When considering the purchase of new hardboard siding for your home, it is common to want to know the differences between James Hardie siding and LP Smart Side. There are many differences in these products. Check out some of the differences below.
LP Smart Side
LP SmartSide is a wood composite product. This is similar to inexpensive furniture that is manufactured by taking the scraps of wood from milled lumber and gluing them into panels. LP SmartSide is commonly referred to as chipboard or strand board due to the makeup and appearance of the product. The next step in making wood composite siding is gluing a piece of paper to one side and finishing it off by painting.
Wood composite is considered a low-end replacement siding. There have been many highly publicized product failures which have made it clear that wood composites are too risky to trust. The installation calls for spaces to be left between the panels due to expansion and contraction of the product throughout the year. When the product expands or contracts, it can lead to cracking and peeling of the paint. Wood composite requires frequent painting and caulking to keep the internal material protected, and spot repairs can be required over time. Since it is a wood product, it can be damaged by termites, woodpeckers, and other pests. The warranty offered with LP SmartSide begins depreciating after 5 years, at which point no labor is covered for product failures.
James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding
James Hardie fiber cement is a product that is made with silica sand, Portland cement, wood fibers and water. Fiber cement is manufactured by forming the panels, baking out the moisture/water, and applying an optional factory-controlled finish called Colorplus.
Fiber cement is a solution that delivers the rich, traditional beauty and character of wood without the back-breaking maintenance. A complete exterior with James Hardie products delivers performance no other siding product can match: beautiful designs, low maintenance, & long-lasting durability. Bugs won’t eat it, birds and woodpeckers won’t peck it, it doesn’t rot, and it comes with a non-depreciating 30 year warranty.
James Hardie fiber cement uses raw materials found within 500 miles of their 14 manufacturing facilities throughout North America. Not only does this cut down on transportation, but it also allows for local raw materials to be used when formulating the product for the local climate. James Hardie uses non-toxic sourcing of raw materials: wood pulp, cement, sand, and water. These raw materials are able to be recycled up to 4 times.
Trust UHQ Construction for Your Siding Installation
When you’re ready to go with the unrushed, honest quality you can trust, go with Indianapolis’s favorite siding contractor – UHQ Construction. Call us today to find out how much James Hardie or LP SmartSide costs for your home. You can reach us at (317) 953-4969 or contact us through our website. We’d love to hear from you.
