Is Concrete Siding Expensive, and How Long Does It Last in Destrehan?

Written by Turnkey Siding

Is Concrete Siding Expensive for a Destrehan Home?

Quick Answer: On a Destrehan home, concrete siding costs more than vinyl but less than brick or most real wood, so it’s mid-priced. National guides put fiber cement, the most common form of concrete siding, at roughly $5 to $15 per square foot installed, and it can last 50 years or more when it’s installed and painted correctly.

Most homeowners in Destrehan who ask us about concrete siding are picturing fiber cement board: cement and sand mixed with cellulose fiber and water, then pressed into boards and panels. That’s what we install as concrete siding along the River Road. True precast or poured concrete wall systems exist too, but they’re custom work priced job by job, so this post sticks to fiber cement.

How Much Does Concrete Siding Cost?

Three national guides land in a similar band. None of them is a Destrehan quote:

• HomeGuide (June 2025) lists fiber cement at $6 to $15 per square foot installed, with labor alone at $4 to $9.
• This Old House (updated April 2026) lists $5 to $14 per square foot and a national project average of $14,674.
• Fixr (updated January 2026) lists fiber cement at $5 to $14 per square foot.

For whole houses, HomeGuide’s table pairs a 2,000 square foot home with about 1,700 square feet of siding at $10,200 to $25,500. This Old House puts a 1,500 square foot home at $7,500 to $21,000. Those numbers swing that much because the price follows your wall area and how much trim the design needs.

The style of board matters too. For material alone, HomeGuide lists fiber cement planks at $0.70 to $5.00 per square foot, panels at $1.50 to $4.00 or more, and shingles at $2.50 to $6.50. Shingles also take longer to hang, so they cost more in labor. Some homeowners mix lap siding on the main walls with shingles in the gables, which is a good way to get the look without paying shingle prices everywhere.

On the estimates we write, a few things move the number more than the board itself. Tear-off of old siding comes first. Then there’s any rotten sheathing we find once the wall is open, and painting if the boards arrive primed instead of factory finished. HomeGuide notes that primed fiber cement should be painted soon after installation, so that cost belongs in the comparison. Our siding cost guide for New Orleans shows how every material stacks up.

Is it worth paying more than vinyl?

It depends on how long you’ll own the house and how much upkeep you’ll tolerate. Our fiber cement vs vinyl comparison walks through that trade, and our post on siding vs repainting runs the long-term math for painted homes.

How Long Will Concrete Siding Last?

Published figures vary, so here’s the spread with the source for each:

• This Old House says fiber cement can last 50 years with proper installation.
• HomeGuide says 50 to 100 years when it’s installed by a pro and well maintained.
• Our own guide to how long siding lasts in New Orleans uses 30 to 50 years, because humidity and storm season are hard on any exterior.

The board itself rarely gives out first. What fails is the system around it, usually the caulked joints or the flashing at windows and roof lines. The paint film wears out too. This Old House’s siding expert suggests rinsing fiber cement twice a year and checking caulked seams every few years. HomeGuide puts repainting at every 10 to 15 years.

River Road conditions in Destrehan

Destrehan runs along the Mississippi in St. Charles Parish. Open ground near the levee moves a lot of air during storms, and humidity off the river keeps walls damp for much of the year. Fiber cement handles that well because it doesn’t rot or feed termites. Our post on Formosan termites and siding explains why that last point matters in South Louisiana, and our hurricane-resistant siding guide covers what holds up best when a storm comes up the river.

What Are the Downsides of Cement Board?

Fiber cement is a strong choice for River Parishes homes, but it isn’t perfect. Here’s what to know before you commit:

• It’s heavy. HomeGuide puts it at about 2.5 pounds per square foot. Boards need two people to carry, and they can crack if they’re flexed or dropped.
• Cutting makes hazardous dust. Fiber cement contains crystalline silica. OSHA’s construction silica standard lists handheld power saws for cutting fiber-cement board among the tasks with required dust controls, which is one reason it isn’t a weekend DIY job.
• It needs paint. Factory-finished boards hold color a long time, but painted boards need a fresh coat every 10 to 15 years, per HomeGuide.
• It isn’t insulation. This Old House lists the need for additional insulation as a con. The board adds almost nothing to your wall’s R-value.
• It costs more up front. HomeGuide estimates fiber cement at 2 to 3 times the price of vinyl.
• Install details matter. Gaps at butt joints, clearance above the ground and roofs, and flashing all have to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, or water finds its way in.

One more thing for older Destrehan houses: cement siding installed decades ago isn’t the same product. Some older cement siding contains asbestos, so it shouldn’t be cut or pried off until it’s been tested. Our post on asbestos siding removal in Louisiana covers what to do first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is concrete siding the same as stucco?

No. Stucco is a cement plaster applied wet in coats. Fiber cement comes as finished boards or panels nailed to the wall. Our stucco vs siding guide compares them.

Can concrete siding look like wood shingles?

Yes. Fiber cement comes in shingle and shake profiles too. Our post on cedar shakes vs fiber cement shingles compares the two looks.

Does Turnkey Siding install concrete siding in Destrehan?

Yes. See our concrete siding page for Destrehan for profiles and finishes. We also install it upriver, as our concrete siding page for LaPlace shows.

Price Concrete Siding for Your Destrehan Home

We’ll measure your walls and show you what fiber cement would cost on your house, line by line, next to the other options. Turnkey Siding serves homeowners in Destrehan and across St. Charles Parish. Call 504-882-9704 or request a free estimate online.