There are so many products in the market that it can be daunting to select one. Other than Fiber Cement Board, many different boards are available for cladding purposes. Here are a few comparisons to make your selection process easier depending on your purpose and preference.
Fiber Cement Board vs. Vinyl Board
Composition
Fiber cement siding is thicker and more solid than vinyl siding in terms of composition. Vinyl sidings are often hollow or may have insulation beneath them. Whereas fiber cement siding is a non-uniform, monolithic material made of Portland Cement, Fillers, Cellulose fibers, Mica and other additives.
Durability
Vinyl boards can become more brittle with age and exposure to weather elements. It can be damaged by wind debris, hail, or any number of other external forces and may crack, buckle and warp with changing temperatures. By contrast, fiber cement siding is more durable and up to 5x thicker than vinyl siding. It easily stands up to the elements, resisting damage from wind, rain, freezing temperatures, and hail, and gives homes years of protection with low maintenance. However, both the products are prone to cracking if impacted by sharp, heavy objects.
Insulation
Fiber cement siding is energy efficient, and vinyl siding has the potential for this, too. When vinyl siding is optionally insulated, it can achieve R-2 values and even greater. Because vinyl siding is thinner than fiber cement siding, it can better accommodate insulation beneath its surface.
Installation
Both fiber cement siding and vinyl siding require skilled technicians for installation. Vinyl siding is less difficult to handle and repair because it is lightweight, easy to cut, and snaps into place onto pre-installed channels.
Environmental Effect
Manufacturing of Fiber Cement Board can produce greenhouse gas carbon dioxide as a byproduct of cement production. However, Fiber Cement Board is an inert product.
On the other hand, manufacturing vinyl siding, which contains polyvinyl chloride (PVC), produces twice as much carbon dioxide. In addition, vinyl siding emits gasses throughout its lifetime and continues to do so even after it occupies space in a landfill. So if also fiber cement siding is not the most eco-friendly building material on the market, it is definitely a greener alternative to vinyl siding.
Prices
Vinyl boards are much cheaper than fiber cement boards. However, Fiber cement siding returns a better resale value than vinyl siding. The higher cost of labor and materials for the fiber cement siding is often proportionally returned at the time of property sale.
Fiber Cement Board vs. Cement Particle Board
Composition
Cement acts as a binder in both cases. Cement particle boards are manufactured in 6 to 40 mm thickness making them suitable for high load-bearing applications. These boards are made of a homogeneous mixture and hence are formed as a single layer for any thickness. Whereas Cement fiberboards are in most cases used for decorative applications and are manufactured in 3 to 20 mm thickness.
Cement bonded particle boards have treated wood flakes as reinforcement, whereas cement fiber boards have cellulose fiber, which is a plant extract as reinforcement. Many manufacturers use cement fiberboard additives like mica, aluminum stearate, and cenospheres to achieve certain board qualities.
Properties
The fire resistance properties of a cement-bonded particle and cement fiberboards are the same. In terms of load-bearing capacity, cement-bonded particle boards have a higher capacity than cement fiberboards.
So as both Cement Fiber Board and Cement Particle Board fall under the same category of the same board, they have many similarities; however, they slightly differ in composition and strength.
Fiber Cement Board vs. Wood Panels
Properties
Fiber Cement Board is an excellent alternative to other wood panels (MDF, HDF, Particle Board, WPC, PVC Foam Boards) as it can mimic the appearance of wood panels without having the disadvantage of it. Fiber Cement boards have a very aesthetic appeal and provide a high-end finish. Unlike wood panels with Fiber cement board, one does not have to worry about the effect of weathering or water contact or fire and termites. Fiber Cement boards are waterproof and will not warp or rot in contact with water. Compared to wood, Fibre cement board is cost-effective and reduces the construction time.
Fiber Cement Board vs. Gypsum Board
Fiber cement board is a composite material made of cement reinforced with cellulose fibers used for commercial and domestic applications such as ceiling, partition, flooring, cladding, etc.
A gypsum board is a panel made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper. It is used to make interior walls and ceilings because it is produced from compact gypsum mineral powder which is very fragile.
A few similarities between Gypsum board and Fiber Cement Board are that they are good insulators, fire-resistant, and nontoxic. However, there are a few other things in which they differ.
Durability
Fiber cement boards are far more durable and impact-resistant than gypsum boards.
Installation
Gypsum boards are easier to handle than Fiber Cement boards. Fiber Cement boards are heavier and need a circular saw fitted with a heavy-duty blade to cut and shape. In comparison, gypsum boards can easily be cut with a utility knife.
Strength
Fiber cement board with a thickness of more than 16 mm can also be used for flooring, while gypsum board, no matter what thickness, cannot stand enough weight to be used as flooring.
Surface Finish
The surface of the fiber cement board has two sides, the smooth side and the rough side, which have different functions. Generally, the smooth side is used for display surface, while the rough side is recommended for overlaying textiles to help tiling adhere better. It also can bear another layer of plastering cement on it.
But, gypsum board should not be used for wet applications and as tile backing boards, as it may collapse when it gets too old. However, it has a smoother surface, and it gives a nice and smooth touch on the edge joints between the boards.
Price
Gypsum boards have a lower price than Fiber cement boards.
Both Gypsum Board and Fiber Cement Board are very different in their composition and uses, so there is no accurate way to compare them. It is best to choose a board based on your requirements and location.
So these were a few comparisons of Cement fiberboard with other boards, which may help you get the right one as per your project need.
