Fiber cement siding costs an average of $14,867 for a single home. Most projects total between $6,607 and $23,157, depending on the size of your home and the siding style you choose.
House size and the style of fiber cement siding you choose are the most significant cost factors.
Fiber cement siding costs 1.5 to 2 times as much as vinyl but lasts twice as long.
Board and batten (panel) style costs up to 1.5 times as much to install as lap and shingle styles.
Fiber cement siding provides an average ROI of 80%, making it an excellent investment.
Expect to pay between $7 and $18 per square foot for fiber cement siding installation.
Fiber cement siding costs $14,867 on average, and most projects total between $6,607 and $23,157. Your total could sit as low as $1,500 to install lap-style fiber cement siding on a small, 800-square-foot home or reach as high as $40,000 to install panel-style siding on a larger house. Expect to pay an average of $12.50 per square foot of siding you need installed.
Fiber cement siding is a composite siding material consisting of cement, fly ash, cellulose fiber, wood pulp, silica sand, and water. It typically resembles wood and is known for its durability and resistance to weather and pests.
Fiber cement siding costs vary widely based on the size of your home, with larger houses requiring more materials and labor for the installation. Depending on the style of fiber cement siding you choose, you’ll pay between $7 and $18 per square foot.
Home Size (sq. ft.) | Average Cost |
---|---|
800 | $13,000 |
1,000 | $15,000 |
1,500 | $18,200 |
2,000 | $21,300 |
3,000 | $25,000 |
Materials cost between $2 and $15 per square foot and make up between 30% and 80% of your total cost to install fiber cement siding. Shingle-style fiber cement siding will fall closer to the lower end of that range, panel-style siding for a board and batten design will push toward the higher end, and lap-style siding falls in the middle. Remember that labor plays an important role in your total costs, too.
The type of fiber cement siding you choose will affect the look, the ease of installation, and, of course, the price of the project from start to finish. Shingle-style siding is the most affordable material, but labor is more intensive and brings the total cost up to even with lap siding. Panels for board and batten fiber cement siding are more expensive when it comes to materials, making it the most costly option.
Siding Style | Cost (per Sq. Ft.) |
---|---|
Shingles | $5–$14 |
Panels | $6–$18 |
Planks (lap) | $4–$14 |
The cost of living in your area will drive up both labor and material costs for fiber cement siding. Common home sizes, home shapes, and general trends can also sway the local prices in your area. You’ll pay more than the national average in high-cost states, especially in or around major metropolitan areas.
State | Average Cost |
---|---|
California | $21,700 |
Florida | $15,400 |
Georgia | $13,700 |
Illinois | $14,300 |
Michigan | $13,900 |
New York | $18,500 |
North Carolina | $14,700 |
Ohio | $14,300 |
Pennsylvania | $14,300 |
Texas | $13,900 |
There are a few other factors to consider that have less of an impact on your total than home size, siding style, and location, but can still swing your total up or down.
Labor accounts for between 20% and 70% of your total, depending on the style of siding you choose. On average, labor costs between $2 and $8 per square foot, or between $3,000 and $10,500 for an average-sized home.
Shingles are less expensive for the materials, but contractors charge more for the installation because they’ll be working with small pieces that they need to attach individually. Labor costs for panel-style siding can also sit toward the higher end of that range because maneuvering large panels requires multiple contractors.
The design of your home plays more of a role than simply determining the square-footage cost of fiber cement siding. Multi-storied homes can make installation complex and take more time due to the need for ladders and safety equipment. Dormers, gables, and other angular areas of your home's exterior will require specialized measurements and cuts, so complexity will also increase installation costs.
You’ll pay between $1,000 and $3,000 to remove your old siding before installing fiber cement panels, planks, or shingles. Old asbestos shingles require more care and proper disposal and can easily triple that total. Additionally, if your contractor finds issues below your old siding from water damage, expect to pay an average of $20 to $30 per square foot for mold removal and between $100 and $2,000 total to repair dry rot.
