Fiber Cement HardiePlank or LP SmartSide Siding?
Fiber Cement HardiePlank or LP SmartSide Siding?I get asked this question often working Texas Home Exteriors, “Greg, which is better, Fiber Cement/HardiePlank Siding or LP SmartSide Siding for my Houston TX home?” As we move beyond 2014 into 2015, I have already found myself being asked this question more and more. I respond with information based on my research – experience installing the two building products, as well as discussion with other home exterior professionals.
The information in this article is based on many years of my experience in the Houston Texas metro area, and as the owner of Texas Home Exteriors. In this post I will cite information from some of the most credible resources I know of on the internet presenting their accumulative input including Google Books (James Hardie), Wikipedia (James Hardie) and Wikipedia LP (Louisiana Pacific SmartSide). These are sites and resources that you can and SHOULD check as well to learn more and research what people just like you and me are saying around the country and the world.
Below I present for you the good, the bad and the ugly so as a Houston Southeast Texas homeowner, you can make an informed and intelligent decision. I encourage you to click on the links as well and doing some of your own research. After reading this Hardie vs. SmartSide Siding article, please take a moment to voice your opinion or share additional information below the estimate form.
Here are our findings
Both Fiber Cement (Hardie) and LP SmartSide Siding are outstanding and high quality building products. They both exhibit excellent qualities in their performance and longevity as excellent siding product choices for your home’s exterior. Keep in mind that each has great qualities as well as some not-so-great qualities. I will point this out based on my many years of experience in home exteriors here in the Houston southeast Texas area in using both products, (fiber cement – LP SmartSide Siding) as well as research I have done on the products and their overall performance.
Supporting evidence GOOGLE search
When being asked about one siding product vs another, one might share their opinion from their experience, of course this is OK. However, I will also provide examples of what other home exterior professionals are saying from around the country.
Fiber_Cement_Siding_Defects – Inspectapedia …. read more
Problems with Fiber Cement Siding installations – Structuretech1 Forums….. read more
Fiber Cement Problems – Inspectors Journals Forums….. read more
Smart Side Siding JLC Online Forums…. read more
LP SmartSide Siding vs Fiber Cement – Hot Spot Outdoors Forum….(read more)
Fiber Cement/HardiePlank- 15 Trim 30 Yr Siding Warranty
Click – 30 YR Warranty
As you can see from exploring the links above, there have been some issues reported from around the country. Fiber cement has become more and more popular since the late 1990s in re-siding as well as in new construction throughout North America.
The reported issues range from cracking and flaking paint to installation problems as well as other issues with the fiber cement siding product. The siding most often used siding product in America is fiber cement. Many of the problems with this product have stemmed from the improper installation of the fiber cement product. However, there are also some issues to be aware of that actually stem from fiber cement product failure itself.
LP SmartSide Siding – 50 Year Trim 50 Year Siding Warranty
Click – 50 YR Warranty
LP SmartSide has also been around since 1997, I have done extensive research via the internet and have not found nearly as many, or for that matter, any issues reported with this product at all, no reported problems, even LP SmartSide reports there have been no claims on product failure of the the LP SmartSide Engineered Wood Siding Products in the past 14 years it has been being installed on homes.
In all fairness, I will share that there was an issue I came across regarding Louisiana Pacific (LP) and their OLD Product, called “LP Inner Seal“ which has since been discontinued. This was a pre-1997 SmartSide product that failed, recalled and any claims paid responsively and quickly- very impressive on the part of Louisiana Pacific. In my opinion, this product should not have been used on homes in areas of the country that receive a lot of precipitation, thus the failures. (Note, that the “Inner-Seal” siding did very well in other areas of the country that are more arid and the product continues to stand up well in those climates to this day).
Louisiana Pacific SmartSide Wikipedia info
LP SmartSide: (LP) “Two years after the first suit, LP had settled all related disputes. LP re-engineered the product, now marketed as LP®SmartSide® and since 1997 has sold approximately 3 billion square feet of SmartSide siding with no warranty claims for fungal decay.” This was reported on Wikipedia in 2014 of this product that has been around since 1997.
Fiber Cement (Hardie) Wikipedia info
Fiber Cement: per Wikipedia, “Fiber cement siding (or “fibre cement cladding” in the UK and Australasia) is a building material used to cover the exterior of a building in both commercial and domestic applications. Fiber cement is a composite material Fiber cement is a composite made of sand, cement and cellulose fibers. Read more about Fiber Cement by clicking on the link at the top of this article which will take you to Wiki and Build Direct FAQs.
