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The Daily Insight

Is LP siding fiber cement

Author

Rachel Hickman

Published Feb 23, 2026

Comparison of James Hardie and LP SmartSide. James Hardie siding is made from a combination of cement materials and cellulose fibers. … However, the siding is 90 percent sand and cement. LP SmartSide siding is made from wood strands coated with wax.

What is LP siding made out of?

LP SmartSide siding looks more like traditional wood because it’s made of wood – wood strands and fibers that are treated with zinc borate to resist damage from termites and fungal decay.

What type of siding is cement fiber?

Fiber cement siding is an alternative to real wood and vinyl siding. It is made from a mix of wood pulp, fly ash and Portland cement. Here’s how these materials work together to create fiber cement: Wood pulp helps prevent cracking and improves the flexibility and resilience.

How can you tell if siding is fiber cement?

The key to tell if you have fiber cement siding is to check for a wood-grain pressing. Older models of asbestos siding used a similar approach to make the siding look natural—which makes sense, because fiber cement siding was made to replace asbestos.

Is LP siding woodpecker proof?

Below are some of the most common siding types to find woodpecker damage according to the Cornell Lab: Aluminum/Vinyl Siding – Houses with aluminum or vinyl siding are not typically prone to woodpecker damage.

What does LP siding stand for?

To prevent termite damage, rot and decay, Louisiana Pacific (LP) uses a special manufacturing process. The end result is a much more durable wood panel. LP® siding offers the beautiful and distinct look of real wood for unbelievable visual appeal without any sacrifice in quality.

Is LP cheaper than Hardie?

LP is cheaper because both the materials and labor cost less than Hardie siding. On average, Hardie siding costs $7-9.5 per sq. ft. installed, where as LP siding costs $5.5 – 7.5 per sq.

Is LP siding maintenance free?

In fact, one of the greatest benefits of traditional vinyl siding is that it is still relatively inexpensive. In addition, it’s virtually maintenance free, doesn’t rot, blister, chip or peel, and you never need to paint it.

When was LP siding recall?

What Were the Recall Years of LP Inner-Seal Siding? LP Inner-Seal siding was produced from 1985-1995. In 1996, a class-action lawsuit was filed against LP citing manufacturing issues with the composite siding. This was a big deal.

How can you tell LP siding?

LP Inner Seal siding can be identified by the classic LP knot that is embossed into the siding – see attached photo. The timing is a little fuzzy, but to my understanding, LP stopped making Inner Seal siding around 1996, and they started making a similar and improved product called SmartSide starting around 2000.

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Is Hardie board the same as fiber cement?

Fiber cement siding is often called “hardiplank” or even “hardie board” named from the most popular brand of fiber cement siding which is manufactured by James Hardie. … It is also installed in much the same way as traditional lapboard or wood siding, as it is nailed directly to your home.

How do I know what type of siding I have?

The best way to tell what type of siding it is, is to go to an unfinished area like the attic, and look on the backside of the board to find the manufacturer’s name or an AHA code (The American Hardboard Association). This will help you determine the manufacturer of the product and where it was made.

What is behind fiber cement siding?

Fiber-cement siding composition may vary from company to company, but the basic recipe is Portland cement, sand, and cellulose (wood) fibers. Wood fiber helps prevent cracking, as does a special curing process that leaves fiber cement with a low moisture content.

What are the disadvantages of fiber cement siding?

  • It is not available for direct order from the manufacturer. …
  • It comes with a higher labor cost than other materials. …
  • It requires you to re-paint the siding at some point during its lifetime. …
  • It is not a recyclable material.

Is fiber cement siding any good?

Durability. Fiber cement is a material that does not warp, crack, or dent easily. It can withstand very hot and sub-freezing temperatures. Fiber cement siding holds up against heavy rain, hail, sleet, snow, and windstorms. It can even withstand hurricane-level storms.

Can woodpeckers peck through cement board?

