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Alcoa & Mastic Vinyl Siding |
Fiber-Cement Siding |
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Weight |
Lightweight and easy to handle |
Heavy and hard to handle, requires
special equipment on the job site |
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Moisture |
Completely impervious to moisture |
Breaks easily when wet and shrinks as
it dries. If it dries out too much, it becomes even
more brittle. |
|
Installation |
Installs easily with common tools |
Requires special tools and
diamond-tipped blades for cutting |
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Health Risk |
No health risk to installer, or
homeowner |
Crystalline silica dust produced
during installation |
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Finish |
Color clear though - with no painting
ever ! |
Requires primer, paint and caulking |
|
Cost |
Lowest overall application cost |
High Application costs due to required
coatings, special tools and protective gear |
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Maintenance |
Virtually maintenance free |
Requires regular repainting, costing
thousands of dollars over the life of a home |
|
Porosity |
Non-porous, will not retain mold or
mildew |
Mold and mildew treatment instructions
included in every carton |
|
Durability |
Will not scratch, dent, chip, peel or
flake |
Requires time-consuming filling of
chips and scratches |
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Accessories |
A full line of designer accessories in
matching and complementary colors |
Limited designer accessories |
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Storage |
Unlimited shelf life |
Shelf life depends on quality of
primer |
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Warranty |
Carries a lifetime limited warranty
and the Good Housekeeping Seal |
Most fiber-cement manufacturers
provide a 50 year limited warranty against manufacturing
defects only |
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