Hardie Board vs LP Smartside: Handyman Secrets Exposed

For today’s Handyman Secrets we are comparing two different types of siding; Hardie plank board and LP Smartside. 

So here you have it hardie board vs. lp smartside: a side by side comparison.

Hardie Board

James Hardie boards are a cement based lap siding. They are hard but somewhat brittle. So they can be hard to work with since they can break easily being made of a cement material. Hardie boards have great resistance to fire and termites but one downfall of Hardie boards is that it can be dangerous while cutting or resizing them, as it contains silica dust that can get into the air and breathed in. Also, in the harsh weather of Minnesota winters, Hardie boards can potentially start to come apart due to frequent freezing or thawing. Hardie boards are covered by a 30 year warranty. The warranty does not cover labor if something out of the ordinary happens, but if it was installed incorrectly you should be able to get that labor covered under that warranty.

LP Smartside

If I had my choice it would be LP Smartside. LP Smartside is an engineered wood siding. It is made from wood chips, resin, and other wood layers, under very high pressure to create a sturdy wood plank. The LP Smartside is much easier to work with and though it is only covered by a 5 year warranty, that does cover both labor and materials. After those five years they will continue to cover the materials but not the labor. So you are in good hands and good shape should anything faulty happen to the siding in the first five years of its installation. The workability as well as the warranty covering labor is gonna be your best bet. I definitely recommend this type of siding, and if you want to know more, please contact us here!