Fiber cement is composed of cement, sand, and cellulose. Its toughness offers no welcome mat to woodpeckers: Food—It’s too hard to peck a hole in, so woodpeckers are unable to store their food in it and are unable to find insects inside it.

Does fiber cement siding stop woodpeckers?

Fiber cement siding is the best solution to prevent woodpecker damage. … Cement, sand, and cellulose make up fiber cement siding. James Hardie siding is made with materials that resemble wood without the vulnerability to damage from pests.

Do birds peck through vinyl siding?

Vinyl siding can deter woodpeckers from pecking at your house. Vinyl siding is insect resistant, hard, and durable.

What is the difference between Hardie board and LP SmartSide?

The primary difference between SmartSide and Hardie siding warranties is that SmartSide offers a 50-year, prorated limited warranty, while Hardie offers a 30-year, non-prorated warranty. You’ll want to not look at just the length of the warranty, but also at what it does and does not cover.

Is LP SmartSide worth the money?

While LP SmartSide has a few disadvantages, overall, it’s an excellent siding choice for efficiency and aesthetics. All you need now is a siding contractor to help you install it.

What is better vinyl siding or Hardie Plank?

To start, vinyl can become more brittle with age and exposure to the elements. It can be damaged by wind debris, hail or any number of other external forces and may crack, buckle and warp with changing temperatures. By contrast, Hardie® fiber cement siding is more durable and up to 5x thicker than vinyl siding.

What's wrong with LP siding?

LP’s Inner-Seal siding featured a 25-year warranty. However, in many cases, the siding rotted, disintegrated, and became discolored. Some plaintiffs alleged that the siding grew fungi. The product’s instability was readily apparent in the aftermath of South Florida’s devastating encounter with Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

Is LP siding waterproof?

Although most siding products are not completely waterproof nor flood resistant, LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding is engineered with LP’s proprietary SmartGuard® process to withstand siding water damage and help protect your home from moisture.

Is LP siding an OSB?

This siding is made from chips of wood glued together to make a building material commonly called OSB “oriented strand board”. … OSB is widely used as a substitute for plywood, mainly due to cost.

How often does LP siding need to be painted?

On average, engineered wood siding usually requires repainting every 5 to 10 years as compared to wood siding, which usually needs repainting every 3 to 5 years. Vinyl siding also may be painted if the color has faded.

Can you pressure wash LP smart siding?

To keep your home siding looking its best, use a cloth, sponge or soft brush and a bucket filled with a solution of mild detergent and water to wash the surface. … Avoid using a pressure washer on LP SmartSide siding. High-pressure washing can cause moisture intrusion, discoloration and damage to the paint.

Is LP SmartSide being discontinued?

She said sales of LP’s SmartSide fiber-based siding, produced at the Roaring River plant, have continued to decline and the company decided to discontinue production of fiber-based siding in the U.S. by the end of 2020.

What is the strongest siding?

  • Engineered Wood. As the most durable siding on the market, engineered wood combines the aesthetics of real wood with engineered wood strand technology for superior durability. …
  • Vinyl Siding. …
  • Fiber Cement. …
  • Traditional Wood. …
  • Cedar Shake. …
  • Aluminum.

Is LP smart siding more expensive than vinyl?

Vinyl siding costs way less than LP Smartside Engineered Wood Siding. This explains why it’s used by most homeowners looking to renovate their homes on a budget. … On the other hand, LP Smartside siding can cost up to twice the amount of the vinyl cost, making it a more expensive choice.

What type of siding lasts the longest?

Vinyl Siding: 60+ years (warranties last between 20-40 years) Fiber Cement Siding: 50+ years. Stucco Siding: 50-80 years, depending on how it is backed. Metal Siding: Up to 40 years.

Does LP siding need to be painted?

According to the terms of LP’s application instructions, all exposed edges of LP® SmartSide® siding and trim must be primed and painted with approved paint to protect the siding substrate. The back side is better left unpainted.