Fiber cement siding gives you some room to customize, with unique color patterns or textures that resemble stone, brick, or other types of high-end siding. These customizations will push your total closer to $23,157 or beyond, but they can provide better curb appeal and a higher return on investment (ROI).
Painting fiber cement siding costs an average of $3,700 when you hire a professional exterior painter. Alternatively, you can choose pre-painted fiber cement siding to save on labor costs, although color options are limited from suppliers.
Fiber cement siding requires minimal maintenance, as it stands up to the elements better than many other types of siding, but it’s a good idea to budget for ongoing care. An annual power washing will cost an average of $310 and will maximize curb appeal. You may also need painting touch-ups every few years, which cost $2 per square foot and come with a minimum cost of $150 for a trip fee. You can do these tasks on your own to save on labor charges.
If your siding gets damaged from impact, expect to pay $10 to $25 per square foot for crack repair and $2 to $50 per square foot for other common siding repairs.
Installing fiber cement siding yourself will save you between $3,000 and $10,500 on labor, so it might be tempting to DIY the project.
However, even small mistakes can allow water behind your siding, leading to mold, rot, and insects problems that can then damage the internal structure of your home, defeating the purpose of installing a famously durable material. Hiring a siding expert also ensures a professional installation that maximizes curb appeal and home value.
For the best results and to avoid costly damage to your home, hire a local fiber cement siding contractor to get the job done.
For homes already fitted with fiber cement siding that’s aging or is damaged, you’ll need to decide between a full replacement and repairs. Installing new fiber cement siding costs between $7 and $18 per square foot, while siding repair costs for fiber cement total between $3 and $11 per square foot.
Replacement will almost always be more expensive, but it’s a better choice if your siding is reaching its useful lifespan or if a large portion of it is heavily damaged. Speak with a siding pro to determine what the total repair cost would be, and opt for a full replacement if repairs will total more than 50% of the cost to install new siding.
Yes, fiber cement siding improves home value and provides an 80% ROI, on average. With a total installation cost of $14,867, you’re looking at a value bump of $11,900. Hiring a siding pro to install any new siding will improve home value because it boosts curb appeal, but the durability and sustainability of fiber cement siding mean a higher ROI than most other siding options.
Fiber cement siding offers excellent value at a reasonable cost, but you can get even more value from your siding project by using the following tips to keep prices down.
Buy in bulk. Buying in bulk is one of the best ways to cut the costs of fiber cement siding. Either when working with your contractor or when shopping on your own, bulk warehouse prices can be as much as 50% less than those from standard retail stores.
Go with stock options. Customizations, like pre-painted siding and high-end textures that mimic stone or brick will drive up your material costs. Save money by choosing factory finishes and standard colors.
Time your siding installation properly. Staying flexible in your installation timeline can reduce the need for rush orders and price spikes. Siding contractors are usually less busy in the fall, so you could save on labor by waiting for the cooler weather.
Choose your siding style carefully. Shingles and lap styles cost less than fiber cement panels, so opt for one of the more affordable options if possible.
Consider other siding options. If fiber cement siding proves to be out of budget, there are other lower-cost siding options. You’ll pay less for vinyl siding than fiber cement siding, but keep in mind that you’ll make some tradeoffs on quality and durability.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
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Expect a full fiber cement siding installation to take between seven days and two weeks, depending on the size of your home and the style of siding you choose. Shingles take longer to install than lap siding and panel siding, and will push closer to two weeks as far as the timeline goes. Removing old siding can add one to two days, too, especially if you’re removing stucco siding.
Fiber cement siding will last an average of 50 years, but you could get up to 70 years of useful life out of yours with proper maintenance. All types of siding, including fiber cement, will have shorter lifespans in extreme climates, as salt, impact from blown debris, heavy rain, and intense sunshine can all limit siding lifespan.
Fiber cement siding is resistant to mold and mildew, so it won’t be as affected by these problems as something like wood siding. However, damage to your siding or improper installation can still lead to water getting behind your siding, in which case, mold can grow behind it and damage other building materials. Contact a siding repair professional if you suspect you have a leak.