How Much Does Fiber Cement Siding Cost?

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Fiber cement siding is durable, versatile, and attractive, but those perks come at a price. Exterior fiber cement siding costs about $6,555 to $22,851, or $14,641 on average, including materials and labor.

Highlights

  • Installing fiber cement siding typically costs between $6,555 and $22,851, or a national average of $14,641.
  • Some of the main contributing factors to the final cost include the height and size of the home; the type, style, and brand of siding; the cost of labor; and the home’s geographic location.
  • Fiber cement siding is durable, long-lasting, versatile, eco-friendly, and impact-resistant, pest- and moisture-resistant, and fire-resistant. It also has low maintenance requirements and is aesthetically pleasing.
  • Installing fiber cement siding can be difficult due to the weight of the material; additionally, improper handling of the siding can result in damage to the siding, which would only increase the cost of the project. A professional is recommended for fiber cement siding installation.

New homes, older homes, and even historic homes can benefit from the installation of highly durable fiber cement boards in place of standard lap siding or vertical siding material. Fiber cement siding is available in a range of colors and can last up to 50 years with proper maintenance, cleaning, and minor repairs. Not only can fiber cement siding resist warping and impact damage, this material is also resistant to fire, moisture, mold, UV radiation, rodents, termites, and other invasive pests.

According to Angi and HomeAdvisor, installing fiber cement siding can be a fairly costly project, ranging from $6,555 to $22,851, with an average cost of about $14,641. The exact cost will depend on the home height, siding type, siding style, cost of trim, average labor cost, square foot cost, and color options. Custom colors typically cost a bit more than standard colors, but they can help to give the home a unique appeal. Homeowners can learn more about the various factors that can affect fiber cement siding costs with this informative guide.

How Much Does Fiber Cement Siding Cost?
Photo: istockphoto.com

Factors in Calculating Fiber Cement Siding Cost

Fiber cement siding costs can vary significantly depending on several different factors, including the size and height of the home; the type, style, and brand of the siding; local labor costs; and even the geographic location of the home.

Home Size and Height

The size of the home is one of the most important factors to consider when homeowners are coming up with a price estimate for this project, because the bigger the home, the more material and labor it will take to complete the installation. Typically, fiber cement siding will cost about $4 to $15 per square foot, with customized materials occupying the higher end of the cost range.

It’s also necessary for a homeowner to consider the height of the home. When a second story is included in the project, the cost of the materials and the labor could double to account for the additional fiber cement siding products, as well as the time and effort it takes for the professional installers to complete the work. Additionally, any dormers, gables, or other sharp, angular exterior features will require specialized measurements and cuts, increasing installation costs.

Home Size (Square Feet) Average Cost (Labor and Materials)
1,000 $5,000 to $14,000
1,500 $7,500 to $21,000
2,000 $10,000 to $28,000
2,500 $12,500 to $35,000

Siding Type

Fiber cement siding can be split into three main types, including panels, planks, and shingles. The main differences between these three types of fiber cement siding are the size, shape, and cost of materials. Panels are the largest type of fiber cement siding. This material is thicker and wider than both planks and shingles, allowing each panel to cover more of the building. Homeowners can expect to spend about $2.50 to $15 per square foot if they decide to put in fiber cement panels.

Planks and laps look like classic horizontal siding. The long, narrow shape is easier to manage during installation, and this type of siding also tends to cost less than fiber cement panels, at about $4 to $6 per square foot. Similarly, fiber cement shingles cost about $2 to $6 per square foot. This material mimics the appearance of cedar shingles, with a small, rectangular or square shape and smooth, rounded edges.

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Siding Style

The siding style and the siding type are typically decided together, because certain styles look best with a specific type of fiber cement siding. For example, fiber cement panels are often designed to resemble stucco or stone veneer, while fiber cement shingles mimic the look of cedar shingles.

House siding costs can vary dramatically depending on the style and material. Homeowners will want to take some time to decide on the right aesthetic design for the exterior of the home before choosing the fiber cement siding style. Stucco and wood are relatively affordable at $3 to $9 and $2 to $6 per square foot, respectively. Vinyl siding costs are also relatively low at $3 to $11 per square foot. Stone siding tends to be the most expensive option, ranging from $17 to $30 per square foot. The table below shows the average costs for different siding materials so homeowners can compare these costs against fiber cement siding costs.

