Choose vinyl if…
$5.50–$8.50 per sq ft · insulated $7.50–$10.50
- Budget is the main driver
- You want no painting, ever
- You may sell within 5 to 10 years
- You are happy with light or mid-tone colors, which hold up best in full sun
Choose LP SmartSide if…
$8.50–$13 per sq ft
- You want a painted-wood look for less than fiber cement
- You want long 16-foot boards with fewer seams
- Hail dents are a worry but budget is tight
- Your siding will sit well clear of soil, mulch and roof lines
Choose James Hardie if…
$9–$14 per sq ft
- You plan to stay 10 years or more
- You want the longest-lasting, non-combustible siding
- Woodpeckers or wildfire embers are a concern
- You want ColorPlus factory paint that holds for 15 years or more
| Vinyl | LP SmartSide | James Hardie | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installed price | $5.50–$8.50/sq ft | $8.50–$13/sq ft | $9–$14/sq ft |
| Typical lifespan | 20–40 years | 25–40 years, if kept sealed | 30–50 years |
| Product warranty | Limited lifetime on most brands, read the proration | 5-year full replacement, 50-year limited prorated | 30-year non-prorated on HardiePlank |
| Hail | Can crack, worst on cold days | Resists dents and cracks well | Will not dent; edges can chip in large hail |
| Woodpeckers | Can be holed | Can be damaged | Resists them |
| Fire | Melts and burns | Wood-based, treated | Non-combustible |
| Painting | Never needed; painting voids some warranties | Factory-primed or prefinished; repaint every 10–15 years | ColorPlus lasts 15+ years; primed boards need paint within 180 days |
| Board length | About 12 ft | 16 ft | 12 ft |
| Weakness to watch | Heat distortion from reflections and grills | Water at cut edges and ground contact | Weight and cost; needs skilled install |
LP SmartSide vs James Hardie: the real differences
This is the comparison people search most, and both are good products. The differences that matter on an Indiana house:
- Water. Fiber cement is cement, sand and cellulose; it is not harmed by getting wet. LP SmartSide is resin-treated wood strands. It performs well when every cut edge is sealed, it stays at least 6 inches above soil and an inch or more clear of roofs, and damaged paint is touched up. Ignore that and it swells.
- Impact. LP flexes, so it shrugs off hail and stray baseballs that can chip a Hardie corner. Hardie will not dent but can crack if hit very hard.
- Weight and install. Hardie is about 2.3 pounds per square foot and is cut with dust control. LP is lighter and cuts like wood, which can mean a slightly lower labor price.
- Fire and pests. Hardie is non-combustible and nothing eats it. LP is treated against termites and fungal decay, but it is still wood.
- Finish. Both come prefinished. Hardie’s ColorPlus finish carries a 15-year warranty in its own right.
Is fiber cement better than vinyl?
It is more durable, looks more like painted wood, and holds up better to hail and heat. It is not better on cost or maintenance: it costs 30 to 50 percent more installed and eventually needs repainting, while vinyl never does. If you stay long enough, fiber cement’s longer life closes much of the gap.
Vinyl grades matter more than brands
Vinyl is sold by thickness. Builder grade is about 0.040 inch; mid grades run 0.042 to 0.044; premium is 0.046 inch or thicker. Thicker panels stay flatter on long walls, resist wind and dents better, and are what we install on most re-sides. Insulated vinyl adds a foam backer, which stiffens the panel even more (see whether insulated vinyl is worth it).
| What | Price range |
|---|---|
| Standard vinyl siding, installed | $5.50–$8.50 per square foot of wall |
| Insulated vinyl siding, installed | $7.50–$10.50 per square foot of wall |
| Engineered wood (LP SmartSide) siding, installed | $8.50–$13 per square foot of wall |
| James Hardie fiber cement siding, installed | $9–$14 per square foot of wall |
The services involved
Questions people ask
Which is better, LP SmartSide or James Hardie?
Hardie is better where water, fire and woodpeckers are the concern, and it lasts longer. LP SmartSide is better on impact resistance, weight, board length and price. On an Indiana house with good roof overhangs and siding kept clear of the ground, both perform well; Hardie is the safer choice on low, splash-prone walls.
What are the disadvantages of engineered wood siding?
It is wood, so it needs care that cement and vinyl do not: cut edges must be sealed, it must stay at least 6 inches off soil and mulch, and scratches through the paint should be touched up. It can be damaged by woodpeckers, and it needs repainting every 10 to 15 years.
What are the different grades of vinyl siding?
Vinyl is graded by thickness: builder grade around 0.040 inch, standard 0.042 to 0.044 inch, and premium 0.046 inch or thicker. Insulated vinyl adds a contoured foam backer. Thicker and insulated panels stay straighter, resist dents and look less like vinyl from the street.