8 Reasons Why LP® SmartSide® Outranks Fiber Cement Siding
Who is Louisiana Pacific (LP)?
Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, LP was established in 1973. LP® SmartSide® is one of the fastest growing brands used for exterior siding installations in America today. The reason they are at the top of their game is because LP bases their values as a company on:
- Safety
- Protection of the environment
- Compliance with all laws and acting ethically and with high integrity in all that we do
- Providing quality products and service to our customers
- Respecting people and projecting fairness
- A commitment to teamwork
- A commitment to continuous improvement
- A commitment to our communities
We are going to explain to you below why choosing LP® SmartSide® is the best investment for your siding project because of durability, environmental responsibility and their unmatched warranties.
Why Installing LP® SmartSide® Over Fiber Cement Is The Right Choice
1. Unmatched LP® Siding Warranty
LP® SmartSide® offers a category leading 5/50 warranty which provides a 5-year, 100% labor and replacement feature as well as a 50-year prorated warranty on the product. Most fiber cement companies have completely different warranties that don’t compete with LP®’s impressive warranty.
2. LP® SmartSide® Cost Advantages
LP® SmartSide® lap siding is priced competitively to fiber cement siding. Increased work process efficiencies with installation and less waste on the job is a large part of this. In a test conducted by the National Association of Home Builders showed that SmartSide® installs at least 12% faster than fiber cement proving this theory.
3. 33% Fewer Siding Seams
SmartSide® comes in 16’ lengths vs. 12’ that fiber cement comes in resulting in less unsightly seams and joints on your home.
4. Engineered Wood Siding Features The Most Realistic Texture On The Market
SmartSide® provides a more realistic cedar texture than fiber cement. In blind testing conducted with homeowners SmartSide® was chosen the most due to the deeper embossed cedar grain pattern compared to other fiber cement products on the market.
5. Locally Made American Siding
LP® is an American based company in Nashville, TN. There are three mills right in our area in Two Harbors, MN, Tomahawk & Hayward, WI. A lot of other fiber cement companies are headquartered in foreign countries such as Japan, France & Mexico.
6. Installing LP® Smart Siding Is Safer Than Fiber Cement Siding
Unlike SmartSide®, fiber cement products require special safety training, special gear to protect against airborne silica and specific cutting tools. Many fiber cement products contain silica & fly ash which can be a potential health hazard if it becomes airborne. SmartSide® does not manufacture their products with these elements and uses zinc borate which does not come with the risk of health hazards.
7. Most Durable Siding Option
SmartSide® is not affected by efflorescence, unlike its fiber cement counterpart, which is due to salts and minerals leaching out of the product while drying. Efflorescence can be very difficult, expensive and time consuming to fix. SmartSide® is unmatched in its durability from life’s natural occurrences such as hail, kids & lawnmowers just to name a few. Since 1996 LP® has rigorously tested SmartSide® in Hilo, Hawaii which has an average annual rainfall of 170 inches and with that amount of rain and temperatures consistently around 75 degrees it is a harsh jungle environment. This backs up why they have installed siding 3.5 million homes in the last 15 years without one complaint because they care how their product performs.
8. “Green” Is a Top Priority on Their List
LP® takes land-use stewardship seriously by representing one of the industry’s highest commitments to sustainable forestry. They ensure and preserve prompt reforestation, soil conservation, water quality and wildlife habitats. They are a part of the SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) which verifies all SmartSide® products are manufactured from certified wood. LP’s commitment to sustainability does not stop with the production of their product it extends through their supply chain, with a focus on reducing waste and their carbon footprint wherever they can. LP is currently working with raw material suppliers to develop bio-based resins and waxes intended to reduce their dependency on fossil fuels. They have migrated to EPA Tier3 emissions-compliant vehicles to be more fuel-efficient. They have partnered up with the EPA joining the SmartWay Transport Partnership. SmartWay is a partnership between the EPA and transportation companies promoting fuel efficiency by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Lindus Construction is proud to be a Platinum member of LP®’s Build Smart Preferred Remodeler Program. We have gone through extensive training with LP through jobsite audits and LP University to make sure that every job is done to the specifications that the manufacturer entails. We also offer a visual remodeler program that allows you to view LP® SmartSide® on your current home. LP® SmartSide® comes in 100 different profiles so the possibilities are endless!!
