Seattle, Washington (NAPSI) - Your home is probably the biggest monetary investment you’ll ever make, so it’s a good idea to carefully discuss your house’s siding choices with your home builder or remodeler.

For homeowners, in particular, nature’s wild side—hurricanes, high winds, heavy rain, fire and flood—can be a big concern. What’s more, that sort of thing seems to be on the upswing: According to Weather.com, four of the top five costliest hurricanes have occurred since 2005, while Insure.com notes that six of the top 10 costliest wildfires have struck in the last 10 years.

That’s why, if you’re considering a home building or remodeling project, it’s important to choose products that best protect that investment, including the siding.

There are several materials you can consider, including:

1. Fiber cement, which consists of sand, cement and cellulose fiber

2. Masonry

3. Wood-based siding, including cedar and wood-composite

4. Vinyl.

Compared with vinyl or wood-based siding, fiber cement siding is better formulated to handle the rigors of both everyday and extreme weather. Consider this:

• Fire: Fiber cement siding is noncombustible, so it doesn’t contribute any “fuel” to a fire. Conversely, vinyl siding melts and burns and wood-based siding burns.

• Impact: Fiber cement siding resists impact from objects blown by a storm’s high winds much better than vinyl siding.

• Flood: Fiber cement siding is a Class 5 flood-resistant material according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This differs from wood-based siding, which is not moisture resistant and prone to rotting.

Certain types of fiber cement siding go even further to protect your home. For example, James Hardie siding is engineered for the home’s specific climate. That means for homes in cooler, wetter areas, proprietary additives are included in the formulation to decrease the water absorption rate and protect it from wet or freezing conditions. For those in hotter, dryer places, the formulation is tailored to protect the house from wind and dry heat.

You can learn more about how the right siding can protect a home, even during a hurricane, at www.jameshardie.com/protection.