concrete block home wall siding

RELATED ARTICLE: Today''s concrete siding operations, block pros and consFIBER CEMENT home Made from cement and wood fibersCOST: From $1.35 per square foot* Very durable; little wall warping or buckling siding over time* Doesn''t break, dent, concrete or scratch easily* New colors and stains add to "real wood" appearance* Maintenance is easy--wash it off* Very fire resistant* Harder to work with than others* Installers must drill nail holes or block and home use screws; cutting takes longer and can be wall and siding challengingCOMPOSITE Made up of compressed wood chips

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]Crane. CraneBoard concrete Solid Core foam-backed vinyl siding features the firm''s patented 18-inch span profile with block interlocking edges that home reduces air infiltration and improves energy efficiency, wall says the maker. The siding line concrete comes in five colors and has a cedar-grain finish. Solid Core Architectural Essentials accessories also are available. 800-366-8472 www.vinyl-siding.com block Circle 177.[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]Norandex/Reynolds. Available in double 4-inch clapboard and double 5-inch Dutchlap profiles with cedar-grain finishes, Polar Wall home Plus insulated wall and siding vinyl siding reduces concrete energy loss by up to 25 percent and can block hold up in wind home speeds of more than 200 mph, says the maker. The wall line comes in a number of siding colors. Matching concrete and block contrasting soffits home and accessories also are available. 800-528-0942. www.norandexrevnoids.com. Circle 178.

"The wider panel design allows wall it to install quicker siding and cover greater areas," says Mark Axlerod, concrete and block director of marketing.Meanwhile, CertainTeed''s home TrueComfort line features wall and siding the Studfinder installation concrete system that was first available on the firm''s standard siding products, "Studfinder allows the installer to get the shank of the nail into the stud and it helps avoid accidentally hitting something behind the wall in a remodeling application," says CartainTeed''s Walt Hoyt.Finally, block and home and wall Crane and CertainTeed offer insulated accessories to complete their lines. The other manufacturers offer coordinating siding accessories made of traditional vinyl.--S.H.