Should I use fibre cement or vinyl siding to match my Ottawa home's exterior?

Matching your existing exterior when you build an addition involves more than colour. The siding has to withstand deep cold, hot summers, ice, wind-driven rain and sun, and look right beside your original cladding for decades. Fibre cement and vinyl can both produce an acceptable match, but they differ in cost, durability, maintenance and how they age.

Fibre cement siding usually costs more to install than vinyl, because the material is heavier and takes more labour to cut and fasten. Its advantages include better impact resistance, a painted-wood appearance that resembles traditional clapboard, good fire performance and stability through temperature swings. It can come pre-finished or be painted on site to any colour. Ask for the finish and product warranty terms in writing.

Vinyl siding is usually the more affordable option and needs little maintenance. Better vinyl profiles have improved in texture and shadow line, so they can look convincing from a distance. Vinyl has limits in a cold climate, though. It becomes more brittle in deep cold, so impacts from falling ice or careless snow clearing can crack it. It also expands and contracts noticeably, so it must be fastened with room to move or it can buckle in summer heat. The colour runs through the material, so it never needs painting, but you can't easily change it later.

The colour-matching challenge depends on what's on your house now. If you have vinyl, matching may be straightforward if the profile and colour are still available, but faded existing siding can look different from new material. Some people re-side the full wall face where old meets new, or use a corner or trim board as a natural break. If your house has wood clapboard, painted aluminum or older fibre cement, new fibre cement often gives the best visual match because it can mimic wood profiles and be painted to match. Vinyl's colours and sheen can look different next to weathered wood.

From a building science point of view, both go over a similar wall assembly. A sheathing membrane and a way for water to drain from behind the cladding are what keep the wall dry. Fibre cement is often installed over furring strips that create a drainage gap. Vinyl's loose fit allows some drainage, and a drainage mat can improve it. Ask your designer what the drawings call for and make sure the quote includes it.

Siding is part of your addition permit drawings rather than a separate permit. When you collect quotes, ask contractors to name the product and profile, describe how they'll handle the joint with your existing siding, and itemize trim and flashing. You can browse addition contractors in the Ottawa Construction Network directory to start.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The Ottawa Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Luxe Painting and Renovations
• RenoMotion Inc.
• Joe Imerti Contracting
• The Next Reno
• ALTIOR CONSTRUCTION