Fibre Cement Cladding

About Fibre Cement Cladding

Fibre cement cladding was introduced in the early 1980s by James Hardie, who created an alternate building material free of asbestos. The thin sheets of fibre are pressed to remove the moisture inside fibres to develop fibre cement cladding for buildings.

The mixture obtained is pliable for few moments, which means it can be moulded into different things such as planks, tiles, large format panels, and more. The end product is then coloured or painted for aesthetics, and it is mainly used in making horizontal boards and sheets. The fibre cement cladding is used in both commercial and residential settings. 

Advantages Of Fibre Cement Cladding

Fibre cement cladding is the number one choice of builders and architects, among other types of cladding and facades, as it can be installed without much effort. Additionally, it is weather-proof, like composite cladding which means no matter how harsh and brutal the weather is, the fibre cement sheeting will continue to safeguard the building or house. 

It is also resistant to water which makes it immune to rust and other water damages that mostly happen to concrete cladding. Having these features with cladding means no more worrying about rot or warp because of heavy water or weather effects. 

In addition to that, if appropriately installed, fibre cement cladding works as an excellent termite barrier and for flashing penetrations. It assists in cooling the house in hot weather and doesn't need high maintenance. Lastly, the fibre cement cladding is extremely low maintenance and pleasing to the eye, like the uPVC cladding.

Types Of Fibre Cement Cladding 

Fibre cement cladding offers a world of choices, such as:

Horizontal Lap Siding

Horizontal lap siding, also known as Dutch lap siding, is the most commonly used style of residential siding. Horizontal lap sidings are usually composed of long and even pieces of siding with a thick bottom and a comparatively thinner top. The edges are either straight or beaded.

They are installed in a way that every piece overlaps the other piece. This is called the bottom-up style of siding. 

Like the facade screens, they help the building to blend in with the surroundings. In addition, there are multiple varieties of horizontal lap siding depending on their width, ranging from 5.25 to 12-inch wide panels. 

Shiplap Siding

Shiplap siding is very different from horizontal lap siding because its boards don't overlap. Instead, in shiplap siding, the panels are straight-up butted up against one another. 

They usually are installed by a tongue and groove system, which results in a clean and smooth look. These types of siding are generally preferred for contemporary houses. 

Vertical Siding

Vertical siding is another excellent way to protect the house. The most preferred is a rustic board-and-batten look along with the touch of minimalist stripes. 

Soffit 

Soffit sidings are available in both vented and non-vented styles, the majority of the manufacturer’s design eaves and soffits in a way that they are immune to rot or warp. As a result, soffit sidings are super effective in covering the architectural lines underneath. 

Moreover, the unique vented style provides better airflow throughout the entire building along with an attractive appearance 

Features of Fibre Cement Siding 

One of the reasons why fibre cement siding is so popular is because it not only increases the aesthetics of the building but also efficiently protects it from the weather with the help of the following features:

Thermal Insulation

Since the fibre cement cladding is low on R-value, therefore, to increase the thermal resistance, it is essential to add fibre cement to the additional insulation. 

Fortunately, the majority of fibre cement manufacturers add thermal insulation to fibre cement. This allows them to have thermal breakage that prevents the loss of heat from the building envelope. 

Acoustic Insulation

Most fibre cement claddings are not entirely effective against noise and sound transmission. However, like in thermal insulation and moisture protection, acoustic insulation can be achieved by adding additional layers to improve the building's envelope. 

Colour

Most large-scale manufacturers have a massive assortment of various fibre cement products in numerous ranges of colours and shades. 

Moreover, they also allow the feature of customization to the customer and the ability to combine glazed facade systems with it to give the building the exact look that the customer has imagined. 

Finishes 

There is a massive range of finishes available in compressed sheet cladding. From smooth to textured finishes with green facades to various render plaster systems, it’s possible to find something to fulfil any décor needs. Moreover, it may also be good to search for wood imitation, timber cladding, stone, and brick cladding categories to find the right look for the building.  

Several brands have around fifteen different finishes that marvellously imitate a considerable number of raw materials. Despite many architects being reluctant to use fibre cement weatherboard because they prefer organic materials like natural wood and stones, customers love fibre cement because it is comparatively cheaper and offers a plethora of different benefits. 

Installation

We suggest taking help from a professional when it comes to installing the fibre cement cladding. However, when DIYing, it is imperative to keep these few things in mind. First, it is not good to drill or screw the material like metal cladding because it is not tough enough. Second, there is always the risk of material cracking, and no one wants that. 

Suppose the material is mistakenly screwed too close to the edge or nailed too close to the end. Then, there is a bright chance that it may split into pieces. Moreover, those who live in a windy area are better off with pre-cladding for a stronger hold. 

Therefore, to properly install the cement board cladding, the right way is to butt-join boards. To do this, cut the board short of the wall stud, join the two ends of the board together using the joiner or glue recommended by the product manufacturer. However, this way of installation will be more time-consuming and result in more wastage. 

Fibre cement has been around for a long time, and it is still performing exceptionally well. Its handy features like fire resistance, high durability, and long-lasting life amaze the customers. 

Moreover, even after withstanding blows of harsh weather, it shows few signs of ageing, which is fantastic for customers who don't want to invest in cladding every few years.