Siding Style Average Cost per Square Foot (Labor and Materials)
Aluminum $3 to $11
Brick $7 to $15
Stone $17 to $30
Stucco $3 to $9
Vinyl $3 to $11
Wood $2 to $6

Siding Brand

The brand of siding can also influence the price of the materials, so before homeowners decide on the fiber cement siding for the project, it’s recommended that they research the various brands to find a product that meets their budget. Common fiber cement siding brands include Allura, James Hardie, and Nichiha, with Allura and Nichiha being the most affordable and James Hardie being higher-cost.

Allura fiber cement siding costs between $5 and $10 per square foot, including installation. Allura offers a 50-year warranty on products and a 15-year warranty on color coating, which can help reassure homeowners that their siding will last for years to come.

James Hardie is a well-known brand that helped to first introduce fiber cement siding to the market. Since then, the brand has also developed a range of fiber cement products, including planks, panels, and shingles. However, Hardie Board siding costs about $6 to $13 per square foot, which is higher than other fiber cement siding products.

Like Allura, Nichiha fiber cement siding products typically cost about $5 to $10 per square foot. Nichiha manufactures fiber cement siding by pouring the fiber cement into a solid mold for improved durability and customization.

Brand Average Cost per Square Foot (Labor and Materials)
Allura $5 to $10
James Hardie $6 to $13
Nichiha $5 to $10

Labor

The local cost of labor to complete a fiber cement siding project can vary depending on the location, the specific materials, and the time of year. Typically, labor rates tend to be lower during the offseason, when there isn’t a high demand for this work. On average, homeowners can expect to pay about $2 to $8 per square foot in labor rates.

Homeowners will want to keep in mind that if the home has more than one story or any special architectural features, like dormers or gables, it will take more time and effort to complete the installation, leading to higher labor costs. Despite these costs, it isn’t recommended for homeowners to tackle fiber cement siding installation as a DIY project.

Geographic Location

The physical location of the home can also impact the cost of the fiber cement siding installation. This is primarily due to the average cost of materials, local labor rates, and the ongoing fluctuation between supply and demand. Generally, if the cost of living in the area is higher than in other areas of the country, the cost of fiber cement siding installation will also be higher.

However, it is worth noting that if there are a wide number of common home sizes, shapes, and styles in the area, then the general popularity of these home models may lead to reduced prices for the homeowners. This is because it takes less time to plan, order materials, and coordinate the installation when the installers have experience with similar homes.

How Much Does Fiber Cement Siding Cost?
Photo: istockphoto.com

Additional Costs and Considerations

Several additional factors can impact the initial installation cost and the ongoing cost of owning and maintaining fiber cement siding. Homeowners will want to consider whether the installers will be removing the old siding and also whether the new siding will have any customizations, such as a custom paint color. It’s also important to keep in mind that the siding will require regular repairs, maintenance, and a new coat of paint every few years.

Old Siding Removal

Avid DIYers with the time, experience, and appropriate tools may be able to save on the overall cost to replace the existing siding with fiber cement siding if they remove the siding themselves instead of leaving this prep work to the professionals. However, if the homeowner decides to let the professional fiber cement siding installers remove the old siding prior to installing the new siding, there will be an additional cost for the removal and disposal.

Professional fiber cement siding installers will typically remove the old siding for about $2,000. This includes removing the siding from the home, loading it into a truck, hauling it away, then inspecting the bare cladding below the original siding to ensure that it is in good condition. Homeowners will want to keep in mind that if the installer does find problems with the cladding, there may be an additional cost of $20 to $30 per square foot for mold removal or $100 to $2,000 to repair dry rot.

Repairs and Maintenance

During installation, the contractors may discover damaged areas of the cladding that need to be repaired, replaced, or treated for mold growth. After the installation, the homeowner will still want to set aside a small budget for ongoing maintenance and repairs to keep the fiber cement siding in good condition.

Fiber cement siding can last for 30 to 50 years with proper maintenance and regular cleaning. Homeowners will want to be aware of the average cost of common siding repairs, which typically ranges from about $2 to $50 per square foot, depending on the severity of the damage. Homeowners can plan to spend about $6 to $15 per square foot for replacement boards. The higher cost is due to the materials that need to be purchased individually instead of in bulk. Additionally, hole repairs will cost about $50 to $100, and crack repairs will cost about $10 to $25 per square foot.

