Steady in the heat
Noncombustible and durable, with a familiar painted look.
Siding materials · fiber cement
Fiber cement siding: the steady choice for Texas heat.
Made from cement, sand and cellulose fibers, fiber cement does not melt, rot or feed a fire, and it stays dimensionally stable through North Texas summers. It is the most common siding on newer homes across Collin County.
Why it suits North Texas
- Heat: it barely expands or contracts, so long sunny walls stay flat.
- Hail: good impact resistance; damage usually shows as chipped edges or broken paint rather than holes.
- Fire: noncombustible, unlike vinyl and wood-based products.
- Pests and rot: the cement base does not rot and is not food for termites.
Styles
Lap siding (smooth or woodgrain), vertical panels, board-and-batten, shingle-style and trim boards. The best-known brand is James Hardie, and other manufacturers make comparable products. It can be painted on site or ordered with a factory finish.
What a correct installation looks like
- Specified clearances from the ground, roof lines, decks and hardscape — bottom edges must not sit in soil or mulch
- Kick-out flashing where roof lines meet walls, and flashing above windows and doors
- Cut edges primed or sealed, and joints treated as the manufacturer requires
- Correct fasteners and nailing pattern for the product
- Cutting done with dust control — fiber cement dust contains silica
Comparing bids? Ask each contractor how they handle clearances, kick-out flashing and cut edges. Vague answers here are the most common reason fiber cement fails early.
Trade-offs
Fiber cement costs more than vinyl and is heavy, so installation takes more labor. Painted boards need a repaint cycle; factory finishes last longer between repaints. Caulk joints need periodic checks, especially on south and west walls.
Upkeep
Wash it gently once a year, keep sprinklers off the walls, check caulk around windows and trim each fall, and repaint when the finish starts to chalk or fade.
Common problems
Common fiber cement siding problems.
What you see, what usually causes it and how urgent it is — sorted from “act this week” to “keep an eye on it”.
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Urgent
Rot around windows or where a roof meets a wall
- What you see
- Soft or stained siding and trim below window corners, or a dark streak running down the wall below a roof line.
- Likely cause
- Missing or failed flashing — often no kick-out flashing where a roof edge dies into a sided wall — sending water behind the siding.
- What to do
- Have it opened up and inspected soon. Replacing the boards without fixing the flashing only hides the leak.
-
Fix soon
Cracks, holes or chips after hail
- What you see
- Cracked or punctured vinyl, chipped fiber cement edges, dented wood, plus dents in gutters, vents and window wraps.
- Likely cause
- Hail impact. Vinyl is most likely to crack, especially older panels and in cold weather.
- What to do
- Photograph every wall before anything is cleaned, check your policy and file promptly, then get a line-item scope for your adjuster.
-
Fix soon
Paint peeling or blistering in the same spots
- What you see
- Bubbles or peeling paint that returns in the same places after a repaint — often under windows or at the bottom of walls.
- Likely cause
- Moisture getting behind the paint from a leak, missing flashing or wet sheathing, not just old paint.
- What to do
- Find and fix the moisture source before repainting, or the new paint will fail the same way.
-
Fix soon
Gaps and cracked caulk at trim and windows
- What you see
- Open joints, cracked or shrunken sealant around windows, doors, corner boards and butt joints.
- Likely cause
- Sealant ageing in Texas sun and heat, and normal movement of the house.
- What to do
- Cheap to fix and expensive to ignore: remove failed caulk and reseal with a quality exterior sealant, especially on south and west walls.
Materials & colors
Try colors on a North Texas house.
Brick below, siding above — the way most homes around Plano are built. Pick siding, trim and brick to see the combination.
Get free samples of this combination
Screen colors are approximate and these are generic inspiration shades, not manufacturer colors. We bring physical samples to your free estimate.
Color and material, in North Texas
- Fiber cement Can be painted any color. Factory finishes go longer between repaints; site painting lets you pick any shade.
- Vinyl The color runs through the material and fades slowly. Dark colors need a product rated for them, or panels can warp in Texas sun.
- Engineered wood Comes primed or prefinished. Primed boards must be painted soon after installation — in any color you like.
- Heat Lighter colors absorb less heat — worth considering on long south- and west-facing walls.
- Brick Most DFW homes pair siding with brick or stone. Choose siding and trim with the brick’s undertone in mind: warm reds and tans, or cool grays.
- HOA Many Plano-area neighborhoods have an HOA with approved color palettes — check before you order.
Compare the four materials.
There is no universal winner. The right siding depends on your walls, your budget and how much upkeep you want.
Low routine upkeep
Budget-friendly and easy to wash — if it is hung with room to move.
Vinyl siding →Warm, tailored character
A wood look with factory protection — every cut edge must be sealed.
Engineered wood siding →Material with a patina
Beautiful and repairable, with a disciplined paint cycle.
Wood siding repair →FAQ
Fiber cement siding questions.
Is fiber cement worth the extra cost over vinyl?
For many North Texas homes, yes: it stays flat in heat, holds up better to hail and does not burn. Vinyl costs less upfront. The right choice depends on budget, how long you plan to stay and how much painting you want to do.
Does fiber cement need to be painted?
Yes, either on site or at the factory. Factory-finished boards usually go longer between repaints; site-painted boards let you choose any color and are easier to touch up.
Can hail damage fiber cement?
Large hail can chip edges, crack corners or break the paint film. It rarely punches through like it can with vinyl, but damaged boards and paint should be repaired so water does not get in.
Can you match my existing fiber cement for a repair?
Usually. We identify the profile, exposure and texture and match the paint color. If the exact product is discontinued, we show you the closest options first.
Plano, TX
Thinking about fiber cement for your house?
We will check the walls, the flashing and the clearances, and give you a written, itemized estimate.