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I've installed both JH and LP here in Oklahoma for years. Although this evaluation was well thought out and nicely presented as a comparison of siding options, I'm not sold that JH and LP should be compared as Best/Worst as in the "same" category. Concrete option vs Wood option, and the negative focus seems to be water penetration (?). Because I can only speak to my experiences regardless of marketing techniques, I'd like to offer a viewpoint. When given the option of siding products, it's not uncommon homeowners may choose JH. Unfortunately, when the numbers come in, LP wins almost every time. Product costs, as well as labor costs routinely will turn a customer's nose up. I simply think it's important to express that when it comes to moisture, NO wood product will ever be superior to a product lacking the ability to absorb water. For that reason, product installation, protection, and maintenance dollars spent over time typically outweigh the "up front" spending from an otherwise careful budget while building or remodeling. That said, I have no preference of one over the other. I've made plenty of JH repairs due to cracking and broken siding, just as I've made plenty of repairs to LP from moisture issues. Either siding, once compromised, moisture will find its way in. Good video ... just another viewpoint.
A couple comments from an inspector who looks at each of these daily. Hardie board cracks fairly often. If you overdrive the nails, install too tight, or have minor expansion and contraction of the framing or sheathing. I've also seen it deteriorate pretty quickly if the paint is worn. Vinyl siding dry rots over time, especially the areas that get a lot of sun. After about 20-30 years it becomes very brittle. It always cracks. I have seen the least amount of issues with LP. The only issue is if you do not seal the ends or caulk properly it will deteriorate at the cut ends. Thats if you have no overhangs and the siding is exposed to a lot of water. It's much more forgiving and won't crack like hardie. This ranking is not accurate, vinyl is at the bottom of the barrel for siding. I would personally pick LP over hardie.
Thank you for your perspective because I have personally met people who prefer LP over Hardie siding. However, I think this gentleman did a commendable job with his comparison. I don't like gimmicks and believe manufacturers should let the product speak for itself.
Would you recommend to use over steel panel? Looking for a farmhouse look. Building a steel frame home with steel ext walls and ceiling in South Florida.
I respect that you see these problems as inspector but you also need to understand that it will depend on a area of the country. We live in cold climate and seen really fast paint degradation on Smart Lap siding while cement siding hold paint absolutely great for over 15 years. Based on what we see here, Smart lap siding is the cheapest option here , so loved by Builders and slapped on all new housing, while Cement siding is selected for more expensive houses and holds really well. We also live in earthquake zone and yet have not had problems.
I installed LP smart siding on my house (3600 sq ft) all by myself. After reading about the failures LP Smart siding has had in the past due to not following manufactures installation guidelines, I didn’t trust anyone to install it correctly following the instructions to a T. I installed it exactly as manufacturer instructed and it’s been up for seven years without a problem. I haven’t had a sledge hammer hit any of it but living in the ozarks we have plenty of rocks and I’ve seen the mower throw rocks at blazing speeds at the siding on more than a few occasions and the siding has never once taken on damage. Can’t say the same thing for a couple of Windows around the house. My neighbor built is house at the same time and has Hardie Board on his house. He wanted to install his own but after finding out the amount of dust and special cutting tools needed to install it he hired someone to install it. The people that installed it used cheap caulking when installing it and though his Hardie Board is still up, the wall it’s nailed to has taken on moisture and begun to rot and mold. I’ve been in construction for many years and I do believe that both Hardie and LP siding both have their advantages. But if either one of them is installed by those that don’t pay extra attention to detail then you’re almost guaranteed to have problems.
Dmitry - good job! I'm an architect and I appreciate the thorough comparison. I am so glad you called out the warranty provisions. There is nothing worse for a property owner to discover than when they realized they had all this "work" to do to "maintain" the warranty for the manufacturer!! Anyway, I have specified James Hardie products for over 35 years on all my residential and commercial projects where we want this kind of look for the client and the architecture.
Yeah man. I live in Washington and had two houses with LP siding. They suck. Any water that gets on the siding your house is done. LP siding is multiple class-action lawsuit in the making. Don't use it. Very good video. I agree with your evaluation completely.
