Why Homeowners Keep Googling “Fiber Cement Siding vs Cement Board”
If you’ve landed here after typing fiber cement siding vs cement board into the search bar, congratulations—you’re not alone. Thousands of homeowners, architects, and rental-property investors type the same phrase every month, hoping for a straight answer. The problem? Most articles lump the two materials together or bury the differences under marketing fluff.
Let’s fix that. This deep-dive compares cost, durability, installation quirks, resale value, and even warranty fine print—so you can stop scrolling Reddit threads at 2 a.m.
So, Are They the Same Thing or Not?
Short answer: kinda, but nope. All fiber cement siding is cement board, but not all cement board is siding-grade fiber cement. Think squares and rectangles: every square is a rectangle, yet not every rectangle is a square. Fiber cement contains cellulose fibers blended with Portland cement, silica sand, and water. Generic “cement board” (often used as tile backer) skips the fibers and sometimes swaps sand for fly ash or other fillers. Translation? Different density, different freeze-thaw performance, and very different price tags.
The Breakdown: 7 Core Differences You’ll Feel in Your Wallet
1. Composition & Weight
Fiber cement planks weigh about 2.3 lbs per square foot; cement board panels can tip the scale at 3.2 lbs. Doesn’t sound like much—until you’re hauling 200 panels up a scaffold. Your contractor will charge extra for the added labor, trust me.
2. Thickness Options
Siding usually ships in 5/16″. Cement board for interior tile substrates can be 1/4″ or 1/2″. Thicker boards feel sturdier, but they also eat into window-jamb depth. Retrofit windows may need re-framing, a hidden cost most blogs skip.
3. Factory Finish
Big-name siding comes pre-primed or even pre-painted with 15-year color warranties. Cement board arrives “raw,” meaning you’ll prime and paint on-site. More labor hours, more weather delays, more “why didn’t I factor this into my budget” moments.
4. Fire Rating
Both materials are non-combustible, but only fiber cement siding carries ASTM E136 or NFPA 285 assemblies for wall-to-wall fire containment. If wildfire resilience is on your checklist (hello, California homeowners), this matters for insurance discounts.
5. ROI & Curb Appeal
Remodeling Magazine’s 2024 Cost vs Value Report ranks fiber cement siding at 86 % cost recouped—cement board isn’t even listed because appraisers treat it as a substrate, not a cladding. When it’s time to sell, perception equals dollars.
6. Warranty Length
James Hardie, Nichiha, and Allura offer 30- to 50-year transferable warranties on their siding. Generic cement board makers? One-year limited, if that. Yep, you read that right—365 days and you’re on your own.
7. Installation Code
Fiber cement siding has ICC-ES reports and explicit nailing schedules. Cement board doesn’t. Inspectors in hurricane zones often reject non-compliant jobs, forcing costly tear-offs. Save yourself the pain; verify local code before you buy.
Price Check: Material & Labor in 2024 Dollars
National averages run:
- Fiber cement siding: $6.50–$13.75 per sq ft installed
- Cement board used as cladding: $4.80–$9.00 per sq ft installed
But hold on—those “savings” vaporize if you add priming, paint cycles every five years, and higher disposal fees when you eventually replace. Total cost of ownership over 30 years swings the pendulum back to fiber cement.
Installation Hacks Contractors Won’t Tell You
First, always use a siding-specific shear. “I just use my regular circular saw with a diamond blade,” your cousin insists—until silica dust fills the neighborhood. OSHA requires a HEPA vac or shear to stay compliant. Second, keep 1/8″ gaps at butt joints; boards swell microscopically, and tight joints buckle. Finally, blind-nail 1″ down from the top edge so the next course hides the fastener. Skip these tricks and your fancy cement cladding will look like a checkerboard in two winters.
Climate Cheat-Sheet: Where Each Material Shines
| Region | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Northwest | Fiber Cement Siding | Resists moisture & fungus |
| Southwest Desert | Fiber Cement Siding | UV-stable baked-on paint |
| Gulf Coast | Fiber Cement Siding | Hurricane nailing schedules |
| Dry Interior Tile Jobs | Cement Board | Cheap substrate under tile |
Environmental Footprint: Is One Greener?
Fiber cement uses ~30 % recycled content and lasts 50 years; cement board averages 10–15 in exterior use before delamination. Over a building’s life, that’s three tear-offs vs one. Factor transportation (domestic siding plants vs overseas tile backers) and fiber cement scores lower embodied carbon by a country mile.
Real-World Case Study: The $18,000 Mistake
A Denver homeowner chose 1/2″ cement board panels for his 2,400 sq ft exterior to “save” $8k upfront. Five years later freeze-thaw cycles cracked corners; moisture wicked into the sheathing. He re-sided with fiber cement for $26,000—$18k more than the original quote. Moral: cheap can be shockingly expensive.
Bottom Line: Which Should You Pick?
If you need a code-approved, warrantied, fire-resistant, and paint-ready cladding that boosts resale, fiber cement siding wins hands down. Reserve generic cement board for interior tile underlayment or sheds where aesthetics don’t matter. Anything else is lipstick on Portland-cement pig.
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