Siding Houston TX Homes With Fiber Cement Best for Hurricane Season, Says All-Tex

Online, April 4, 2012 (Newswire.com) - All-Tex Home Improvement Services - Local home improvement company All-Tex Home Improvement Services issued the statement in light of the approaching hurricane season. Hurricane season in Houston begins officially on June 1 and ends on November 30, 2012.

While most weather forecasters predict a milder Atlantic hurricane season for 2012 due to the cooler sea temperatures in the Atlantic-Caribbean region, there is no denying that hurricanes can still cause severe damage to local homes. Last year's Hurricane Irene caused severe damages to properties in the northeastern part of the country due to a lack of preparation in addition to the force of nature. Texas's Hurricane Ike back in 2008 cost billions of damages. Even though a tame 2012 hurricane season is predicted - only 12 storms and seven hurricanes - homeowners would do well to safeguard their home against a calamity similar to Irene and Ike. This is what All-Tex seeks to prevent when the company advised locals about siding Houston TX homes with fiber cement products.

Why Fiber Cement?
Fiber cement is a siding material that is recognized for its durability, beauty, adaptability, and strength. Made from cellulose fibers, cement, sand, and other additives, fiber cement siding products often look like traditional wood cladding, but without the rot and decay risks.

Siding Houston TX homes with fiber cement before the hurricane season also affords homes with extra protection against wind and impact damage. After all, it's not the wind that causes the most damage when it comes to hurricanes but its attendant flying debris.

All-Tex recommends using James Hardie HZ10™ HardiPlank siding that is specially designed for hurricane-prone climates. This type of fiber cement siding is engineered to resists damage due to salty sea air, hurricane-force winds, and severe humidity.

How Houston Homes Benefits
With this recommended type of fiber cement siding, Houston homes can be protected from the following in case a hurricane hits:

• Wind damage
With proper installation, HardiPlank siding can withstand up wind speeds of up to 150mph. In fact, fiber cement siding has been a specified requirement by hurricane-zone building codes for building homes in hurricane-prone areas.

• Water damage
Hurricanes often lead to flooding. Unlike wood, fiber cement siding do not rot or decay when exposed to moisture even for long periods. For example, James Hardie fiber cement products are classified as Class V flood-resistant material by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

• Impact or Mechanical damage
James Hardie fiber cement siding is approved for use in high velocity wind-borne debris zones by the Miami-Dade Building Code Compliance Office. This means that Hardiplank siding will be able to withstand damage even if it's hit by wind-born debris during storms.

• Fire-resistance
Hurricanes can sometimes cut power lines or bring power surges that cause fire. Most fiber cement siding materials have low flame-spread index. They do not burn or spread fire as fast as other siding products.

For more information on hurricane preparation, All-Tex encourages locals to think about using fiber cement as their siding. Homeowners are also encouraged to talk to local government offices about hurricane preparedness.