Fiber Cement Siding vs. Brick Siding: Comparing the Cost, Durability, and More

The siding on your home is the first line of defense against the elements—and it also has a big effect on curb appeal. For these reasons, choosing a strong and stunning exterior siding material is extremely important. If you’ve narrowed down your options to either fiber cement siding or brick siding, this guide will help you make your decision by detailing the pluses and minuses of each. 

Fiber Cement Siding vs. Brick Siding: Key Differences

Fiber cement siding is made from a blend of cement, sand, water, cellulose fibers, wood pulp, and other proprietary materials, while traditional brick siding is made from clay and shale. 

What Is Fiber Cement Siding?

You might not realize a home has fiber cement siding until you get up close and personal. That is because different types of fiber cement siding are available in a myriad of finishes that mimic other types of exterior siding, including wood, stone, brick, and stucco siding, as well as a variety of styles such as shingles, shakes, lap siding, and vertical siding. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of fiber cement siding to consider.

Best for: 

• Those who want a low-maintenance siding material

• Homeowners who want a durable siding without the high cost of natural stone or brick

• Anyone looking to customize the appearance and style of their siding

Pros of Fiber Cement Siding

One of the biggest benefits of fiber cement siding is the sheer versatility of the material. You can choose from hundreds of color and style options to best match your style. Fiber cement siding also has a long life span of up to 50 years, making it a great investment. For comparison, wood and vinyl siding only last around 20 to 40 years.

On top of these major advantages, fiber cement siding is resistant to insects, rot, cold, heat, wind, rain, impact, and fluctuating temperatures. The siding is built to last. It requires little maintenance other than an occasional paint job, several sprays with the garden hose, and a gentle brush down with a soft bristle brush. 

Cons of Fiber Cement Siding

Before you lock in on your choice of siding, fiber cement does have a few downsides worth keeping in mind. For one, fiber cement comes in many colors and styles, but it might be more difficult to find than other types of siding because it is only available at select local suppliers.

Also, while fiber cement siding is a low-maintenance siding option for your home, it does need to be repainted every 10 to 15 years. This could be off-putting for homeowners looking to avoid the upkeep. Another downside is that fiber cement siding is heavier than most other options—excluding brick and natural stone—and hard to install yourself. It’s best to hire a fiber cement siding pro near you for this type of siding. 

Another downside to fiber cement siding is that, due to how it’s made, each manufacturer uses its own proprietary blend. This can make it challenging to compare different fiber cement siding brands and find the right one for the job. Hardie board siding is the original, tried-and-true fiber cement siding. Many homeowners go for this brand, but it may come at a higher cost than some competitors.

What Is Brick Siding?

Brick is a classic siding material that has been used on home exteriors for centuries. Traditional brick siding is made of solid masonry construction. Modern construction introduced a brick veneer application, which will be the focus of this article. With solid masonry, the brick is structural and holds up the building, while a brick veneer is simply for appearance and provides no structural support.

Best for: 

• Homes with a classic aesthetic

• Those looking for a siding that can last a lifetime

• Households in hot or cold climates

Pros of Brick Siding

Bricks come in various shades of red, pink, cream, gray, purple, brown, and tan that can be laid in many different patterns. While the natural color of brick is limited to certain colors, several techniques can be used to enhance or change the appearance of your brick siding, including paint, German schmear, whitewash, and limewash.

Because brick has strong insulating properties, this siding material is great for homes across the country—be it in frigid climate zones or hot climates. The brick helps to keep heat inside the home during the winter and out of the home in the summer. This can help you save on energy bills. On top of that, brick is resistant to insects, weather, water, fire, and impact and has a long life span. 

The brick itself is low-maintenance and made from eco-friendly, natural materials, making it even more of an economical investment for your home.  

Cons of Brick Siding

While brick can be painted, stained, and mixed to create different colors and installed in unique patterns for stylistic purposes, brick siding still can be limiting for those looking for a more modern or contemporary siding material. But perhaps the biggest downside to choosing brick is its high upfront cost. 

