When it comes to the exterior of your home, the siding material you choose plays a vital role in creating a visually appealing and long-lasting structure. While there are various siding options available, James Hardie fiber cement and LP vinyl siding are two popular choices among homeowners. Both provide homeowners with visually-striking siding that is durable and cost-effective. 

Before making a final decision between James Hardie siding vs. vinyl siding, you must consider your personal preferences, budget, and desired aesthetic, as both options can offer unique advantages and disadvantages that should be weighed carefully.

What Is James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding?

James Hardie fiber cement siding is made of a mixture of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers. These materials are blended together to create a semiliquid solution known as a slurry. Once formed, the slurry is molded into planks, which are then dried and become the boards that are installed on the side of your house. Fiber cement siding is a durable, fire-resistant, and low-maintenance option that can mimic the look of wood or stucco.

Like most home renovation projects, you’ll want to consider the pros and cons of fiber cement siding before deciding if it’s right for you.

Pros and Cons of Fiber Cement Siding

There are many advantages to James Hardie fiber cement siding, including:

• Low Maintenance: A benefit of using fiber cement siding is that it requires minimal maintenance and does not need to be cleaned as often as other siding options. It’s easy to clean with a garden hose, soft cloth, or sponge and does not require any power washing or chemical cleaning. 
• Durability: The solution that creates the fiber cement siding is long-lasting and built to resist any warping, cracking, and denting. It can withstand extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain, hail, sleet, snow, and windstorms.
• Aesthetics: James Hardie siding comes in a variety of colors and styles, giving you the freedom to design your siding exactly how you want it.
• Fire-Resistant: Fiber cement is constructed using mostly noncombustible materials, making it resistant to flames and extreme heat. This feature makes it a favorite choice for some insurance companies–who may even offer discounts to homeowners who install this choice of siding on their homes.
• Pest-Proof: Unlike wood, fiber cement is not vulnerable to termites and vermin, making it an ideal choice and one of the best ways to prevent pest damage to your home.
• Energy Efficient: If you have high energy bills, installing James Hardie siding could lower those costs while trapping the cool air inside your house.
• Increased Home Value: Due to the various benefits of fiber cement siding, installing this material could increase your home’s value, which could be useful if you sell the house in the future.

While there are many benefits to installing fiber cement siding in your home, there are also disadvantages that you may encounter. For example, James Hardie board can be difficult to install, as it’s a rather heavy material and takes a lot of manpower. This is why we recommend hiring a James Hardie Elite Certified Contractor to complete your siding installation, rather than trying to DIY it at home.

Also, you may run into insulation problems when choosing this type of siding. Fiber cement siding offers little insulation protection once installed, with an R-value of only 0.5. A superior grade of insulation inside walls, attic, and crawl spaces may be necessary to ensure that the home is up to code. Fortunately, many certified contractors will also install the insulation that’s needed to keep your home at its best during the siding replacement process.

What Is LP SmartSide Siding?

On the other hand, LP Smartside vinyl siding is another option that many homeowners consider. LP vinyl siding is made from a blend of vinyl resins, colorants, and other additives, which are extruded into long, thin panels. It is available in a wide range of colors, textures, and finishes, making it a versatile option for homeowners.

Pros and Cons of Vinyl Siding

Some homeowners may choose LP vinyl siding, as it can offer some advantages depending on what you’re looking for in a house siding.

First, this type of siding comes in a variety of styles and colors. LP Smart Siding offers six different style options to choose from, whereas most manufacturers offer only one or two. In addition, vinyl siding offers structural supports for the home, which helps provide holding integrity for screwing gutters into place and other exterior needs that the home might require.

Vinyl siding does tend to have a faster installation time. The use of locking clips in the LP Smart Siding design enables quick and secure installation, and its lightweight nature makes it easy to work with. However, lightweight siding options may not protect your home in the long run, which is one reason why it may be better to choose fiber cement siding instead.

There are other drawbacks to vinyl siding as well, such as:

• Water Damage: Water-damaged siding can wreak a lot of havoc on your home. If your siding is not installed properly, moisture from water can easily seep through and lead to problems such as mold, water leaks, and structural damage.
• Not Fireproof: LP SmartSide Siding is highly susceptible to fire, which poses a significant risk to both the occupants of the building and the surrounding environment.
• Durability Issues: Despite being marketed as a highly durable and long-lasting option, some homeowners have reported durability issues with LP SmartSide siding. In particular, the siding has been known to crack, warp, and split under extreme weather conditions.

James Hardie vs. LP SmartSide Warranty Offers

James Hardie fiber cement siding provides homeowners with a transferable 30-year warranty without any decrease in coverage as time passes. This is a valuable benefit compared to other siding companies. Furthermore, the ColorPlus Technology of James Hardie is guaranteed for 15 years, covering peeling, chipping, and cracking, which includes labor and materials.

LP Smart Siding offers both a five-year and 50-year warranty option to cover material replacement and labor expenses. However, the 50-year warranty is prorated, meaning you may have to pay for a portion of repairs and labor in the future, depending on the year and damage of the material.

Which Type of Siding Is Right For My Home?

At Stateline Exteriors, we specialize in James Hardie fiber cement siding installation. With a variety of color and style options, as well as a 30-year, complete coverage warranty, James Hardie board continues to be the most durable and resilient siding product on the market.

For professional insight or to schedule your siding replacement, turn to StateLine Exteriors. Contact us today, and let’s find the right siding for you!