Difference between revisions of "Fiber cement siding"
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Contents
Usage
Fiber cement is a composite material made of sand, cement and cellulose fibers. In appearance fiber cement siding most often consists of overlapping horizontal boards, imitating wooden siding, clapboard and imitation shingles. Fiber cement siding is also manufactured in a sheet form and is used not only as cladding but is also commonly used as a soffit / eave lining and as a tile underlay on decks and in bathrooms.
siding is not only used as an exterior siding, it can also be utilized as a substitute for timber fascias and barge boards in high fire areas.
Specifications
Sheet sizes vary slightly from manufacture to manufacture but generally they range between 2400 – 3000 mm in length and 900 –1200mm in width (600 & 450 mm increments). This manufactured size minimizes on-site wastage as residential floor, wall and roof structures lay structural members at 450 or 600 centres.
Fibre cement thicknesses vary between 4.5-18mm and also vary in density – the lower density resulting in a fibrous rough edge when cut and the higher density having a cleaner smoother edge when cut.
Thermal resistance and sound transmission vary greatly between fiber cement products. Fiber cement sheet products rate poorly in thermal resistance and sound transmission and separate wall insulation is highly recommended. Generally the thicker and denser the product the better resistance it will have to temperature and sound transmission.
Installation
Fibre cement cladding is a very heavy product and requires two people to carry the uncut sheets. Thin fibre cement cladding is fragile before installation and must be handled carefully; it is prone to chipping and breakage if improperly handled.
Once the product is cut it may again require two people to install – one to hold the sheet flush against studwork and the other to nail the product in place.
Cutting fibre cement cladding sheeting usually requires a mechanised saw or metal hand shears and sheets can be cut to size in three ways:
- Thinner sheets can be scored with a heavy duty cutting blade and snapped
- Purpose made "fibro cutter" (an Australian term)
- Thicker and denser sheets require cutting by a mechanical saw
Some caution must be exercised to properly ventilate areas where fiber cement siding (FCS) is being cut; long-term exposure to the silica dust generated during the installation process can cause silicosis.
Fibre cement cladding can be painted before or after installation. (For areas of exposure, weatherproof paint must be used.) Once the product is fixed the joints are usually covered with timber battens and the entire wall surface is painted.
History
Fibre cement products came about as a replacement for the widely used "Asbestos Cement Sheeting" product manufactured by "James Hardie" until the late 1980s.
Durability
The external cladding products require very little maintenance once installed and painted. The thicker/denser fiber cement products have excellent impact resistance but the thinner less dense products need to be protected from impact. Compared to wooden siding, fiber cement is not susceptible to termites or rot.[1]
Fire Resistance
Fibre cement cladding is a non combustible material which is widely used in high bush fire prone areas throughout Australia . Pictured above is James Hardie's Fiber Cement cladding ‘Scyon Linea’ weatherboard which has been substituted for the traditional timber fascia and barge board materials.
Alternatives
Competitors to fiber cement cladding are imitation clapboard include vinyl, PVC, wood composite products and aluminum siding.
See also
References
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gl:Fibrocemento- ↑ Ball, John E. "Mineral-Fiber Siding". Light construction techniques: from foundation to finish. Reston, VA: Reston. p. 189. ISBN 0835940357.