The Silica Dust Issue – New York Times
Both the Fiber Cement (hardie plank) and LP SmartSide siding products will produce dust plumes when cutting the product. LP SmartSide siding is wood based and makes less dust as opposed to the Fiber Cement that contains Silica. Having said that, the Silica is a much finer dust and gets airborne and tends to make billowing clouds of fine dust that can be dangerous for workers to install if respirators are not used. Here is a recent article from the New York Times about silica dust exposure that you should be aware of on this issue.
Crumble a Plank Anyone?
Click Image- Read The Rest Of The Story
You have to see this to believe what is happening. After Hardie Siding (fiber cement) has been up for a while, homeowners have been reporting on how that their lawnmowers wheels had bumped the lower run of the siding and broken off edges with some mild unintended impacts.
If you click on that (broken off edges) link above, you will clearly see photos of what homeowners across the country are reporting as well as the phone calls that we are receiving on the issue here at our Texas Home Exteriors office.
You will also see how SmartSide Siding is much more resistant to the same impact of objects such as lawnmowers, baseballs and the everyday accidental impacts that most homeowners experience.
Benefits Fiber Cement/HardiePlank Siding Products
Fiber Cement has the upper hand by far in the category of Fire Resistance so if you are looking for a siding product that specifically is more Resistant to fires, Fiber Cement is the better choice. Fiber cement is one of the most resistant materials there is for your exterior. If installed properly, it is also insect-proof, because it offers no food source to insects. It is fire-resistant, moisture-resistant, and is not prone to warping or cracking, thanks to the cellulose fibers which boost its dimensional stability. And, manufacturers offer a variety of pre-painted colors to choose from.
Disadvantages of Fiber Cement Siding Products
Fiber Cement is much heavier than other siding types and requires two or more workers to install a single plank increasing labor costs. Fiber cement siding can also be difficult to work with, as workers cut the material it creates silica dust plumes that can be harmful if breathed in.
Benefits of LP SmartSide Siding – What the crews are saying about installation
- Length – With Longer planks” 16’ foot vs 12’ allowing workers to cover more with one plank and less joints to finish.
- Lighter – The product is 39% lighter on average, the material does not break when being carried or moved.
- Damage – Hammer marks do not show up as easily due to its increased impact resistance.
- Cutting – No special saw blades or equipment is needed (no need for $100 special blades, regular carbide wood saw blades work just fine).
- Nailing – No nail gun pressure issues or need to lower presser due to overdriven nails.
- Dust- Much less dust than the fiber cement product, silica plume issues gone.
- Strength – Installation of this product increases wall strength and structure so walls remain straight for the lifetime of the product.
- Installers prefer working with the product due to the reasons listed above. As a matter of fact, once an installer uses this product they do not want to go back to using the fiber cement.
Disadvantages of LP SmartSide Siding
SmartSide siding is constructed of wood base fibers, leaving it vulnerable to fire from combustion and or through the melting of the resin add-ons when exposed to high heat. If fire resistance is a concern I would consider the James Hardie (hardiplank) siding over the LP SmartSide siding. You should take a moment to read this article about James Hardie Siding and it’s superior resistance to fire.
Louisiana Pacific and NASDAQ Stock Jump
Just as resent as May 18th of 2015 the stock for Louisiana Pacific (LP) LPX has seen an 52 week all time high is stock increase due to consumer interest and sales increase in the LP SmartSide Siding Product. This has been exciting news for some time as contractors are liking having a choice to present to homeowners besides fiber cement.
Conclusion
Greg Kapitan (the siding man) Texas Home Exteriors
Well there you have it, the good, the bad and the ugly. Both the Hardiplank and LP SmartSide Siding products will serve your home will and keep your love ones protected from the weather for many years to come.
While there are differences and benefits to both siding products, we have noticed a shift in homeowners moving towards the LP Smart Siding due to the many benefits over Fiber Cement (Hardie).
What you have read above is from an article I wrote. You can find more information on our website Texas Home Exteriors – Houston TX about home siding options and you can also learn more about silica dust and it’s affects.
I hope that you have found this informative article most helpful in making a siding choice for your home exterior. Should you have any questions my email address is, [email protected] or if you would like a Free Estimate from Texas Home Exteriors call, 281.919.6999 anytime.