The material itself costs between $3 and $10 per square foot, which falls in the middle of the price range for siding materials. Because the material is so heavy, however, you’ll pay anywhere from $3 to $20 per square foot extra just to install brick siding. A cheaper option is faux brick veneer, which can be made from synthetic materials to mimic the appearance of brick siding. Homeowners on a tight budget may choose a more cost-friendly alternative like vinyl siding. 

Brick siding doesn’t need much maintenance, but the mortar joints between the bricks do require re-pointing every 25 to 30 years. Repointing brick costs between $400 and $2,500.

Fiber Cement Siding vs. Brick Siding

There are several factors to consider when choosing between fiber cement siding and brick siding beyond how your home will look. Here’s how the two materials compare when it comes to durability, return on investment, and more.

Appearance​

Brick is a traditional siding option that stands the test of time. It looks stately on any style of home, especially when used alongside other materials like wood or stucco. 

Fiber cement siding is a versatile material that can take on the look of many types of siding, such as wood.

While the aesthetic choice between the two ultimately comes down to personal preference, fiber cement siding has more options available to fit every type of style.

Most aesthetically pleasing: Fiber Cement Siding

Durability​

Both materials stand up well to wind, rain, impact, insects, and the like. But the way brick veneer is installed, with mortar joints between the layers of bricks, puts it at a slight disadvantage.

These joints are prone to breaking down over time, which can allow water to seep inside your home. Fiber cement siding does not have this issue because the rows of siding overlap one another, making it a slightly more durable choice.

Most durable: Fiber Cement Siding

Price​

Brick siding and fiber cement siding are more expensive than some other siding options, including vinyl and wood. But how do their costs compare to each other?

The cost of brick veneer is between $9 and $28 per square foot, with an average of about $15 per square foot installed. The cost of fiber cement siding, meanwhile, is anywhere from $4 to $15 per square foot or about $10 per square foot on average. This makes fiber cement siding the cheaper option.

Most affordable: Fiber Cement Siding

Ease of Installation

Both brick and fiber cement are heavier than traditional vinyl or wood siding. This means installation is more complicated, takes a longer time, and may require additional anchoring for support.

Brick, however, is the heavier of the two, and the mortar joints are a time-consuming process. It is, therefore, more complicated than fiber cement siding to install. Fiber cement siding is installed similarly to wood siding.

Fiber cement siding and brick siding both require some skill to install. To ensure your siding is installed correctly and your home is properly sealed from moisture, hire an experienced local siding contractor for your project.

Easiest installation: Fiber Cement Siding

Maintenance​

The upkeep for brick siding and fiber cement siding requires about the same amount of effort. Both need to be washed annually to clean off dirt and debris. 

For brick siding, the mortar joints will need to be repointed, but not that often—the mortar can last up to 50 years. Inspect the joints regularly to make sure there are no holes or other damage. 

You should repaint fiber cement siding every 10 years or so and repair any cracks or splits with caulking or replacement siding sections.

Easiest maintenance: Tie

Energy Efficiency

Your exterior siding, in addition to your insulation, is part of your building envelope, which keeps your home’s temperature regulated. The better the insulating properties of your siding, the more energy-efficient your home will be. 

How well a material resists heat flow is measured in R-Values. Brick siding has an R-value of 0.44, which is slightly better than fiber cement siding at 0.37.

Best energy efficiency: Brick

Eco-Friendly

Brick and fiber cement siding are more eco-friendly than vinyl siding, but brick takes the cake when it comes to being the best siding for the environment. Fiber cement siding comes from recycled and sustainable materials, but it’s hard to say exactly what each manufacturer puts into the final product beyond sand, cement, and cellulose fibers. Silica sand also contains particles that are harmful to the lungs if inhaled.  

Brick siding, on the other hand, comes from simple and readily available materials like clay and shale. Brick siding’s long life span, energy efficiency properties, and naturally abundant materials make it one of the most eco-friendly materials on the market.

Best for eco-friendliness: Brick

Return On Investment

Certain home upgrades will add value to your home, giving you a return on your initial investment when you go to sell. Exterior siding is one of these upgrades that homebuyers are willing to pay more money for.

Fiber cement siding has an ROI of 76 percent, while brick siding has an ROI of anywhere from 65 to 75 percent. In other words, their ROI values are just about the same.

Best ROI: Tie