Contractor's Corner: Inside-Out Construction in Chicago, Illinois

If you are thinking about re-siding or updating your exterior, and you are looking for the cheapest way to do it, please stop reading and go to your nearest big-box store and purchase some vinyl house siding from the “Pro desk.” Just kidding. Here's the deal. If you have made the decision to re-side your home and you've put away your hard-earned dollars to get it done, the most sensible, cost-effective and purely beautiful solution is LP^® SmartSide^® Siding and Trim.

Done! Oh, what? You want facts? It's simple. If you do a side-by-side comparison of fiber cement siding and trim with LP SmartSide siding and trim, there is no comparison. Yes, fiber cement siding looks somewhat like real wood when it is on, and yes, it is ignition-resistant, but let me impart some of my siding wisdom here. What would you do if the siding you just spent a ton of money on to install falls off your house? No, not because you had a bad installer, not because your home was hit by a natural disaster – but because it went through a couple of freeze/thaw cycles that we often experience here in the Midwest. I have personally seen the product delaminate, peel, crack, chad and literally expand to the point where it pulls the fasteners from the walls.

Comparing LP^® SmartSide^® with Fiber Cement

There are some major differences between LP SmartSide and fiber cement siding to consider. Here are the down-and-dirty, side-by-side comparisons.

• Composition. Fiber cement is composed of a small amount of wood fiber and mostly Portland cement, while SmartSide engineered wood uses treated wood strands combined with a resin binder for strength. These materials make engineered wood lighter and less susceptible to breakage than fiber cement.
• Appearance. Our customers can't stop talking about the rich, natural-looking cedar grain texture of LP SmartSide house siding. While fiber cement is also manufactured with a woodgrain look, its appearance is simply not as authentic. In addition, LP SmartSide products will not discolor from efflorescence, a challenge associated with cement-based siding.
• Costs. Engineered wood may be less expensive than fiber cement siding, and it's much easier to install. Our crews love the long 16-foot lengths of the planks because this makes installation faster and simpler, with no special tools required. It may also result fewer seams on the wall.
• Warranty. Fiber cement siding products are typically covered by a 30-Year Limited Warranty, while LP^® SmartSide^® trim and siding is backed by a Prorated 50-Year Limited Warranty on the substrate including a 5-year, 100 % labor and replacement feature.

A Real-Life Example

In 2011, Lake Barrington Shores Condominium Six Homeowners' Association determined that the siding on its condo units should be completely removed and replaced. An architectural firm hired to make recommendations provided three options for replacing the siding: LP SmartSide, fiber cement siding, and cedar. The siding committee did an extensive review of all three options, and determined that LP SmartSide was the choice the association should go with.

Of all the siding contractors the board considered, Inside-Out Construction was the only one that could commit to completing the Association's 30 buildings in one construction year, which meant significant cost savings for the association. The buildings are spread out over three small streets, so Inside-Out designed the project to minimize, as much as possible, the footprint and disruption to residents. In spite of delays that were caused by weather and some minor supply issues, Inside-Out completed the project within the time frame, as promised.

Here's what Janet Nievelt, president of LBS Condominium Six Homeowners' Association, had to say about the completed project. "Our buildings look beautiful and are the envy of the rest of our community. The robust labor and materials warranties for LP SmartSide will contribute to a very low maintenance cost for years going forward, and while this was the primary reason for choosing this siding material, I don't think we really appreciated how great the siding looks, and how well it fits into what is still largely a cedar siding community," Nievelt said.

Conclusion

So there you have it. I know, you're surprised the writer of this piece supports LP products, but if there's anything I've learned from being in the business 25 years, you can't stay in business for that long if you use subpar products! Do yourself a favor: go with LP SmartSide siding. Like many clients, you'll thank me for it later.

Are you an LP SmartSide contractor, or would you like to become one? Learn more about SmartSide products and the LP BuildSmart Preferred Contractor Program!