstone, stacked flagstone, or brick.
Affordability
The upfront expenses associated with fiber cement siding are not inconsiderable, being that professional installation is a must. However, the ongoing maintenance costs are minimal. You can expect to pay out for refinishing work about every 15 years or so, but the lion’s share of the overall cost will come at the beginning of the product’s 50-plus-year lifespan.
Versus Wood or Vinyl Siding
Wood siding boasts a timeless beauty, and many homeowners value the way its appearance gradually changes in subtle ways. You can save on installation by doing the work yourself, but wood siding products are often expensive to buy, and over time, the material demands a high level of maintenance.
Though colorfast and resistant to insects and rot, vinyl siding is not maintenance free: It’s vulnerability to weather damage makes occasional repairs necessary. The price tag is low enough to have enticed many, and another big selling point is its relative ease of installation.
If your priority is good looks, then you can’t go wrong with wood. If budget is your main concern, look no further than vinyl. Consider fiber cement siding if you are looking for a long-lasting, low-maintenance material that performs well and doesn’t look half bad, either.
The Benefits of Growing a Green Roof
Photo: Flickr / Jennifer Juniper mom
Thinking of re-roofing your home? So-called green roofs proffer many benefits for the environment and your community—even your wallet.
While they have been used for years in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, green roofs have only recently begun to gain popularity in the U.S. In fact, the number of living roofs nationally grew a whopping 115 percent in 2011, according to a study by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, an advocacy organization.
What exactly is a green roof, anyway? According to the American Association of Landscape Architects, a green roof is a lightweight, living system of soil, compost, and plants.
Slideshow: 12 Unconventional Homes Inspired by Nature
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The Basics: Clay and Concrete Roofing Tiles
Reclaimed Clay Tile Roofing. Photo: performanceroofingcompany.com
Tile roofs come in many styles, and each has its own preferred applications and intrinsic beauty. An exotic sense of romance is associated in particular with clay roof tiles, which commonly appear on Southwest-style and Mediterranean-inspired homes.
In addition to their beauty, tile roofs are extremely durable, lasting for centuries in some cases. Whether made of fired clay or concrete, individual tiles are often molded in a barrel shape, and reinforcing their strength is tile roofing’s interlocking mode of installation.
Related: Debunking 5 Metal Roof Myths
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The Basics: Wood Shingles and Shakes
Photo: peakperformanceroofing.com
There are two types of wood roofing—shingles and shakes. Neither boasts the practicality of a modern roofing material like asphalt shingles, but it’s difficult to deny traditional wood’s aesthetic appeal. In fact, many other roofing products try to simulate look of wood shingles and shakes. Made from cedar, spruce, or treated pine, wood roofing is especially appropriate for older homes and those based upon historical styles.
Related: Debunking 5 Metal Roof Myths
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How To: Clean Vinyl Siding
Photo: thehouseofcolor.net
Vinyl siding is a durable, versatile, and resilient building material, but it does require some routine care and cleaning.
The growing popularity of vinyl siding is indisputable. Indeed, U.S. Census Bureau statistics indicate that vinyl siding has been the leading exterior cladding in the U.S. since 1995. Its popularity shows no sign of waning; in 2011, 33% of new single-family homes sold in the U.S. were sided in the material.
Because it is an exterior product, vinyl siding can accumulate a host of dirt, grime, and stains on account of things like pollen, bird and insect droppings, spider webs and rust. In shady, moist areas, mold and mildew can grow, and vinyl is also vulnerable to discoloring effects from insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. In addition, vinyl siding’s finish may be marred by a number of commonly used household maintenance products, including caulking, driveway sealant, tar, motor oil and paint.
Slideshow: How To: Clean EVERYTHING
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The Basics: Composite Roof Shingles
EcoStar's Midnight Majestic Composition Slate Roofing
Coming up with alternatives for traditional shingle materials has proved a steep and slippery slope for a surprising number of manufacturers. Class-action lawsuits have showered down as so-called “lifetime” roofing products with names like Hardishake, Maxishake, and Permatek have prematurely failed.
Related: Composite Roof Shingles: The Great Pretenders
“The impetus for the development of many of these products was the ban on the use of asbestos fibers,” says Rick Damato, a 38-year industry veteran and editorial director of Roofing Contractor magazine. “Manufacturers substituted other fibers and they just didn’t perform as well.”
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Top Tips for Weaving a Veneer Brick Wall
Photo: McNear Brick
Brick has a timeless appearance and requires little maintenance, making it a popular material for a variety of applications. Once a structural component, brick nowadays is more commonly used as a veneer, with concrete blocks, poured concrete, or wood laying under it.
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Bob Vila Radio: Rain Barrels
Did you know that a good rainstorm can send hundreds of gallons of water cascading off your roof? That water could come in handy during drier days, when you wish you had that overflow back. You can, if you invest in a rain barrel or two.
Photo: lynnhavenrivernow.org
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Listen to BOB VILA ON RAIN BARRELS or read the text below:
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Bob Vila Radio: Unclogging Gutters
When clogged gutters overflow, they can get so heavy that they pull the gutters loose and rot your home’s trim and siding. In cold climates, they can eventually cause ice dams on the roof that force water inside the house. Even if your gutter doesn’t fill to overflowing each season, leaving decaying debris in there is an invitation to carpenter ants and mosquitos.
Photo: davisw.wordpress.com
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Listen to BOB VILA ON UNCLOGGING GUTTERS, or read the text below:
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The Word on Weather Vanes
Photo: wikimedia.org
Each morning after I get up, I pour myself a cup of tea and turn on The Weather Channel to get prepared for the day. Long before televised weather forecasts were routine, people did their own short-range forecasting of the weather. One of the simplest tools they used was the weather vane.
Weather vanes date back to the time of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. In modern times, they are mostly used as architectural ornament, but they have always provided a means for showing the direction of the wind. With careful and consistent observation, a weather vane can help indicate a storm is coming, or that a cold snap is on the way.
Slideshow: 11 Weather Vanes to Point You in the Right Direction
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