Most sincerely,
Greg Kapitan (the siding man)
PS – I look forward to hearing from you in the comments section below.
Free SmartSide or HardiPlank Estimate:
Great blog here! Also your site loads up very
fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to
your host? I wish my website loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Yes, we are happy with the speed of our site as well thank you. . .
Do you recommend a certain paint and type that will last on the Smart Siding? Or any that you have seen that you know to stay away from.
Supper Paint is what we recommend.
I would say the Sherwin – Williams paint (supper paint or above) and stay away from any of the builders cheap paint.
Reblogged this on Kapitan The Siding Man and commented:
This is a great article if you are considering HardiePlank vs. LP SmartSide Siding for your Houston TX metro area home exterior.
Great article as I have done some research myself and found this to be most informative. Kimm.
Kimm, thank you for your response. I have spent a good amount of time putting together this article with all of the facts from all over the internet. Many homeowners are not aware that there is a difference between the two siding products. They are both durable however, each are different when it comes to how they are made and the warranties that are offered.
Enjoyed reading this, really excellent stuff, appreciate it.
Yes, thank you for your compliment on this post as I have put a lot of research into the differance between SmartSide and Hardie Siding. Many homeowners are not aware of the differences between LP SmartSide and Hardie (fiber cement) siding and that Hardie comes with a 30 year warranty and the SmartSide siding comes with a 50 year warranty. The strength differences when on the walls of the home are also a big deal to Houston Texas area homeowners when considering what siding product to chouse. We are getting feedback that homeowners are liking the deeper woodgrain that SmartSide has over the Hardie as well.
Good article I was just researching the internet about siding products and came across this one.
Great thanks for stopping by, hope yo found the information helpful!
Hello,
Thank you for this information! I am in the Chicagoland area considering both of these products. We will be replacing cedar and stuccoboards. Our biggest problem has been damage, or should I say repeated damage from carpenter bees, woodpeckers, and squirrels. I know the fiber cement will stay safe from those critters. However, I’m not sure about the Smartside in this situation as it has a higher wood content? Have you heard of anyone having issues with pests damaging Smartside siding?
Great question Eric! We have a intense bug infestation here in the Houston Texas metro area as well. Having said that, keep in mind that historically some of those bugs are attracted to the cedar wood by it’s natural smell. By removing that cedar wood will help greatly because the smell is now gone. Smell cedar? Just cut a piece and you will personally be able to smell the scent and or odor that cedar gives off that attracts them bugs and varmints alike. It is a toss up as to whether the Hardie (fiber cement) or SmartSide would be better. I would say the Hardie would be my choice in this situation. I hope this helps and gives you some insight Eric?
We are getting ready to build a house in Kansas and considering the two options listed above. It is very humid and we obviously have 4 seasons. Is there one that is better in this situation?
Janeil, it is a tossup, both the LP SmartSide and James Hardie (hardiplank) are great siding products that will last for many years to come. The LP does offer the longer siding and trim warranty by 20 years. Correction, siding by 20 years and trim by 35 years since James Hardie only offers a 15 year trim warranty. What kind of exteriors paint are you considering using may I ask?
Great article!
I have a question- can I use a Hardie siding nailer to install SmartSide?
What brand/ size do you recommend for nails?
Im a newbie!
We have quite a few rental properties that are 100% Hardie lap siding and we have experienced multiple damaged siding boards from lawn mowers hitting the bottom course. I will try smart side on our next project. I just wish I could find a window trim board that has the backside notched for window flanges to get flush joints at the corners.
Sean, you are correct about the Hardie lap siding that is made from fiber cement will break off at the bottom when bumped by lawnmowers. You will NOT have that experience with the Smart Side Siding due to it’s impact resistance and strength. Gosh, that would not be good that you have to now go around to all of those properties and fix the broken edges of siding with new planks.
Great article on the siding wars between smart side and Hardie Plank! I think the smart side wins, what are your thoughts?
To answer your question Samuel, they are both great siding products with great track records. If you are concerned with fire safety and resistance, I would go with the James Hardie (hardiplank) (fiber cement) siding. If you are looking for strength, durability and energy efficiency, I would recommend the LP SmartSide siding over Hardie. There is also the Hardie 30 year warranty vs. the LP SmartSide siding 50 year issue to consider as well. I hope this helps answer your question Samuel? Most sincerely, Greg Kapitan.
