Mike McClintock, a former homebuilder, writes a syndicated newspaper column on home construction and repair.

Solid wood boards, clapboards and shakes have covered houses successfully for centuries. But when lumber supplies started to dwindle in the 1980s and prices started to climb, suppliers scrambled to find alternatives.

They first introduced aluminum siding, then vinyl and most recently, fiber-cement, a masonry-based “board” so durable that some companies back it with a 50-year warranty. Another recent substitute is composite or engineered wood siding. Instead of cutting lumber from a tree and creating a lot of waste, producers of this material try to use the entire tree, which is chopped to pieces and then put back together with binders to make siding with no waste at all.

At first, this approach produced flakeboard products that you could almost break apart in your hands. As the technology progressed, some composites have proven to be straighter, stronger and longer-lasting than their all-natural wood counterparts. But there have been problems with some composite siding leading to several class-action lawsuits from homeowners. The culprit is water, which siding is supposed to shed but some compressed composites soak up like a sponge. That leads to swelling, separation, rot and mold.

It’s not that fiber-cement is always better than composites. But there are several fiber-cement manufacturers with solid track records providing products of unquestioned quality. That makes for a straightforward choice comparing fiber-cement warranties, colors, trim features and the like. With composite wood siding you have to be more careful.

Fiber-cement siding
This alternative to wood is extremely durable due to its Portland cement base, making it ideal for harsh waterfront environments. Specifically, it won’t rot, can’t be eaten away by insects, is more fire-resistant than vinyl or wood and is highly resistant to warping, shrinking and damage from salt spray, ultraviolet light, hail and minor impact. Most manufacturers also include at least some recycled products in the siding and adhere to environmentally friendly green practices.

In terms of style, fiber-cement comes as beveled siding, shakes and panels with an array of complementary trim—all primed or completely pre-finished. The surface can be smooth, lightly embossed with a wood grain or more heavily textured to a grainy, cedar appearance. Some companies offer clapboards in long lengths that minimize joints and speed installation.

The material is almost always installed by professionals, although it can be cut with circular saws (diamond blades are best) and nailed by hand if need be.

To discover the true cost, which varies by project, season and other factors, you need to ask for estimates. Generally, however, fiber-cement costs substantially more than vinyl but less than solid wood. Two well known and widely distributed brands of fiber-cement panels are HardiePlank, made by James Hardie, and WeatherBoards from CertainTeed.

Composite wood siding
Composite assembly is used to make structural beams, sheathing and siding, because companies get more products from more complete use of their trees. Some composites may be stronger, straighter and more uniform in appearance than solid-wood clapboard.

This type of siding is typically made from various combinations of wood veneers, fibers and flakes bound with glues, resins and waxes. And, of course, every company has proprietary twists with special coatings, interlocking joints and other product features. Two well known and widely distributed brand names are Louisiana-Pacific’s SmartSide and Plytanium from Georgia-Pacific.

Due to the amount of moisture-related failures, however, it’s wise to concentrate on the installation. In a nutshell, use a contractor with a long and successful track record of working with the type and brand of composite siding you select.

Amazingly, almost all the trouble stems from water penetration along unsealed and unprotected panel edges—a problem that siding contractors should prevent as a matter of course. But as reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, “All sawn edges of wood composite siding should be sealed with an appropriate primer or paint. However, in practice, this is usually done incorrectly or not at all.”     

Fiber-Cement and Composites at a Glance

Hardie’s HardiePlank
James Hardie offers three main types of fiber-cement panels: HardiePlank Lap Siding (clapboards); HardieShingle, a large panel formed into several textured shingles; and HardiePanel vertical planks. There are 26 baked-on colors from which to choose. The company says its fiber-cement siding is “the most popular brand of siding in America,” and while more expensive than vinyl, it is equal to or less expensive than hardboard siding and less expensive than brick or synthetic stucco. Visit www.jameshardie.com.

CertainTeed’s Weatherboards
CertainTeed fiber-cement siding, called WeatherBoards, comes in many lap and vertical profiles. The products can be shipped pre-sealed and ready for painting or completely pre-finished with matching soffit panels and trim. This year the company announced a new formula using recycled fly ash instead of sand to create a lighter product without sacrificing durability. The Web site (www.certainteed.com) concludes “a fiber-cement installation takes only slightly more time than wood or hardboard sidings.”

Louisiana-Pacific’s SmartSide 
SmartSide composite is made of wood strands that are coated with a resin binder, compressed, embossed with a grain pattern, baked and treated with zinc-borate to protect against termites and rot. Boards can be pre-primed or pre-finished in 16-foot lengths for fewer seams and less waste. They come with a 30-year warranty that includes 100 percent coverage of repair and replacement costs during the first seven years. Visit www.lpcorp.com.

Georgia-Pacific’s Plytanium 
Georgia-Pacific’s Plytanium panels are made in a variety of groove patterns, face textures and thicknesses. They’re also available with a primer/sealer that includes edge coating. With the sealer comes a 25-year limited warranty.  Georgia-Pacific stresses ease of installation and its four-foot-by-eight-foot sheets do go up a lot faster than individual clapboards. Also, depending on local codes, some panels may be applied directly over foam board. Two coats of opaque (solid color) stain or acrylic latex paint are recommended for best weathering performance. Visit www.gp.com/build.