San Diego Cement Siding

No matter where you are in the country, picking a material to cover your home's exterior is an important decision. The outside of your home is seen by everyone who passes, and it is the first thing guests will notice when they come over. Additionally, your home's cladding plays an important role in the function of your house by protecting it from the elements and providing insulation. In San Diego cement siding is one of many choices for your property's exterior, and its many benefits might make it one of the best.

What Is Cement Siding?
Cement siding, fiber-cement siding, and cement board siding are all different names for the same thing. Developed a century ago and made extremely popular by an Australian company called James Hardie, cement siding is designed to be a durable and weather-resistant cladding material for climates both mild and harsh. Composed of cement, sand, and cellulose fiber, it is made to stand up to excessive moisture, blazing sun, and freezing cold temperatures.

Benefits of San Diego Cement Board Siding
Cement siding is an extremely durable material, and has been known to last decades without needing any more maintenance than an occasional cleaning. It is fire resistant, which is a huge benefit in southern California, and is an unattractive material for bugs to eat or nest in. Some moisture issues have been reported with cement board siding, but as these were generally due to poor installation, and since precipitation isn't a big factor in San Diego, cement board siding would be wrongly dismissed because of a few scattered claims.

While cement siding can be made to look different ways, one of the most popular choices is to make it look like natural wood. People love the appearance of wood, but because it is costly, needs frequent maintenance, and has a lower lifespan than many other exterior materials, the hassle of real wood is too much for many homeowners. Cement board gives a home an incredibly wood-like appearance, while remaining one of the most durable materials on the market. Since it doesn't swell, rot, crack, or bow like wood, cement siding has an uncanny ability to hold onto paint for exceptionally long periods of time.

Drawbacks to Cement Siding in San Diego
Cement siding comes in varying degrees of thickness, and if it is installed too thin, it doesn't provide any significant amount of insulation. Though southern Californians may not worry too much about keeping the cold out, inadequate insulation can let unwanted hot air in.

Also consider that fiber cement requires special techniques and tools to install. For do-it-yourselfers in San Diego, cement board siding is probably not a good project unless you have specific experience with the material.

Prices of San Diego Cement Board Siding
To professionally install cement siding, San Diego homeowners' bills average $13,500 Vinyl siding, which is probably the least expensive cladding material on the market, averages about $11,000 in San Diego. Generally about 83 percent of the cost is recovered in added value to the property.

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