Fiber Cement Siding Cost Per Square Foot

Fiber cement siding costs $10 per square foot on average, including both labor and materials. However, you might pay $5 to $14 per square foot, depending on a few cost factors.

• Brand Quality: You’ll pay more for well-known and designer brands like Hardie and Equitone, but they often outperform economy options in looks and durability.
• Home height: Second story installations require more equipment and time, usually increasing your overall price.
• Accessibility: Easily accessed homes and walls cost less than remote or hard-to-reach areas or houses.

While this sounds expensive, this durable siding can last for 50 years or more with proper care and upkeep.

Fiber Cement Siding Prices

You can buy fiber cement siding planks from your local home improvement store or a building discount warehouse for $0.70 to $20 per square foot.

They carry brands such as James Hardie and GAF WeatherSide. Other fiber cement siding brands to look for are MaxiTile, Nichiha USA, and Allura Plycem (formerly known as CertainTeed). The actual cost depends on color and style.

Fiber Cement Panels Cost

Fiber cement panels cost $60 to $240 each, not including labor. Generally, you’ll save up to 50% buying in bulk. They come in sizes including:

Fiber Cement Board & Plank Price

Fiber cement planks cost $7 to $50 each or $0.70 to $8 per square foot. You’ll find planks, along with shingles, at almost any home improvement store. They mimic the look of wood siding. Although cheaper than panels, they take far longer to install correctly, increasing labor prices.

Fiber Cement Shingle Price

Shingles cost $2 to $10 each or $2 to $6 per square foot. They come in 1 by 1-foot or 1 by 2-foot shingles to mimic wood shake designs. They cost far less per square foot than any other type but take far longer to install.

Labor Cost to Install Fiber Cement Siding

Labor to install fiber cement costs $2 to $10 per square foot. The price you pay for labor depends on the style of siding you purchase. Expect panels to take the least amount of time, with shingles taking longer than any other type. A crew of two can install about 100 square feet every 6 hours.

Hardie Board Siding Costs

Hardie Board costs $9 to $140 per piece, depending on what you get and from where you get it. It’ll cost $3 to $25 per square foot to install it, including both labor and materials. James Hardie sells it in various sizes and styles, including HardiePlank lap siding, HardieBackerboard, HardiePanel, HardieTrim, HardieShingle, Hardieboard precut panels, trim and fascia. Artisan by James Hardie offers an upgraded version with more detail and thicker boards but at an increased cost.

HardiePlank Lap Siding Cost

HardiePlank lap siding costs $0.70 to $6 per square foot for materials. With labor, equipment and trim, you’ll pay $5 to $14 per square foot for installation.

HardieShingle Siding Cost

HardieShingles cost $7 to $16 per square foot to install. It mimics cedar style shake and shingle siding with all the same installation factors. It’s also roughly the same price. Cedar shake siding costs $6.50 to $13.75 per square foot.

HardiePanel Vertical Siding

HardiePanel Board and Batten style vertical siding costs $60 to $150 per panel installed. James Hardie Dream Collection cost slightly more and look like vertical siding and stucco. For other materials, board and batten siding costs $2.25 to $12.50 to install.

Aspyre Artisan Lap Siding Cost

James Hardie’s Artisan lap siding from the Aspyre collection costs $7 to $10 per square foot or $15 to $25 installed. It’s a luxury product made thicker and with more detail than other fiber cement siding.

HardieTrim and Soffit Prices

HardieTrim materials cost $2 to $4 per square foot. You can expect to pay $3 to $8 per square foot installed.

James Hardie Siding Cost Per Square Foot

The cost of HardieBoard averages $3 to $5 per square foot for materials alone. Professionally installed, the price increases to $5 to $15a square foot. The artisan collection can hit $25 per square foot with installation. Labor costs vary by area.

James Hardie Siding Labor Cost

It’ll cost anywhere from $3 to $10 per square foot to install James Hardie siding. On average, you’ll pay $4 per square foot. Hard to access areas or time-intensive installs can double the cost.

Installation – What to Consider

Installing fiber cement siding isn’t like doing wood, vinyl or aluminum siding. While it may look similar, it has its own set of installation considerations.

• It’s heavy, about two and a half pounds per square foot.
• You can crack it if you mishandle it.
• You’ll need special tools to cut and nail it to avoid breaking.
• Cutting causes dust to spread, making eye and nose/mouth protection a must.
• You’re best off using a contractor experienced with fiber cement board.
• When installing on new construction, it may crack as the building settles.
• James Hardie has two types of boards for different climate zones HZ5 and HZ10.
• With proper installation, the planks can withstand 130 mph winds.

Any house can benefit from fiber cement siding, but it is most frequently used on homes where fire risk and temperature swings are more significant.

DIY vs. Hire a Fiber Cement Siding Pro

James Hardie recommends not treating this as a DIY project. It’s a specialized project that requires experience and the tools to do the job correctly. Improper installation can lead to cracks and gaps. Gaps can lead to mold in your home, which is expensive to treat and dangerous if left untreated.

Aside from the materials and time investment, the tools needed to cut fiber cement cost almost as much as hiring a professional.

• A pneumatic production shear costs $1,000-$1,500.
• Most cutting tools cost $65-$260.
• Blades to cut fiber cement cost $50-$100.
• A nail gun strong enough for this job cost $100-$200.

Find a fiber cement siding installer near you for quotes to determine how much your project will cost.

FAQs

How do you maintain fiber cement siding?

Fiber cement is resistant to wind, fire, insects, UV rays, and other elements that pummel other materials into submission. Although challenging, it still needs maintenance. Every year, inspect your siding and do the following:

• Any place two pieces come together, inspect the caulking. Redo the caulking in any splits, cracks or holes.
• Wash the siding, starting at the roofline and working your way down.
• You can do it yourself, or you can have a local handyman do it.
• Crack repair kits cost about $15.

How long does fiber cement siding last?

Fiber cement siding costs 50 years or more.

Is fiber cement siding more expensive than vinyl?

Fiber cement siding costs about the same as most vinyl siding but lasts longer. Explore the differences between fiber cement and vinyl siding.