LP^® SmartSide^® Homeowner Spotlight: Achieving a Sleek, Modern Aesthetic with LP^® SmartSide^® ExpertFinish^® Trim & Siding

The Background

When it came time for homeowners Chris and Jennifer Walker to replace the original aluminum siding on their 1980s Craftsman style home, they were looking for a Craftsman style siding option that would not only preserve some of the home's traditional exterior features but also subtly modernize the overall aesthetic to keep up with current exterior design trends.

Located in Lakeville, Minnesota, they were also seeking a siding durable enough to give them confidence that it would stand up to extreme weather conditions—ranging from hot, humid climates to freezing temperatures—for years to come.

Throughout the planning process, the Walkers said they primarily compared engineered wood siding vs. fiber cement in their search for the most durable siding option to meet their aesthetic and durability needs. “As a mason, I've worked with a diverse set of materials and experienced how easy it is to damage fiber cement,” says Chris. “After seeing how durable it is to work with, I'm completely confident in the ability of LP^® SmartSide^® siding products to hold up to the different weather extremes we see in Minnesota.”

The Build

In looking for a contractor the Walkers asked a neighbor, whose recent re-side they were particularly impressed with, for a recommendation. They were then introduced to Buck Christensen, owner of Eagle Siding and LP^® BuildSmart^™ Preferred Contractor, and aligned on LP^® SmartSide^® siding as the most durable siding option to achieve their goals of easy maintenance, providing longevity amid harsher climates and, of course, adding curb appeal. Next came color...

With 16 prefinished colors, LP^® SmartSide^® ExpertFinish^® Trim & Siding offered the Walkers a diverse set of trending exterior house colors to choose from to achieve a more modern look. By using the LP^® SmartSide^® Visualizer Tool, LP's siding visualizer tool that allows homeowners to tailor color and design elements to create a design mock-up of their home, the Walkers decided on the neutral, cool tone of Tundra Gray for their LP SmartSide ExpertFinish siding. This color not only complemented the earthy tones in the stone accents, it made the house pop, adding to the home's overall curb appeal while offering advanced durability.

“Before our contractor introduced us to LP SmartSide ExpertFinish siding, we were so overwhelmed by all of the color choices and excessive shades of each color possible in paint stores that we actually spent a few years just looking at colors! As soon as we looked at the color options of LP SmartSide ExpertFinish siding, we both agreed Tundra Gray was what we were looking for all along. The color selection of LP SmartSide ExpertFinish Trim & Siding is so versatile that you can pair any of them together and achieve various exterior styles within just this color palette.” —Jennifer Walker

The LP SmartSide Advantage

The Walkers' home is elevated on a hill, making it a focal point of their neighborhood. Because of the high visibility of their home from every angle, the Walkers wanted their remodeling project to create an aesthetic they could be proud of and that they knew would last through extreme humidity and winter weather. By choosing LP SmartSide ExpertFinish siding, they not only achieved confidence that their re-side would provide siding inspiration for their neighbors, they gained peace of mind that their home's exterior facelift would make a statement for years to come.

When asked what advice they would give others looking into home siding ideas, Chris says, “We'd recommend LP SmartSide ExpertFinish Trim & Siding to anyone because it's simply superior. It's going to last longer and hold up to extreme weather better than fiber cement, and look much nicer than other contemporary siding options, like traditional vinyl siding.” In addition to their firsthand experiences and recommendations around LP SmartSide siding, the industry-leading LP SmartSide ExpertFinish Trim & Siding limited warranty gives the Walkers the complete confidence they chose the best siding option to meet their goals.