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Glossary

Concrete Siding

Concrete Siding

This is a tough exterior wall covering made from a mix of cement, sand, and water. You will often see it molded to look like real wood boards or shingles. It protects your home from fire, bugs, and harsh weather much better than traditional wood.

Reviewed by John HomesUpdated July 3, 20263 min read

Origin

The word concrete comes from the Latin word concretus, meaning grown together or compounded. Builders started using molded concrete for home exteriors in the early 1900s to create fireproof houses.

How you'll see it used

  • The home inspector noted that the concrete siding on the south wall has cracked caulking that needs to be replaced to prevent water damage.
  • Your exterior renovation quote includes removing the old vinyl and installing new concrete siding for 14,500 dollars.
  • The painter told us our concrete siding is in great shape and just needs a quick wash before they apply the new color.

What Concrete Siding Is

Concrete siding is a very tough exterior wall covering. Manufacturers make it from a simple mix of cement, sand, and water. They pour this wet mix into molds that look exactly like real wood boards or natural shingles. The word concrete comes from the Latin word concretus. This old word means grown together or compounded. Builders actually started using molded concrete for home exteriors back in the early 1900s. They wanted an easy way to build fireproof houses. Today, you will often hear professionals call it fiber cement siding. Modern factories add tiny cellulose fibers to the mix. These wood fibers make the heavy boards much stronger and a bit lighter to lift.

Why It Matters To You

This material protects your home much better than traditional wood siding. Bugs like termites and carpenter ants cannot eat concrete. Woodpeckers cannot peck holes into it to build their nests. It will not rot or warp when it gets wet. It is also completely fireproof. If you live in a dry area that gets wildfires, this siding is a massive benefit. The fire resistance is so good that it might even lower your monthly premiums. You can read more about protecting your property in our guide to Home Insurance.

Concrete siding also holds paint incredibly well. Regular wood expands and shrinks with the weather. This movement makes paint peel and crack. Concrete stays exactly the same size in hot and cold weather. You will usually only need to repaint it every 10 to 15 years. This saves you a lot of weekend work and money over the life of your home.

Costs And Upkeep

Upgrading the outside of your house is a big project. Concrete siding costs more than cheap vinyl siding, but it costs much less than real brick or stone. For a standard house, you can expect to pay between 8,000 and 20,000 dollars for the materials and the labor. Keep in mind that local prices vary depending on where you live and the exact shape of your house. Because it is so heavy and hard to cut, you usually need to hire a professional crew. You can learn more about finding good help in our guide on Hiring Contractors & What Things Cost.

You only need to wash your siding once a year with a regular garden hose and a soft brush to keep it looking brand new. Do not use a high-pressure power washer because it can blast the paint right off.

The regular upkeep is very simple. You just need to walk around your house once a year to look at the joints. Check the rubbery caulking where the siding meets your windows and doors. If the caulk looks cracked, you just scrape it out and put in a fresh line. This stops rain from sneaking behind the walls.

What To Watch For

The biggest problem with concrete siding is bad installation. The boards are heavy and can snap if someone carries them the wrong way. When hiring a crew, make sure they follow a few basic rules:

  • They must use special diamond blades to cut the thick boards.
  • They should wear masks and clean up the fine dust so it stays out of your lungs.
  • They must leave a gap of at least two inches between the bottom board and the dirt.

You need to watch out for moisture problems near the ground. If the siding touches the dirt or the roof shingles, it can soak up water like a sponge. This trapped water will eventually ruin the paint and damage the wood frame underneath. If you want to learn more about keeping your outside walls safe, check out our section on Exterior: Siding, Garage & Decks.

Frequently asked

Can I install concrete siding myself?

It is not a good idea for most homeowners to install this material themselves. The boards are very heavy, break easily if bent, and require special tools to cut safely. Hiring a professional crew ensures the siding goes up straight and keeps water out.

Does concrete siding ever need to be painted?

Yes, you will eventually need to paint it. However, it holds paint much longer than traditional wood because the boards do not expand and shrink with the weather. You can usually wait 10 to 15 years between paint jobs.

Is concrete siding completely waterproof?

The boards themselves resist water very well, but they are not entirely waterproof. If the bottom edge sits in dirt or standing water, it can soak up moisture and ruin the paint. You must make sure contractors leave a gap between the siding and the ground.

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