Hey, this is great info that I am going to pass on to my husband Timothoy. He will be calling you guys for an estimate on both the smart side and hardiplank siding. We reside in NW Houston Texas and we have a home that needs the siding replaced. Thanks, Theresa!!
Hello Theresa. Most Texas homeowners have no idea about the differences between the two siding products. The Hardie siding is more popular than the LP SmartSide in our area. We are looking forward to hearing from you and your husband for a free siding estimate on your Houston home.
Hi! Great article about both products. Did you find any information about how LP compares to Hardiplank in regards to long term maintenance? Does LP smartside need to be repainted more often, or does it have expansion/contraction issues due to seasonal changes that requires frequent re-caulking and maintenance? We live in NJ with extreme temperature swings and are looking for a low-maintenance product to side our house. Thanks in advance for you your insight!
Roz,
That is a great question Roz that has not been asked by others. With the LP SmartSide siding, were experiencing that paint is holding up better because the product is not so in layman’s terms…. so dry and porris as to suck the life out of the paint like fiber cement is. However, unlike fiber cement, the LP SmartSide does need to have room for a one time expansion when it is first installed. The fiber cement might have a problem with just the opposite, contraction that might leave a seam open after time. I hope this helps answer your question.
Greg- thanks for a unbiased comparo of the two products. I have a 1968 ranch house in central VT with 8″ cedar clapboard siding. We will be adding on new and renovating existing so we will re-side the whole job. Originally had chosen the Hardie product but am now leaning towads the LP. Needless to say, the weather conditions here are a little different from TX! Is installing the Smartside that much different from clapboard? I’m a fairly skilled DIY’er so anything I can do to keep costs down is a +.
Marc, thanks for your comments. Considering the location that you reside in I would suggest that you install the LP SmartSide siding in the summer time. The SS has a one time expansion issue that is most prominent in the warmer months of the first 3-4 months of installation. Don’t forget to install with the recommended 3/16″ gap then click. I hope this helps answer your question? May I ask, what are the approximate measurements of the walls that you will be re siding?
My brother recommended I might like this web site. He was totally right.
This post actually made my day. You can not imagine simply
how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
Wow, what a nice compliment thank you! I have sent a good amount of time doing research as well as having experiences with both of the two Hardie and SmartSide siding product and their warranties.
Wow, please tell your brother I said thank you! We have put a good amount of info out there on the web about the differences between the Hardie and SmartSide siding products for all to learn from, enjoy!
How can we keep bugs from leaving black spots on our siding? We are removing 30 year old vinyl siding as well as the wood siding under the vinyl and replacing with lp smartside. I have washed the old siding multiple times and within a few weeks the spots are back. I am quite frustrated.
Its like you read my mind as I have read this siding post! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some more pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is excellent blog. A great read. I will certainly be back, Will.
Will, I have not ever had anyone put it quite like that but thank you! The Hardie vs. SmartSide option has become a concern for many homeowners as they explore their siding options. Thanks again, Greg Kapitan.
Greg,
I am so glad That I got to read your information BEFORE I started my siding replacement. And, I will pass on the information to anyone I know that may or may not use it. GREAT WORK!! THANK YOU!!!
Jim,
Thank you for reading the information that I posted on our LP SmartSide siding vs. Hardie blog page. We are glad that you made the best decision for you and your home. Keep us posted with some photos of your siding job!
Can you tell me what the cost of labor and material compared to James Hardie. Is there a big difference in the two?
Can you tell me what the price difference in material and labor is on the two products?
Steve,
Thanks for asking about the cost difference between the two siding products. Tell me about your siding job and what are you looking to do? In most cases the material is a bit less but the labor could be more depending the job application?
This is a great article as I did not have any idea on how much difference there was between the two products. I am going to show my wife when she gets home this article and we will be calling you soon for an estimate!
Pete,
Thank you for your kind comments. We will be looking for your estimate phone call or email. Greg.
I enjoy the efforts you have put in this, thanks for all the great posts.
Greg, great comparison. I’m in a stucco house in PA and with all the moisture problems, we’re replacing it. All the contractors are pushing Hardie, not LP. Is there an incentive on their part or another major reason? By all measures, it seems to me LP is superior. Have you heard this before? Thoughts?
Mike,
Hey thanks so much for your compliment. A few thoughts here and that is: 1, Most contractors go the path of least resistance. 2, They are often uncomfortable installing something new. 3, The other manufacture might have told them, “if you start to install another competitors siding product, we will take off of our preferred contractors list” Mike, you should have good results with the other (not LP) siding product. However, should you choose LP, I would wait till you find a competent contractor to install the product. What are your thoughts Mike?
