LP SmartSide vs James Hardie vs Vinyl: What We Install in Idaho and North Dakota and Why

Most homeowners only replace siding once in the time they own a house. That makes the choice of material kind of permanent. Once you pick, you live with it for 20 to 50 years. This post walks

through the three siding products we install most often in Idaho and North Dakota, why we recommend each one, and which one we end up putting on most of our jobs.

If you would rather just get a free estimate with real numbers, call us. Boise (208) 295-9421 or Fargo (701) 831-0710.

The three options we install most often

There are dozens of siding products on the market. We get asked about all of them. In practice, three account for almost every residential job we do in the Treasure Valley and the FM metro:

LP SmartSide engineered wood siding. James Hardie fiber cement. Vinyl siding.

A handful of homes get something else (real cedar shake, metal panel, brick veneer, stucco). We install most of those too, but they are not the typical residential choice and we cover them quickly at the end.

LP SmartSide engineered wood siding

LP SmartSide is what we install on most Treasure Valley and FM metro homes. It is engineered wood, which means real wood strands compressed and bonded with adhesives and treated against rot, fungus, and insects. It looks like real cedar. It paints like real cedar. It does not behave like real cedar.

Why we like it for our markets:

It handles freeze-thaw cycles really well. Fiber cement can get brittle in cold-weather installs. LP SmartSide stays flexible enough to take the temperature swings we get in both markets without cracking at the joints.

It is lighter than fiber cement. Lighter material means faster installs and less stress on your framing. A typical LP SmartSide install runs a couple days faster than the same home in James Hardie, which keeps labor cost down.

It is pre-primed from the factory. You can leave it factory-primed or paint it whatever color you want. We finish-paint after install on most projects so the color is consistent across every panel and trim piece.

The 50-year limited warranty is one of the best in the industry. The product is also rated for hail impact up to 1.75 inches, which matters in the FM metro.

The drawbacks:

It is still wood at the end of the day. If a panel gets a deep gouge that exposes the core, the damage can fail over time. We see this very rarely, but it is possible.

It costs slightly more than vinyl. Less than fiber cement, more than vinyl.

James Hardie fiber cement

Fiber cement is a mix of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers pressed into siding panels. James Hardie is the dominant brand and the one we install almost exclusively when fiber cement is the right call.

Why we install it:

Fire resistance. James Hardie is rated non-combustible. This matters for homes in higher fire-risk areas. Less of a factor in the FM metro, more of a factor in some Idaho neighborhoods.

It does not expand or contract much with temperature changes. The look stays tight at the seams for decades.

Long manufacturer warranties. James Hardie offers a 30-year non-prorated warranty on most of its product lines.

The look is heavier and more substantial than vinyl. Some homeowners prefer it for that reason.

The drawbacks:

It is heavy. Installs take longer, cost more in labor, and the framing has to be solid underneath.

It is brittle in very cold weather. In the FM metro, we do not install fiber cement in January or February if we can avoid it. The panels can crack at the cuts during cold-weather installs.

It costs more than LP SmartSide for the same size home. Usually 15 to 25 percent more on the total job.

It can chip if struck hard. Hailstones, soccer balls, and lawn equipment can leave permanent marks.

When we recommend it: when fire resistance is a priority, when the home has the budget for it, and when the homeowner specifically wants the fiber cement look.

Vinyl siding

Vinyl is the cheapest of the three. It is a PVC product extruded into siding panels. Most homes built in the United States between 1990 and 2010 are wrapped in vinyl.

We will install vinyl when a homeowner asks for it, but we usually steer toward LP SmartSide because:

Vinyl gets brittle in cold weather. Cracks, splits, and color fade are common after 15 years in the FM metro and after 20 years in Idaho.

It fades. UV exposure dulls the color over time. There is no good way to repaint vinyl that holds up.

Hail does real damage. Even mid-size hail can crack vinyl panels. Replacement is harder because matching the exact color of older vinyl is often impossible.

Manufacturer warranties are nowhere near as good as LP SmartSide or James Hardie. Most vinyl warranties have so many exclusions they are nearly worthless.

It does not look the same as the engineered wood or fiber cement options. The seams are visible. The texture is plasticky.

When we install it: budget jobs where the homeowner needs the lowest possible up-front cost and accepts the lifespan trade-off. Or rental properties where the math favors the cheap option.

What about real cedar, metal, brick, stucco?

We install all of these. Most homes in our markets are not getting any of them, but if you are interested:

Real cedar: beautiful, expensive, high-maintenance. Needs to be re-stained or re-painted every 5 to 7 years. We mostly use cedar for accent panels, gable ends, and trim, not full siding.

Metal panel: durable, low-maintenance, modern look. We install metal more often on commercial projects than residential. For homes, it is a niche choice.

Brick veneer: usually a builder choice during original construction. We do not replace existing brick with new brick siding. If your home has brick and you want to change material, we tear off and replace with one of the three main options above.

Stucco: rare in our markets. We do not install stucco from scratch. We will repair existing stucco when needed.

Our recommendation for most homes

If you came to us with a typical 2,000 to 3,000 square foot home in Boise, Meridian, or Fargo and asked what we would put on it, the answer is LP SmartSide nine times out of ten. It looks great, holds up to the weather we get, comes with a strong warranty, and lands in a price range most homeowners can work with.

If you have a higher budget, want maximum fire resistance, or specifically want the heavier fiber cement look, we install James Hardie.

If your priority is the lowest possible up-front cost, we install vinyl. We will tell you what to expect for lifespan and what the trade-offs are before we start.

Free in-person estimates

The numbers we mention in this post are general. The number that actually matters is the one we write after we measure your home in person. The estimate is free, takes about an hour on site, and we leave with a written proposal in your hand. No deposit and no pressure to sign.

Boise / Treasure Valley: (208) 295-9421

Fargo / FM Metro: (701) 831-0710