Painting

It’s fine to leave fiber cement siding with the original finish, but for those looking to update the appearance of the home or who need to repaint the exterior to keep up with routine maintenance, there are a wide variety of paint colors to choose from. Painting fiber cement siding will generally cost between $1,700 to $3,700 on average if the homeowner hires a professional exterior painter to complete the work.

Regular touch-ups will be required about once every 10 years to keep the exterior siding protected from UV radiation and moisture. This recurring maintenance task will typically cost about $2 per square foot, and it gives the homeowner an excuse to change the color of the siding and update the appearance of the home.

Customizations

One of the benefits of installing fiber cement siding is that the material comes in a wide range of colors, shapes, sizes, types, and styles. Additionally, if the existing designs aren’t quite able to fulfill the desired look, the homeowner can request that the manufacturer customize the fiber cement planks, panels, or shingles.

Customizing fiber cement siding can be as simple as choosing a specific color or as detailed as requesting that the material mimic a specific stone, brick, or wood building material. Homeowners can even choose siding that resembles the original, historically accurate siding for the home or get prepainted options in the color of their choice. They’ll just want to keep in mind that these customized materials will cost more than standard fiber cement siding, so they’ll need to be prepared to spend about $15 per square foot for custom fiber cement siding.

Types of Fiber Cement Siding

There are three main types of fiber cement siding, differentiated by the size and shape of the fiber cement boards. The types include fiber cement panels, planks, and shingles. To ensure that the project stays on budget and that the proposed plan for the home makes sense, it’s recommended that homeowners learn more about these three types of fiber cement siding.

Fiber Cement Siding Type Average Cost per Square Foot (Materials Only)
Panels $2.50 to $15
Planks $4 to $6
Shingles $2 to $6

Panels

Fiber cement panels are typically thicker and wider than planks. This design is generally focused on mimicking wood paneling, stone veneer, stucco, or brick, though fiber cement panels can also be used to line the siding behind board-and-batten panels. The cost of fiber cement panels varies depending on the size and shape of the panel.

On average, a homeowner can expect to pay about $2.50 to $15 per square foot for fiber cement panel installation, though the cost can also be broken down into per-panel pricing. Some common options include 2-by-8-foot panels at a cost of $140 per panel, 4-by-8-foot panels at a cost of $250 per panel, and 4-by-10-foot panels at a cost of $325 per panel.

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Planks

The most common option for fiber cement siding is fiber cement planks, which are also known as lap and clapboard siding. This siding material is made to emulate the appearance of traditional wood siding, giving the home a classic appearance that is relatively easy to clean, paint, stain, and maintain. Due to the narrow size of fiber cement planks, it’s easier but also more time-consuming to install fiber cement planks than it is to put in fiber cement panels.

Homeowners will need to budget for about $4 to $6 per square foot if they decide to update the exterior siding with fiber cement planks. That comes out to about $30 per plank if labor is not included in the estimate. This type of fiber cement siding is generally the most affordable, though some fiber cement shingle products may be slightly less expensive.

Shingles

If the plan is to renovate a historic home or to give an existing home a more traditional exterior aesthetic, fiber cement shingles are a good option. This siding material is made to imitate individual cedar shingles, which typically have a square or rectangular shape, vertical placement, and a soft, rounded edge that emphasizes the natural, rustic appearance of the house.

Fiber cement shingles aren’t for everyone, but if this look seems appealing to a homeowner, it’s necessary to make room in the budget for about $2 to $6 per square foot, or about $2 to $10 per shingle. Homeowners will want to speak to an installation professional if they require help measuring and estimating the approximate cost of materials for this project.

How Much Does Fiber Cement Siding Cost?
Photo: istockphoto.com

Benefits of Choosing Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement siding can be a costly upgrade, so homeowners may not be enthusiastic about making the change from old vinyl siding to fiber cement siding. However, fiber cement boards have significant benefits over other materials, including the durability, longevity, versatility, and high resistance to fire, pests, moisture, UV radiation, warping, and impact damage. Below, homeowners can find out more about the benefits of choosing fiber cement siding.

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