Why Is My Fiber Cement Siding Cracking?
Maybe you’ve recently purchased a home with fiber cement siding and have noticed visible cracks and chips around your home.
Or perhaps you’ve been in your home for a while and know your fiber cement siding has become increasingly worn throughout the years.
No matter the details of your home, you have one problem you’re looking for an answer to: Why is my fiber cement siding cracking?
Fiber cement siding is one of the most durable siding materials on the market, with James Hardie being the leading manufacturer of fiber cement materials.
However, not all siding is created equally. There are variants in the manufacturing quality and longevity of fiber cement sidings. This means that if your fiber cement siding is of lower quality, it will likely crack, chip, and fail on your home.
As a San Antonio siding replacement expert since 1989, Southwest Exteriors has provided thousands of homeowners with durable, long-lasting siding solutions from James Hardie.
We exclusively install Hardie siding because of its proven quality and longevity for South Texas homes. But we aren’t here to talk about the great qualities of this top siding manufacturer.
You want to know why your fiber cement siding is cracking, what’s causing it, and what you can do to fix it, which is exactly what we will discuss in this article.
Top 4 Reasons Your Fiber Cement Siding Is Cracking
Although fiber cement siding is one of the most durable siding types, the quality of manufacturing directly impacts its longevity and the protection it provides your home.
If the siding is not built to last or withstand the climate you live in, you will notice cracking, chipping, or other signs of wear and tear, and you want to know why.
Let’s explore some of the top reasons why your fiber cement siding is cracking and failing on your home to better understand how quality and installation impact the longevity of your siding material in the future.
1. The siding has become brittle
Poor manufacturing is one of the main reasons your fiber cement siding is cracking. Fiber cement, in general, is a firm, sometimes brittle material.
Higher-quality fiber cement siding, such as Hardie siding, is made with additives that help combat the inherent brittleness of cementious materials, allowing them to be more flexible and move as your home moves over time.
Lower-quality fiber cement will not be as flexible, easily becoming brittle from age, constant weathering, or manufacturing defects.
If the fiber cement is not made with a flexible agent, it will become dry and brittle over time, causing it to chip, crack, and fall off your house.
The brittleness of fiber cement will be more apparent the longer it is on your home and the more it experiences various climate changes.
2. Foundation shifting has caused buckling
The second common reason your fiber cement siding is cracking is from the foundation shifting of your home.
Foundation shifting is a natural occurrence as the earth shifts and moves. This causes your home to move with it, and even slight shifting causes strain on your home.
As your home moves with the ground, the siding boards can buckle against each other. This makes the boards unnaturally tighten against each other, causing them to crack and break against each other.
If you notice obvious signs that your siding looks uncomfortable against itself or the boards look out of place, it may be due to foundation shifting. Other signs of foundation shifting include cracking in your concrete or drywall or noticing your doors and windows aren’t fully functioning properly.
While there is no way to combat foundation shifting, investing in more flexible, high-quality fiber cement siding ensures your siding will last and protect your home.
3. The siding was installed incorrectly
Another unfortunate yet common cause of your fiber cement siding cracking is if the siding was installed incorrectly.
Some common installation mistakes include:
- If the boards are too closely together, this will cause them to buckle and crack against each other.
- If the boards are nailed improperly, such as too close to the edge of the boards, this can cause the board’s ends to chip off or cause cracks.
- If the wrong nails are used, the siding will not be properly secured to your home, causing it to fall off or crack from other external elements.
No matter the quality of siding you invest in, proper installation is crucial to the overall success and longevity of your new siding.
But, lower quality siding paired with poor installation is a recipe for disaster, causing you to spend more time, money, and effort replacing your siding in the future.
This is why investing in high-quality siding with a reputable local contractor ensures your siding will be installed properly and last.
4. Impact damage due to external forces
The final most common cause of cracked fiber cement siding is due to impact damage, such as from hail, nearby trees, or accidental damage.
Any impact that hits brittle, fiber cement siding can easily cause it to crack. While the impact force is the main cause of damage, the brittleness of the siding also factors into how easily it will crack.
Higher quality fiber cement siding is made to not crack and withstand general impact. Obviously, though, if you hit your siding with a baseball bat, it’s going to crack.
However, if your siding is cracked after a recent hail storm or high winds or you notice a large tree branch constantly scraping the side of your home, this is most likely the cause of your cracked siding.
How To Fix Cracked Fiber Cement Siding
After understanding four common causes of cracked fiber cement siding, you, of course, want to know if there are any solutions.
For minimal cracking, either on siding boards or between boards, you may use high-quality exterior caulk to mend the cracks. While this isn’t a permanent fix, it can help maintain your siding briefly before you are ready to invest in new siding.
If multiple siding boards are cracked or falling off of your home, the only true fix is a full siding replacement.
Starting from scratch with high-quality siding installed by a reputable, local company will ensure you get the siding you want that will last on your home.
No matter the severity of the condition of your home, the best thing you can do is consult the opinion of a professional. Then, you can better determine if a full siding replacement or siding repair is a viable option to fix your cracked siding.
Finding The Best Solution For Your Cracked Fiber Cement Siding
Now that you understand four common causes for cracked fiber cement siding and what can be done to fix it, you can take the right next steps in diagnosing what’s causing your siding to crack and what to do next.
If you notice cracks in your fiber cement siding, further inspect the siding to determine if either of these four common causes is the culprit:
- Brittleness of the siding material
- Buckling due to foundation shifting
- Improper installation
- Damage due to impact or nearby vegetation.
Even if minimal cracking is occurring on your current fiber cement siding, chances are it will not last much longer.
No matter how bad of shape your siding is in, if you need a full siding replacement in the future, finding the right contractor to work with is the first step to ensuring a successful outcome.
To find the right company, you must research, ask the right questions, and know what to look for in a trustworthy company.
Want more tips on how to find the right siding contractor? Check out this article that outlines 10 questions to ask a siding company during a consultation, along with what great and not-so-great answers look like.
Looking To Upgrade Your Fiber Cement Siding With Something That Will Last?
Southwest Exteriors is a Platinum James Hardie Provider, meaning we are experts in our craft, from educating you on Hardie products to installing them to Hardie’s best practices.
On top of our professional installation, Southwest Exteriors is here to warrant our work for as long as you own your home. We’ve been here since 1989, and we aren’t going anywhere.
Ready to upgrade your home with James Hardie siding? Schedule your commitment-free consultation today to get the look you LOVE coming home to!