IBS 2017: LP SmartSide Siding vs Fiber-Cement Siding
Side by side with the competition, SmartSide wins at the IBS LP booth.
Made from treated OSB, LP’s SmartSide can take a blow better than fiber-cement siding. Not sure if it’s a fair test, as the siding doesn’t have sheathing behind it, but if you’re looking for something that can stand up to baseballs, basketballs, and hockey pucks, it’s worth a look. Available in many styles and prefinished, it’s also said to be cost-competitive with fiber-cement siding.
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In California Shear wall would be applied so there will be backing what is the lp warranty for the wood treated OSB?
50 year warranty. The product is treated so it doesn't absorb water. They offer trim and soffit pieces that look like wood which can't get with Fiber cement. It's priced the same as fiber cement and is way easier to work with. You can also get it prefinished from Diamondkote. 30 year no fade warranty and you don't have to paint when your are done. There is an up charge but it is comparable to the cost of a good paint job. Pretty slick stuff.
Agreed,that this is an unfair test. That not how fiber-cement is installed. Wouldn't the comparison be more helpful if the fiber cement is backed with sheathing? How much damage is caused then?
I am in the process of installing smartside on my own house. I am using a rain screen system too, so the test above is very good representation of that scenario, though I don't know of too many 10lb hailstones that may be coming at me.
I did find it 30% less costly than FC in my market in the Midwest. 16' pieces instead of 12', and easy one-man install also factored in my decision. Their trim is also easy to work with, but caulking all joints is required.
Use Caution! I know cost is a factor, it was when I installed the product on my house 20 years ago. This product has been around for awhile, LP changed the name after a class action law suit which they lost. The problem is with the cut edges. I dont care how well you seal the edges, (last repair I primed two coats, rubbed it with painters caulk then one coat of paint) it will fail unless you are able to repaint. All the edges where a vertical wall meets a roof cant be reached with a brush. Keep those edges at least 3/4 or even an inch above the shingles. Good luck and dont under any circumstances face nail
I had bad results with LP siding some 20 years ago. This product does't seem much different, as it is OSB based.
I don't like the fake wood grain. FC can be installed as either, but I don't think this LP comes in smooth.
We use smart side often. It comes with a 30 year warranty and here in the Rocky Mountain W. Performs Way better than fiber cement. Our company will never use fiber cement because it's too brittle and will crack with large swings in temperature, No matter how well it is installed. Not to mention what a pain fiber cement is to work with. Unlike another commentor we have put LP smart side through a rigorous one year freezing and mold growing bucket test with no problems with any kind of water absorption or swelling. We also have this product installed on a cabin in that 10,500 feet elevation where 8 feet of snow sits against it all winter long and it has held up perfectly. Besides stucco or corrugated metal siding this is truly a no maintenance product. I am not paid by LP or anything like that it just really is a great product, looks just like fiber cement. Which isn't saying much but it looks good enough for the maintenance factor.