When you are updating your home’s existing exterior or building a new home, you may be searching for a type of siding that is fireproof. While you may be drawn to materials based on their aesthetic appeal, there are reasons why you want to choose a fireproof siding material, according to This Old House. These are materials that will resist fire and can even suppress fire to minimize the chance of it spreading throughout the home. When the time comes to select a new material to use for your home’s exterior, you can consider some of these options.
Fiber Cement Siding
One stylish and affordable option to consider is fiber cement siding. This is a type of home siding that is comprised of cement, sand and wood particles. Most of these options come with a Class A fire rating. A Class A rating means that the material can withstand as much as four hours of intense heat, before significant damage occurs. There are numerous stylish color and design options available in this material that you can consider using for your home exterior construction or renovation project.
Insulated Siding
Some types of siding have an insulation barrier underneath the primary exterior surface. The insulation is typically made out of a foam material that is fire resistant. There are different types of insulated siding, so when you pick out this type of siding, look for a foam barrier with a Class A rating. Keep in mind that this type of siding may cost more than most other options, but it also has energy efficiency benefits that can result in lower utility bills. This is because the fire-resistant foam core also keeps the climate-controlled air generated by your HVAC system trapped inside your home.
Treated Wood Siding
When you think about wood siding or slats used for a home exterior project, the last thing you may think about is the wood being fire-resistant. However, when wood siding or slats are properly treated with chemicals that are fire retardant, the material is able to resist fire. If you choose to use this type of siding, you should bear in mind that the chemicals used to treat the siding or slats can lose their potency over time. Therefore, you should plan to re-treat the wood periodically if you choose to install this type of siding on your home’s exterior.
Making Your Decision
There are several factors to consider when you are selecting your home’s exterior material. The cost is inevitably a top concern, but the impact of your choice on curb appeal, energy efficiency and even how fire resistant the material is should all be taken into consideration. In addition to fire retardant or resistant siding materials, you can also choose other materials for your home’s exterior. Natural stone, for example, is another option. Some homeowners will combine natural stone or other materials with fireproof siding to create the perfect look.
Updating your existing home’s exterior or choosing materials to use for a new construction project is rarely easy to do. Everything from the color of the materials to how different materials will look with the overall design of the home make this a challenging task to complete. While these are several different factors that each must be independently considered before you make a final decision about your home exterior material, you also can benefit from paying attention to the type of siding that is fireproof.
Related Resource: Difference Between Tempered and Untempered Glass
