Fire-resistant replacement siding will boost your home’s beauty while increasing the safety of you, your loved ones, and your property. Fires cause billions of dollars of damage each year, as well as injuries and deaths. Accidents make up a large amount of fire damage. From cooking mishaps to smoking and flawed electrical wiring, fires spark unexpectedly and can lead to overwhelming damage.
The good news? You can safeguard your home with fire-resistant replacement siding. Read on to discover a variety of siding material options that will boost both your property’s fire safety and your peace of mind.
Improve the Fire Safety of Your Home with Fire-Resistant Replacement Siding
Fire resistance means different things when it is attached to different materials. If a wood panel is treated with a fire-resistant coating, it will become less flammable. In contrast, metal or fiber cement siding offer fire resistance so reliable that they give you more time to get to safety should a fire break out.
Fiber Cement Siding
Made of cement, sand, and cellulose, durable fiber cement delivers exceptional fire resistance you can rely on. With non-combustible fiber cement as a top choice for safety conscious homeowners, a good look at James Hardie siding and trim is smart to consider. Hardie siding won’t ignite when exposed to a flame and won’t contribute to fueling a fire. James Hardie offers fire-resistant trim and soffits as well as siding, ensuring your home exterior is fortified against a fire. Hardie’s Class A fire rating makes it a popular choice. Long-lasting Hardie siding is the most affordable fire-resistant siding, comes in a broader range of styles and designs, and can be combined with other fire-resistant materials like brick or stone for an even more unique exterior design. While no home is completely fireproof, noncombustible Hardie siding delivers exceptional protection superior compared to other popular siding options like wood or vinyl.
Aluminum Siding
This reasonably fire-resistant siding delivers ample protection on a surface level. It does not ignite easily and is a non-combustible material. Unlike wood siding, it won’t contribute to the spread of flames. Aluminum has a high melting point, so it takes a significant amount of heat to melt it. And when exposed to heat, it doesn’t release toxic fumes like other materials. The problem with aluminum siding is that it can buckle in high heat, exposing more flammable materials to possible damage—like a home’s wood frame and insulation. Aluminum’s resistance to rust and pests also contributes to its popularity.
Wood Siding
Wood siding’s timeless beauty that complements most architectural styles make it a common choice. The problem is that wood fuels a fire, making it less safe than other siding options. This naturally flammable material can be treated to increase its fire resistance. If you choose wood siding, make sure you have your exterior trim and soffits treated as well—to improve fire resistance and prevent embers from getting into your attic. This will slow the spread of fire. But even with fire-retardant coating, wood is not recommended for properties in fire-prone regions.
Brick
This fire-resistant siding delivers a classic look and excellent fire resistance. It doesn’t have caulked joints and may keep flames away from your home’s interior walls. That’s a good thing because many fires happen when flames get behind siding to reach your home’s more combustible materials inside your walls. Brick siding comes with a higher installation cost than other options due to the labor required to install it, but its extremely low-maintenance and classic beauty make it a popular choice among homeowners.
Stone
Stone siding is non-combustible and can help prevent the spread of fire. It doesn’t have caulked joints, which helps keep a fire from reaching the stud cavity of your home and harming interior walls. While stone is fire resistant, it transfers heat quickly because of its thermal conductivity. Stone’s durability, insulation properties, and low maintenance increase property value. Unlike wood, it never needs to be painted or stained, making its upkeep simple.
Manufactured Stone Veneer Siding
This manmade material can be installed as siding or on interior walls. The veneer acts as a protective layer, lowering the direct exposure of a home’s structural elements to flames and heat. Manufactured stone veneer withstands extreme temperatures, high winds, and heavy rain with ease, while adding beauty to home exteriors.
Stucco
Made of non-combustible cement, sand, lime, and water, stucco is installed in multiple layers, creating a strong barrier against fires. When stucco siding is installed properly, and it is placed against fire-resistant materials, it often gets a one-hour fire rating, giving it up to an hour before a fire will spread to a home’s interior walls. Its durability, weather resistance, and visual appeal also make it an attractive siding replacement option.
Increase Your Home’s Safety with Fire-Resistant Hardie Siding and Trim
Don’t risk the possibility of fire spreading. Fortify your exterior with a gorgeous, reliable protective layer—James Hardie fiber cement. Its beauty will captivate you while its fire resistance sets you at ease.
At Bluff City Exteriors, we are an Elite Tier Contractor within the James Hardie ALLIANCE, so you can be at peace that your siding will be installed with precision, so you get the fire resistance, moisture resistance, durability, and low maintenance it was engineered to deliver. Learn more about how our siding services can fortify your home with fire protection while boosting its curb appeal and value.
