Looking for a siding material that looks like wood but is resistant to fire, rot, and insects? This might be the one. Made of a mixture of Portland cement, sand, water, and wood fiber (cellulose), it is shaped into planks or panels that are versatile, durable, and take paint well. Fiber-cement siding has been around for about 100 years; the product used to contain asbestos, but modern versions are made with cellulose instead. Fiber-cement can also be useful in other applications-underlaying a floor in a moist environment such as a kitchen or bath, for instance.

How eco-friendly is it? This material's durability makes it green-it shouldn't require replacement for a very long time. The source of the wood fiber is a potential concern, however, as not all manufacturers use wood from well-managed forests.

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