Mar 20 2013
Spring is a great time to reside your house, whether to increase your home's value or to replace damaged siding, but be sure to evaluate all your siding options. Residential siding exteriors do not all perform the same.
Weather attacks a home's siding year-round with freeze-thaw cycles, sun, severe storms, wind and water. These elements, when combined with other threats from termites and household wear and tear, can leave any siding materials damaged.
During the past 15 years though, builders have used more than six billion square feet of LP® SmartSide® Trim and Siding, making it one of the most trusted names in treated engineered wood siding and one of the fastest-growing brands of siding materials in America. LP SmartSide products are backed by LP Building Products' industry-leading 5-year 100 percent labor and replacement feature and a 50-year prorated, limited warranty on the siding substrate.
LP SmartSide products offer the beauty of natural wood, with deep shadow lines for a premium cedar appearance. They are tested for toughness and water and impact resistance and have the durability of a treated engineered wood product to withstand harsh weather elements. LP SmartSide products are manufactured with LP's proprietary SmartGuard® process, a proven advanced technology that helps siding resist fungal decay and termites.
"LP has led the industry in developing a full portfolio of treated engineered wood siding products with the beautiful, authentic look of real wood and high resistance to damage from water and impact," said Jennifer Jenkins , LP SmartSide segment marketing manager. "The product is designed to perform for decades, providing long-lasting curb appeal. When compared against vinyl or fiber cement solutions, more and more contractors and consumers are choosing LP SmartSide for its exceptional durability and industry-leading warranty."
How do other popular siding products compare to LP SmartSide siding and trim? You'll need to do your own research to decide, but here is additional information to consider.
Fiber cement vs. engineered wood – freeze-thaw cycles from Denver to Boston
Fiber cement siding is typically more brittle than engineered wood, making it more susceptible to breaking or cracking (www.lpsmartside.com) such as from an errantly thrown ball.
Cracking may also occur when water penetrates and remains in the cement substrate and freezes and expands as the outside temperature falls. Repeated cycles of freeze and thaw may enlarge the cracks.
In fact, freeze-thaw cycles can occur multiple times in a day. Following from the National Climatic Data Center are examples of U.S. cities and their average annual freeze-thaw cycles: Denver, 105; Minneapolis 51; Chicago, 56; St. Louis, 46; Washington, D.C., 76; Philadelphia, 52; New York, 39; Hartford, Conn., 75; and Boston, 47.
Vinyl vs. engineered wood
Although vinyl siding is popular in some parts of the country, it will fade over time to a different and unpredictable shade. It is difficult to refinish. Vinyl becomes more brittle in the winter in colder climates and as such is susceptible to cracking from impact against it. Even in warmer seasons, pliable vinyl siding is susceptible to damage from impact from stones thrown by a lawn mower, baseballs or hail.
Homeowners may not know that because vinyl is affixed more loosely on the house to allow for contraction and expansion, a strong wind event may cause the siding to chatter on the underneath structure and adjacent pieces of vinyl. Finally, because of its material properties, vinyl siding may be more challenging to dispose of responsibly.
Traditional wood vs. engineered wood
Unlike some traditional wood siding, LP SmartSide products resist warping, checking and splitting. Traditional wood typically requires more maintenance than other siding materials. This includes paint scraping and more frequent painting because traditional wood expands and contracts more through the seasons than engineered wood.
In addition to better termite and fungal decay resistance via the innovative SmartGuard process, LP SmartSide products are factory pre-primed to take and keep paint well, delivering optimal adhesion and consistent application.
To contact an LP preferred remodeler to get started on a home project right away, visit www.smartsidenow.com/find-contractor.
To visualize a personalized exterior residential siding project, visit www.smartsidenow.com/design-planner.