Going Green with Siding- Going Green with your home means being energy efficient, , using long lasting durable products and environmentally responsible. When it comes to your siding, you can take a large step in the right direction.  Today, the most popular options for siding are vinyl siding, wood siding or cementitious siding also known as fiber cement siding. Wood siding can be the least desirable for those who want to go green, simply because many harvesters of wood result is deforestation, increased CO2’s contributing to global warming.  Ethically harvested lumber is the choice for those who wish to go natural and stay green, but there is no guarantee the wood you purchase at your local lumber yard has been harvested the proper way.

Green Siding Options

Vinyl siding is a popular option, though, for those who care about the environment, it really is not an option. Need I go on, manufacturing procedures, plastic, carbon emissions, toxic gas etc. If you are reading the post, Vinyl is not your choice so let’s not waste another word on vinyl siding.

The third option is fiber cement siding which is an excellent green building material because of its durability, longevity, and composition. What makes fiber cement green. It is made of all natural products, last a very long time and still allows you to achieve the look of real natural wood without all the maintenance.  But it pays to really know what you are looking for and the proper installation techniques. Many so called local contractors really don’t have a clue when it comes to the proper way to approach fiber cement siding.

First off, there are two major players in the market today, James Hardie, also known as Hardie Plank , and Certainteed Weatherboards. Both are green certified products and both can give you the look of natural wood siding. Both are made of cement and install, relatively, the same way.  Some people say that going green can cost you thousands more than using the real wood product, but the reality is, you can go green and save a ton of green in the meantime.

Installing Fiber Cement Siding may be the Greenest option Available today: Going green can save you money on the energy efficiency if done properly. Not all products will save you money on energy. just replacing your current siding with fiber cement siding may not do the trick and if done improperly could lead to inefficiency. Some  local MA, RI or NH contractors will suggest a foam insulating backer-board, which sounds like it would insulate and save you some money on your heating/cooling bill. But with an R-Value of no more than 2, you will hardly save a dime. And since when is foam environmentally beneficial? We, at United Home Experts, recommend going with a green blown in insulation called Caccoon which is some case can increase your R-value by R-13 or more. A far cry from R-2.

The use of Foam Boards as insulation under Fiebr Cement siding- A Good Idea???- After you insulated the walls appropriately, the decision of which type of fiber cement siding has to made. One could choose Hardieplank or Certainteed weather boards, bit are great products, but for the most environmentally conscious homeowners one has an advantage over the other. For starters Certainteed weatherboards use a post industrial recycled product and James Hardie uses Sand or Silica in their Hardie plank boards. Silica when cut could post a harmful dust which may lead to health problems in the future for the installer.  The other advantage, which is not green related but is a unique differentiator is the amount of different grains used by Certainteed and the randomness of the selection provides for a more attractive more realistic look than the potential repeating patterns offer up by James Hardie Fiber Cement siding. Something that will soon be corrected I assume.

How Green is my Paint applied to the Fiber Cement Siding?  The last step, that people and local siding contractors tend not to think of, is the paint coating in the factory. Both companies use a product that carry VOC’s above the green threshold of 50. So for those looking for the most environmentally sensitive complete fiber cement siding project, the use if a low VOC Exterior paint applied in the field is the best way to go. Not to mention you will be left with brand new green fiber  cement siding total solution that will closely resemble a painted western red cedar without contributing to de-forestation and global warming.

Fiber Cement Siding and the Future of Siding- As you can see, fiber cement siding for all it has to offer in the world of green building, may very well be the best application for those not only concerned about the environment, but for those who want to save money over the cost of high grade cedar, maintain the beauty without the high long term maintenance  costs of wood siding and for those who just can’t rationalize putting a plastic cover on their house in the form of vinyl.

If you think going green with your siding is the right choice for you, you can call Roy Melnick directly at 781.983.1713 or send an email to RAMelnick@UnitedHomeExperts.com to talk more about adopting a green building philosophy, and possibly installing fiber cement siding on your property.