Calculate the Cost to Buy Fiber Cement Siding.

Compare Fiber Cement Prices, Material and Labor Costs, Factors that Affect Price and Saving Money on Fiber Cement Installation

If you’ve delved into the different fiber cement siding options available and got a sense of which manufacturers sell the siding you’re interested in then the next big question is simple…how much does the fiber cement siding cost to buy and how much can you expect to pay for installation?

In this RenoCompare house siding guide we will look at fiber cement prices per square foot from some of the best known manufacturers and then, more importantly, the cost to install fiber cement siding by a professional contractors. We will also look at the factors that can affect the average installation costs of cement fiber siding. You can also compare and contrast these prices with vinyl in our fiber cement siding vs vinyl siding cost comparison.

Cost of Fiber Cement Siding by Manufacturer

Typically you will be employing a builder or specialist siding contractor to install your house siding. They will provide you with a detailed quote for both the price of your fiber cement siding and the cost of installing it. The following fiber cement siding prices are intended to give you an idea of the average cost of siding from the top fiber siding manufacturers so that you can decide on a product before talking to your contractor.

The prices listed below are in:

• Square feet of material for siding
• Linear feet for soffit, fascia and trim

When you shop for fiber cement siding, some retailers sell it by the “square,” which refers to 100 square feet of coverage. To determine the price per square foot, divide by 100. Prices vary among sellers. Bare or primed siding costs less than painted siding.

James Hardie fiber cement siding prices:

• HardiePlank: $1.55-$2.25
• HardieShingle: $1.70-$2.00
• Hardie soffit, fascia and trim: $1.50-$2.25

Allura fiber cement siding prices:

• Allura lap siding: $1.85-$2.55
• Allura shingles and shakes: $2.10-$2.55
• Allura soffit, fascia and trim: $2.00-$2.65

Nichiha fiber cement siding prices:

• NichiBoard: $2.15-$2.70
• NichiShake: $2.30-$5.50
• Nichiha soffit, fascia and trim: $2.25-$4.00

Cerber fiber cement siding prices:

• Plank siding: $2.00-$2.85
• Shake siding: $6.00-$7.60
• Cerber soffit, fascia and trim: $2.25-$4.00

Complete Fiber Cement Siding Cost for Top Brands

Let’s look at estimates for the material required to a side 1,000 square foot home, a size we chose as an easy example.

• Cerber: Low cost – $5,185 / High cost—$15,300
• Nichiha: Low cost – $5,424 / High cost – $11,940
• Allura: Low cost – $4,808 / High cost – $6,309
• Hardie: Low cost – $4,054 / High cost – $5,605

Here’s how we determined how much material you’ll need:

1. Multiply the height of the exterior wall by the total length of all walls
2. For gables, either measure the base times the height and count the excess as extra you’ll need for repairs or, to get the exact square feet, use the formula for the area (A) of a triangle which is A=1/2BH
3. Add all the sums of the walls and gables
4. Add 5 percent for waste to get the total square feet of material you’ll need
5. Measure all soffit lengths, fascia lengths, heights of inside and outside corners and the perimeters of doors and windows that will be trimmed to get the linear feet of accessories

An easy example would be a 1,000 square foot home that is 20’x50’ with 10’ walls and a roof with a 6/12 pitch (meaning it rises 6 inches for every 12 inches it runs). Here is a summary of the material required:

• 1,680 square feet of siding for the walls and gables (1,600 + 5%)
• 500 linear feet of accessories (155’ of soffit, 155’ of fascia, 40’ of corner trim and estimated 150’ of trim for windows and doors
• Estimated $700 worth of fasteners, caulk and other installation materials

Fiber Cement Siding Installation Costs

The home’s size, shape and complexity of design make every fiber cement siding installation job unique. To simplify, we’ve broken down installation costs into three levels with explanation. The costs are in square feet of wall that is sided, a topic we covered above.

 Note: GC refers to a general contractor or builder

Factors that Affect Installation Costs

Let’s unpack some of the information above to give you an idea of what you can expect when you get fiber cement siding estimates. Many homes don’t fit neatly into any one category, and that’s why we included price ranges for installation.

The shape of your home: Simple rectangles are easiest to work on, so costs are lower. The types of things that make a home complex include additional corners due to more than four walls, higher gables, bay or bow window systems, dormers, decks that must be worked around, walk-out basements and other enhanced design features.

The number of levels: Single-story homes can be sided from the ground or short ladders, for the most part. Two-story, bi-level or tri-level construction requires more use of tall ladders or scaffolding, and that increases the cost of installation.

Who installs the siding: When the cost of installation is part of a package deal with a builder, retailer or home designer, the labor cost will likely be higher. You’ll receive lower siding estimates when you work directly with local, experienced installers.

How to Find the Lowest Installation Estimate

It is very possible to get competitive fiber cement siding estimates without sacrificing the quality of the installation. In fact, what we’re going to suggest might not only save you money but help ensure that the installation is done by an experienced crew with a track record of excellence.

Our suggestion is what we’ve already mentioned – select the installer yourself. You have no input when the siding contractor is chosen by a general contractor, store or designer.

The best method of doing this is to get written estimates from at least three siding installers who understand that they are competing for the work. Ask each representative about the experience of the crew that will be installing your siding and the foreperson overseeing the work.