When deciding to re-side your home, it can be difficult to get a handle on all the terms. It's exciting once you start researching siding options for appearance and inspiration, but understanding the substrate specifics can be daunting. It's important to learn the key differences before jumping into a decision.
A good place to start is understanding the difference between composite siding vs. engineered wood siding, as composite siding is one of the most popular options around. Traditionally, composite siding is made up of fibrous wood pieces as a base that is bonded with additional materials. However, there are also composite siding options that do not use wood as the base (for example using cement instead). There are many different composite siding options to choose from, with one of those being engineered wood siding.
Specifically, LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding is an engineered wood siding that features proprietary technology for protection against hail, wind, moisture, fungal decay and termites. LP SmartSide Trim & Siding is made of Aspen, a light wood that includes minimal extractives or tannins that could stain and bleed through, which helps improve appearance. During the manufacturing process, the product is cut and sliced into strands.
"The strand size is important," said Matt Vrazel, the Process and Product Development Manager at LP Building Solutions. "If the strand is too small, it compromises strength. If the strand is too large, it creates too many variations in density."
LP SmartSide siding is made up of wood strands about the size of a business card that are coated with a moisture-resistant overlay and compressed to create superior strength. It is treated with zinc borate that a) is proven to resist termites and fungal decay, b) manufactured to resist moisture and c) provides extreme durability to stand up to impact.
If your contractor uses the term "composite siding," be sure to ask for further clarification. Since you now know that composite siding is a broad category with many options under its vast umbrella, you are well on your way to being a pro when selecting one that you will be happy with for the years to come.
Planning to refresh your home's trim and fascia? Hoping to change the exterior entirely with a full re-side project? No matter your plans, choosing siding and trim colors can be difficult. Mentally visualizing how your home will look with a new product is a challenge-and it's even tougher to imagine the amount of change even just updating trim will bring. That's where the LP® SmartSide® Home Visualizer, a siding visualizer tool, comes in. This free tool can help you explore home siding ideas to find the best siding color combinations for your home. Read more to find out how to use the tool-and why LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding can make all the difference for your home.
Continue ReadingRe-siding your home is a significant investment and a long-term decision on your home's look. One of the first steps to siding a house is choosing a siding material that fits your needs. Being involved as you review types of siding and cost can give you confidence in your plans and peace of mind that the materials you choose are built to last. Liz Marie Galvan of the Liz Marie Blog shares her journey toward choosing LP® SmartSide® ExpertFinish® Trim & Siding for her upcoming home re-siding project.
In this hiring a contractor checklist you’ll find expert guidance in connecting with the right contractor for your re-side project, including questions to ask and quick tips.
Let’s break down the limited warranty for LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding so you can be one step closer to choosing one of the most durable siding solutions on the market.