Although we all have individual preferences, and our tastes always differ, there is one thing that we have in common when selecting siding. No one wants to end up having warped or faded covering sooner than expected.

When it comes to striking an ideal balance between a great visual appeal, affordability, and durability, it is fiber cement panels and stone siding that are considered to be the most preferred options. Let’s move beyond scratching the surface and find out what material you should go for to adequately protect the exterior walls of your house and make its curb appeal like no other.

Perfect siding should withstand the elements, have good insulating properties, and look better than simply nice without costing you a pretty penny. These are criteria that we’re going to use when comparing fiber cement to stone coverings.

If you are toying with the idea of renovating your home in a sophisticated, contemporary manner, you’re definitely better off choosing fiber cement over natural stone or brick veneer siding. The former – which has become synonymous with James Hardie over the last few years – is available in a variety of styles, such as planks, shakes, shingles, vertical panels, etc. It can mimic the appearance of almost anything you can think of – from natural wood to masonry. Plus, a range of fiber cement siding colors is limited only by your imagination and comes in plenty of textured and smooth finishes.

That said, there is hardly anything that gives your exterior walls a more classic makeover than stone veneer siding. It appears to be impressive and provides a castle-like look for your home, making it stand out from the rest. The colors of stone siding are usually limited to the appearance of natural rock, but veneers make a difference here. While emulating the look of natural stone, manufactured alternatives come in a myriad of colors, much like fiber cement siding.

Both materials are superior to other options in terms of durability. Fiber cement is non-flammable and proves to be resistant to insects, and stone is the longest lasting material out there that has a lifetime of around 100 years. None of them warps due to extreme weather, which makes them perfect additions to houses located in high-wind regions. Their R-values go up to 0.50 and 0.41 respectively.

However, fiber cement and stone are heavy materials and require you to hire pros to get them installed. If you decide to do it yourself, you risk mishandling some parts or damaging the exterior structure of your house. On top of that, moisture can penetrate the walls and build up there if the cladding is installed improperly. In order to avoid stone and fiber cement siding problems, be sure to turn to reliable contractors for help.

It should be noted that fiber cement siding and that made of stone are not the most budget-friendly options on the market. Considering an endless range of the benefits they offer, they worth every penny, though. So, get prepared to shell out $2 to $8 per square foot of fiber cement siding and up to $30 per square foot of natural stone cladding ($6-$9 for veneers).

Call Home Run Improvement, regardless of what it is that you pick. We’re up for maintenance, repairs, and installation of fiber cement siding and stone coverings, among others. Leave this to us, and we’ll make your home look picture-perfect.