If you are trying to create a home that is sustainable and environmentally friendly, incorporating sustainable building materials into your design plans is hugely important. When it comes to wall siding, you can choose from a variety of different materials, but some are a lot more sustainable than others.
Fiber cement siding is a practical, cost-effective choice that also has excellent green credentials. Here are four reasons to fit fiber cement wall siding to your sustainable home:
Sustainable Manufacturing
Many siding products are made from unsustainable materials and aren't suitable for eco-friendly homes. Vinyl siding is very popular, but it is made from synthetic, non-biodegradable materials and is very difficult to recycle. Metal siding is made from organic, recyclable materials, but manufacturing it requires a lot of energy, reducing its sustainability.
To create fiber cement siding, ordinary Portland cement is mixed with ash, silica sand, and water and reinforced with cellulose fibers made from wood pulp. Every single material used to create fiber cement siding is organic and biodegradable. Manufacturing fiber cement also requires significantly less energy than creating metal siding.
Long-Term Durability
Any siding that is truly sustainable must be built to last. Repairing or replacing damaged siding uses a significant amount of materials and energy.
Fiber cement siding rivals the toughest siding materials on the market when it comes to long-term durability. It is extremely weather-resistant and immune to rot, mold, and corrosion. It can also withstand heavy physical impacts. If individual siding panels or boards are damaged, they can be removed and replaced individually, minimizing the material and energy costs of repair work.
No Chemical Protection Required
Some siding materials must be treated with environmentally unfriendly chemicals and surface treatments to boost their durability.
For example, traditional timber siding must be treated with fungicidal and pesticidal chemicals to prevent rot and termite damage. These chemicals can cause serious environmental damage if they enter local water supplies. Metal siding is often coated with paints or powder coatings, which may contain damaging volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Fiber cement siding does not require any chemical treatments or surface coatings to protect it. If you do choose to have your siding painted for aesthetic reasons, organic, latex-based paints can be used to prevent any accidental environmental damage.
Compatible With Under-Siding Insulation
Siding doesn't just protect your home's walls from the elements. It can also provide an additional layer of heat insulation, which reduces your home's reliance on energy-hungry heating and air conditioning systems.
Fiber cement siding is not very effective as a heat insulator by itself, but it is compatible with most types of under-siding insulation. This extra insulation layer can dramatically reduce heat transfer through your home's walls, especially when combined with effective wall cavity insulation.
Fiber cement siding is particularly useful for insulation purposes because it can be used with spray-foam and loose-fill insulation types. These types of insulation are frequently more effective than solid board or batten-type insulation materials and are less vulnerable to thermal bridging.
Contact a company like WM. Prescott Roofing and Remodeling Inc. to learn more.
