Vinyl Siding vs. Hardie Plank Fiber Cement Siding

In the discussion between the two, every reason is for the fiber-cement board but for only one right on behalf of vinyl, which is on the cost.

Fiber cement vs Vinyl siding

The following are some of the differences between vinyl and Hardie plank:

  1. Cost: in terms of value, vinyl siding is cheaper compared to any form of fiber siding. Fiber cement is heavier hence it incurs a lot of costs in installation as well as in shipment. In any real case, you are most likely to pay much installation fees for fiber siding as compared to vinyl.
  2. Maintenance: fiber cement siding regularly needs to be painted, therefore increasing the cost of maintenance, mainly depending on the weather, unlike Vinyl, that once installed takes so many years to be painted. You only need to do the painting for vinyl siding when it fades, bringing at least a decade.
  3. Repairs: all siding types must be repaired in the long run. Whether they take decades or even half centuries, these are due to rain, hailstones, and winds that keep on interfering with the walls. Most important to note is that repairing vinyl is much easier than fiber siding, the procedure involves you to slide the replacement panel in place, nail it in, and zip it closed. If the Vinyl has faded and the new piece has a more vibrant colour, you can switch it out for an aged one on a less visible spot on the house. It takes a lot to damage a fiber cement board, but if it is broken or cracked, it’s hard to fix. Fiber cement planks are heavy and require two workers for the installation. You will have to use a pry bar to loosen the plank above the damaged one, being careful not to cause further damage.
  4. Durability: the two are durable, but one is better. Fiber-cement siding is better than vinyl due to the size in thickness that does not allow it to tear easily. Vinyl, though, can not withstand heavy encounters, especially as years go by when it tends to be weaker. Hardie park, the level of thickness, makes it ber and enduring. Having been made of concrete, it can endure a lot of forces, including wind, hailstones which might damage it. Indeed it is advisable that when you are choosing fiber siding, try to choose a thicker one that can withstand all these elements.
  5. Fire resistance: it is always important to choose one that can resist fire, not even one that can only slow down the spread of fire. Vinyl can not resist fire but only act as a fire retardant. This is unlike to Hardie plank that is concrete, therefore meant to resist fire. The kind of materials used to make it can not allow the fire in what so ever making it the best for use.
  6. Versatile: Vinyl is an outright winner when it comes to this. It can be made fit for any place, home that you would like to use it. Wherever you use it, it will fit and be beautiful as you wish therefore giving it an upper hand against fiber siding.
  7. Colour: Vinyl exists in many colours up to 360 as compared to Hardie plank that only exists in 36 colours. As much as it is easily available, and many people trying to use it as a wood replacement, there is still complaining that it does not match wood with its thin nature coming out clearly. In comparison to fiber siding, fiber siding is thick and can give that picture of wood when used, making it more natural. You are therefore advised to use it for a natural ambiance.
  8. Energy efficiency: they both require the underlayment to give good insulation, without which no much can be benefitting from them. As much as there is a slight difference in the same, especially on the side of Vinyl, which gives an opportunity to put in underlayment, fiber siding does not allow that.
  9. Easier to fix: This makes people go for it as compared to fiber cement, which proves to be hectic when it comes to installation.