Fiber cement siding is a building material used to cover the exterior of a
house.
Fiber cement is a composite material made of sand, cement and cellulose fibers.
In appearance, fiber cement siding most often consists of overlapping horizontal
boards, imitating wooden clapboard; other formats include imitation shingle as
well as sidewall panels and soffit.
Competitors to fiber cement siding as imitation clapboard include vinyl, wood
and (uncommonly nowadays) aluminum siding. Neither vinyl nor most fiber cement
siding sold today requires painting. Advantages of vinyl include the fact that
it has a lower material cost and is easier to transport than fiber cement siding
due to its lighter weight and its pliability. Vinyl siding, however, is more
susceptible to fire damage (or melting under extreme temperatures) than fiber
cement siding, and can become brittle in cold weather or from long-term solar
exposure. Compared to wooden siding, fiber cement is not susceptible to termites
or rot.
