Fiber cement siding is a prefabricated siding made of composite material comprised of wood pulp cellulose fibers and Portland cement. It is not as well-known as vinyl siding, but it has been around since the 1970s and offers numerous benefits. One benefit is its remarkable ability to recoup the costs of installation upon the resale of your home.

Jay Bilt Construction, the premier home remodeling and construction company in Livonia, MI, discusses some of the benefits of fiber cement siding compared to vinyl siding below. They are the area’s most trusted installer of James Hardie® siding, with more than 20 years of experience helping customers throughout southeast Michigan protect and beautify their homes.

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is durable, inexpensive, and very low maintenance, which is why it is so popular with homeowners. On average, it costs between $2 and $3 per square foot to install, and it comes in a variety of colors and textures. It does not, however, emulate the look of wood very well. A vinyl siding project ranks number eight on a list of middle-range home improvement projects in terms of recouping costs with a resale. The average price of the project is about $9,000. Of that, you can expect to recoup about 78.2% in increased resale value.

Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement siding is more expensive than vinyl siding (the average project costs over $13,000), but it is extremely attractive and versatile. It does a great job of mimicking wood, and it can be customized to match nearly any home style.

Both fiber cement and vinyl siding offer better protection against the elements than wood does, but fiber cement siding is heat- and fire- resistant and does not ignite, even under a direct flame. Vinyl siding can melt when exposed to a barbecue grill or other heat source. A fiber cement siding project will allow you to recoup more of your money in terms of resale value than vinyl—the average return on investment is a whopping 87%. This makes it the number one upscale home improvement project for recouping costs. 

Jay Bilt Construction, a respected home remodeling company in Livonia, MI, is proud to install top-quality James Hardie® fiber cement siding. For more information, you can find their contact info online. Call (866) 460-9700 to discuss your siding and remodeling needs with a friendly professional.