HOMEOWNERS · BUILDERS · ARCHITECTS · 5 MIN READ
Choosing Fiber Cement Siding
Lap siding, panels, pre-finished panels, or fair-faced concrete: how they differ and how to choose.
What fiber cement is
Fiber cement is made from cement, sand, and cellulose fiber, pressed into boards and panels. It is used the way wood siding is, cut, nailed, and trimmed, and it comes in two broad forms: primed boards you paint on site, and panels finished at the factory.
The four kinds we supply
Lap siding: horizontal boards up to 10 ft long, wood-grain or smooth, pre-primed. The traditional look, painted on site.
Panel: flat 4 × 8 or 4 × 10 ft sheets. Used plain on modern walls, with battens for board-and-batten, and for soffits.
Pre-finished panel: 16 or 24 in wide panels finished at the factory in smooth paint, real stone, textured, wood-grain, or brick. Tongue-and-groove with concealed clips; no painting on site.
Fair-faced concrete board: 4 × 8 ft panels with a smooth, even concrete look and a clear protective coat.
Three questions that settle the choice
What style is the house? Traditional houses usually take lap siding; modern houses tend toward panels, pre-finished panels, or fair-faced concrete. Many homes combine two.
Will the walls be painted on site? If yes, primed lap siding or panels give you any color. If you'd rather skip on-site painting, choose pre-finished panels.
What does your lot require? Wind exposure and code vary by address; confirm them before you order.
Primed or factory-finished
Primed boards need paint after installation, which adds a trade and time to the schedule but lets you choose any color, now or later. Factory-finished panels arrive ready, so the wall is done when the last panel goes up; the trade-off is that the finish is chosen before you order, from samples.
What a complete quote should list
Boards or panels for each elevation, with a waste allowance stated.
Trim, corners, and starter pieces where the design needs them.
Fasteners or concealed clips for the system you chose.
Finish and color, confirmed with samples.
Lead time, in writing.
Before you order
Ask your building department, architect, or engineer what your address requires, and ask the supplier for the documents they have for the exact product. We confirm both in writing before you order.
How Twinbridge helps
Send your elevations and we'll recommend the fiber cement that fits, with the reason, and quote it with the windows, doors, and trim on one proposal. Samples go out before you commit.
HAVE A PROJECT IN MIND?
Send your drawings and we'll reply within two business days.
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