Facade finishing is one of the most responsible and important construction and installation works in the construction or reconstruction of any building. Private residential buildings, according to Kansas City siding installers, most often get off with just such hinged panels. There is a wide range of such finishing materials on the market, and many property owners cannot decide what exactly will be better for them – Vinyl Siding or Fiber Cement, since both types of siding have both advantages and disadvantages.
What is vinyl siding, and what are the features and benefits of this material?
Vinyl siding is a type of facade finishing material that is made from a heat-insulating non-combustible layer, which is covered on top with a textured polymer film or shell, depending on the price category of the product. According to expert evaluations, vinyl siding releases less toxic emissions into the atmosphere when heated than fiber cement products, and given its lighter weight, it costs less and is easier to fix than facade brackets.
Features of vinyl siding consist of the following technical characteristics and functional parameters:
- The appearance of the siding on the front side can be stamped to imitate precious woods and other expensive finishing materials.
- Most modifications of vinyl siding are equipped with an effective mineral wool insulation, which increases the thermal performance of the building envelope.
- Most of the bay area siding is an inextricable plane that remains impenetrable even with heavy precipitation and strong winds. In this regard, the considered materials also have the functionality of their premises, such as wind protection and increasing the energy efficiency of building buildings in the cold season.
Modern vinyl siding has a high-quality surface and the presence of reliable locking joints, which ensure its reliable fastening to the facade of the building, and also exclude the destruction of the brackets during long-term operation in an aggressive environment.
What is Fiber Cement Siding, and what are the features and benefits of this material?
Many representatives of official siding contractors note that fiber cement materials are more durable than vinyl materials. Fiber cement siding is supplied to the market in the form of separate panels, which differ in the following functional and design features:
- It is supplied in the form of extended elements imitating precious wood boards or natural clay tiles.
- The market offers a wide range of different textures and colors of this finishing material.
- On sale, you can find fiber cement siding, painted in mass, or coated with pigments on the front side.
- Unlike vinyl siding, this fiber cement material is not equipped with effective thermal insulation. The resistance to heat transfer is carried out by means of the concentration of fiber fibers added to the structure of the material, which provides an increased or decreased porosity coefficient.
- Unlike polymer siding, fiber cement siding requires a special laying technology to prevent the formation of cold bridges, since its energy efficiency is significantly lower than that of vinyl combined products.
In addition to these features, fiber cement siding also has many other differences, such as the solidity of the structure, it will not come off from gusts of wind, it is not as flexible as vinyl, and it is more expensive, difficult to install and less maintainable.
Comparison of vinyl and fiber cement siding
Based on the specifications and features above, vinyl and fiber cement siding can be compared based on the following criteria:
- Stone materials always have a high density and own weight.
- Fiber cement does not have an increased resistance to heat transfer of the building envelope.
- Modern polymers are characterized by increased resistance to ultraviolet radiation, compared with the surface pigments of fiber cement.
- Both materials do not support decay and the development of pathogenic bacteria.
- Vinyl siding is easy to maintain, while fiber cement materials often deviate from a straight plane, and require straightening and adjustment.
- When installing fiber cement requires a lot of labor.
- Fiber cement costs about 2 to 3 times more than vinyl siding due to the increased cost.
- Vinyl siding from the higher price category allows you to save on the cost of heating the building in the winter.
- Unlike vinyl siding, for which the manufacturer gives a guarantee of no more than 15 to 20 years, fiber cement suppliers are ready to offer up to 30 years of warranty.
Thus, both materials have both advantages and disadvantages. If it is important for the owner of a private house to emphasize the uniqueness of the facade, he chooses fiber cement material. If the owner cares about practicality, savings on maintenance, and energy efficiency, he always chooses the most affordable vinyl siding.
Have you ever had to choose between vinyl and fiber cement siding for your private residence? If so, please share your feedback and comments with other visitors to this website.
