We understand it’s scary to think about your family, pets, and precious mementos at risk during a fire. However, no matter how cautious you are—accidents can happen to anyone. It’s essential to think about how you can protect what matters most if this unlikely event occurs.
Choosing a fire-resistant siding material is the perfect proactive step you can take to protect your home during a fire. Compare the popular siding materials listed below to discover which ones will protect your home during a fire—and which will add fuel to the flames.
Vinyl Siding
Homeowners love vinyl siding because it is cost-effective, low-maintenance, and versatile, making it an excellent match for nearly every home style. However, despite its many attractive qualities, vinyl is not the material you want covering your home during a fire—and here’s why.
Vinyl siding is made primarily of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin—a type of plastic. When plastic encounters flames, it melts—and vinyl siding is no different. Vinyl has even been reported to become warped or blistered from the sun’s heat. Imagine how quickly a fire could melt your home’s exterior—leaving your interior exposed to the flames.
Additionally, when vinyl siding is burned in a high-temperature fire, some of its toxic chemicals, including chlorine gas and carcinogen dioxide, are released. These chemicals can threaten your family’s health and have a damaging effect on the environment.
Wood Siding
Wood is a beautiful, timeless siding material that looks great on traditional homes. However, despite its authentic appearance, it’s no secret that natural wood is combustible, making wood siding less than ideal for a fire-resistant exterior.
Wood can be sprayed with a chemical fire retardant to severely limit the risk of a fire spreading, but these treatments aren’t 100% effective. Your wood siding can still burn during a fire, and if you don’t treat other wooden elements of your home, like your trim, soffit, or fascia, the fire can still spread just as quickly.
It’s also essential to note wood siding includes gaps between the panels and your interior walls. Fire may spread quickly into your home if the flames maneuver behind your exterior and burn your interior walls.
Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement siding is a durable material engineered from cement, sand, water, and cellulose fibers. It’s pest-resistant, water-resistant, and—you guessed it—fire-resistant. Fiber cement is an excellent option for homeowners who want to choose a fire-resistant siding material to protect their home without sacrificing other important features, like style or sustainability.
Fiber cement siding has a naturally fireproof makeup, so it doesn’t require spray-on products to deter flames like wood siding. It can mimic the look of natural wood to match the authentic appearance of traditional homes. It also won’t melt when exposed to heat, like vinyl siding, and even if it is exposed to flames, it won’t release harmful chemicals, making it a much better option for your family’s health and the environment.
Unique Fire-Resistant Qualities of James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding
James Hardie is North America’s #1 siding brand, and it’s an excellent match for homes in all climates, including the continental climate found in Indianapolis. In the event of a fire, here are some benefits of having this popular siding protecting your home:
- Noncombustible Material—Fiber cement doesn’t easily catch fire, so your home won’t melt or ignite when exposed to a direct flame. Hardie siding has a Class A fire rating, meaning when exposed to high heat, it will remain intact for several hours before it breaks down. This gives the fire department plenty of time to arrive and extinguish the flames before they spread inside.
- Escape Time—Fiber cement siding doesn’t burn quickly, so if your home catches fire, you’ll have more time to safely escape with your family.
- Insurance Discounts—Hardie siding can reduce your insurance bills since you’re much less likely to file a claim when your home is covered with this durable material.
Give Your Home a Safe, Fireproof Exterior with Craftsman Exterior Remodeling
It’s easy to see why fiber cement siding is an excellent investment to protect your home from a fire—but this popular material also comes with other great features, like effortless beauty, weather resistance, and long-lasting durability.
At Craftsman Exterior Remodeling, we’re knowledgeable about and skilled at installing James Hardie siding. You can be confident your installation will exceed your expectations, and you’ll be thrilled with the results. It’s no accident the word “craftsman” is in our name—we only do quality work!
Learn all the options available to you when installing durable, fire-resistant Hardie siding on your Indianapolis home with Craftsman Exterior Remodeling.