Excellent siding blog post. Thanx pertaining to composing this particular insightful posting and informative all of us with your perspectives. I am hoping you will continue to keep this specific good work in future also.
An interesting discussion is worth comment for Hardie VS. LP Smart Siding. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
The LP smartside comes primed on one side only. Is it recommended to prime the back? We plan to use rigid foam behind the lap siding so I’m not sure if it matters. Thanks for all your great info
Casey,
Thank you for your comment and great question. You do not have to prime the back even going over foam. The only time that might be recommended if it was to be used as a fence divider and have the other side exposed. Good luck with your project.
Thanks for all great information! I found very useful information, but I have another question about the paint durability for LP and JH. I saw in an answer above that paint lasts longer on LP, approximately how often do you think I would have to repaint on a 100 year old home in NJ using either of these two siding products? Also, would the pre-painted JH be a superior choice, or would those need repainting as well? I tend to like the qualities of LP, but my husband wants to get a product with the least amount of maintenance as possible and he seems to be in favor of the prepainted JH. What do you recommend, LP (paint on site), JH prepainted or JH painted on site?
Charlotte,
Thank you for your compliment as well as your question about the two different siding products. I can tell that you are making a well thought out decision. Having said that, as my memory serves me the JH painted has a 15 year warranty. Whereas if you get for instance the Sherwin-Williams Resilience paint, it has a lifetime warranty. Being that your husband wants the least maintenance I would go with the lifetime warranty paint. I also might suggest the LP over the JH being that you might have some breakage issues at the lower rows if getting hit by the lawn mowing service. Please let me know your thoughts?
I’ve chosen LP to reside my Dfw home but I’m not sure about which paint to use. While I know no paint lasts forever, do you have a recommendation? I see you mention two different kinds in the thread here: Sherwin Williams Super and their Resilience. Do you see any differences in performance? I’ve got no trees on my corner lot to shield or to interfere with the paint. But that also means the house gets hit with sun on the east and west and wind and rain from those directions too. Thanks!!
Lorie,
Good for you and your siding decision. We do see some minimal differences between the two. The big differance that we see is for the extra money to go with the Resilience, you will get a lifetime warranty over the 25 year with Supper Paint. Either way, you should be fine for a good amount of years. Please let me know your thoughts? Greg
That was very great article… thanks for putting it up. Actually, I am planning to get a new home in Carmel Indiana. My builder wants to use LP smart side but after I read about the lawsuit against them before 1997, I am afraid. and also, one of the disadvantage with LP siding that you said is that about resin add-ons due to high heat. I did not understand that. So, just your opinion, is it ok to go with LP smart siding in Carmel, Indiana – 46032? I just need your opinion with pros and cons. Thanks in advance.
Naveen,
Thank you for your compliment and a great question that you are asking. The 1997 LP Lawsuit was on a faulty product that was a masonite like siding that we in the business call “fiber”. The “fiber” was not treated like it is today if you were to build with Smart Siding. However the SmartSiding Lap now comes in a stranded product and it is much improved. Tell your builder that you want the 38 series Lap Siding that is STRANDED.
Hello, I’m in the Raleigh, NC area.
I’m I correct, LP Smart Side gets nailed at the top and bottom of the board while HardiPlank gets nailed at the top or the bottom but not both?
Larry,
That is a great question. It has become more of a preference than a requirement. With the LP SmartSide siding we will nail the top and bottom on the 12″ and on the 8″ the same but less on the bottom if one is not needed to make for a smooth surface. With Hardie (hardiplank) siding, we will try to avoid the bottom if at all possible to avoid the possibility of cracking of being nailed to closely to the edge. I hope that helps? Greg
Old house on the East side of Houston built in the late 40’s. Thinking of replacing cedar shakes with LP smartside.
Hi Nate, it is a great product for sure. One of our Texas Home Exteriors reps will be happy to come out, bring some samples for you to see and feel and provide you with a free estimate. Thank you for coming by to learn more about the product!
Great siding information bud! This has some great information about the different siding products that I have never thought of. I personally think that the James hardie plank siding is a great product. Now I also believe that the LP smart-side siding might just be better. Brian.
Brian,
Thanks for your thoughts. Here at Texas Home Exteriors we feel from experience that the LP SmartSide siding has the winning edge over the James Hardie siding product.