I’ve sold, installed, and owned both LP & Hardie. I’ve been in the trades for almost 30 years. I like them both. I can say that I’ve had the unique opportunity to see 2 houses across the street from each other. One with Hardie & the other with LP. I know the Hardie installer and he is a Hardie “Elite Preferred”Contractor. Don’t know the LP installer. They where at the end of a development so both walls faced the same direction. Large hail literally bashed half the Hardie off the garage wall. The garage wall on the house with LP had no holes. You had to walk up on it to see the dents. If I didn’t see it with my own eyes I wouldn’t have believed it. Same damage to the roof, gutters, and facia on both houses. However, I think if they are installed correctly both products are very good quality and will give you many years protection. I’ve also experienced both Hardie & LP refuse a warranty claim for moisture damage & finish problems. In my opinion, take the time to vet your installer. In most cases that will make the difference. Even your Vinyl will fail, leak and promote moisture damage if installed incorrectly.
I had Hardie but now am getting siding replaced w/LP. I don’t know if my contractor’s people know how to properly install it. I think they’re using cheap caulking since it’s already receded/exposed the seams, and the siding has been on for a month! Also, all of the lower portions are buckling; I googled this, and it’s d/to improper spacing? Just looking for some advice on how to address those issues w/my contractor. It’s $16K of siding/work. I want it done RIGHT and so any warranties apply. Thank you.
The Hardie over studs test is also relevant for a lot of people in my area. t1-11 siding over studs is very common on older homes here, people replace it with Hardie thinking it's a cure all and have no idea it's not nearly as impact resistance and does nothing for shear strength like their old wood siding did. The most important thing with any siding is to install it right and in conditions where it's got a good chance to survive.
Definitely 5 🌟..I was actually getting completely ready to use LP siding on my new house...starting watching video..very imformative..makes complete sense...immediately contacted drafting engineers and changed over to t1-11 plywood..it was that close..thank goodness for your imformation..viewers can definitely benefit from utube videos like this..need plenty more
Please do a metal siding comparison and pros cons. Also composite rain screen looks promising. Dude you rock. You are what makes this country amazing. Cheers yo
I installed vinyl siding on the second floor of my house in Sunnyvale. After a few years, large areas of the siding began to slowly melt and sag. It took a while for me to figure out that at certain times of day during the summer, some of my low-e glass windows were reflecting IR from sunlight onto those sections of vinyl. So those sections were being heated by the combination of direct sunlight PLUS the heat that was being reflected from windows. I ended up ripping off all the vinyl and doing it over with Hardie Cedermill planks. It looks beautiful. I also used Hardie on my ranch house in the mountains. We survived a wild fire that burned right up to the house.
I am in the process of getting bids for windows and siding now. I have it down to LP and JH and I have gone back and forth based on the companies comments when they come out to give the bid. This is really great. Thanks for the help on this.
As a consumer I really appreciated this video! I stumbled here after seeing a video where a guy said get rid of your vinyl siding, it's like wrapping you're house in jet fuel. So of course that was a bit alarming--but thankfully I live in the country so no houses close enough to me to easily catch fire from another house, and really common sense has always been to locate/use a grill away not up next to a house! So with that potential exception, your chart looked very much in favor on what matters most of vinyl siding, especially if outs insulated. This gave me information I needed to make a decision based upon my budget what I need to do. Thank you thank you!
My builder countered with LP Smartside when I told him I wanted to upgrade from vinyl to JH. I read their warranty and was also suspicious before finding your video. THANKS for this breakdown!!
Great video. I am currently trying to make a product decision for my siding project, a reno. The concern I have with Hardie is that it is critical that it is caulked properly and the caulking is maintained over the life of the product. If water gets behind it you can have significant problems including rot of the Hardie. So if you have a two storey house this means you have significant labour just to inspect the caulking periodically. And also you have to ensure your contractor is doing to good job on the caulking in the first place. For this reason I am leaning toward vinyl.
Vinyl siding melting from window reflections is the biggest issue I've seen. Easy to replace the siding with a fresh bit of vinyl, but if the neighbor doesn't get rid of their window, it's just going to continue happening. Big point deduction for vinyl because of this.
This is the best video! I’ve learned quite a bit and know not to buy LP Siding. But the best part was watching you call them out so harshly! Thanks for telling us the truth.
TY for doing this, like you, I have a strong distrust for marketers too, some more than others. You covered and exposed LP Smart Side well. I don’t have as much beef with James Hardy on their marketing, but concerning their durability, there are two things I’ve observed from other youtubers concerning their product. One, over time the sun will break down the cement siding and make it brittle. Two, the paint likewise exposed to sun will become powdery, rubbing your finger over old sun exposed James Hardy siding will leave streaks on the siding and powder on your fingers. Thanks for doing this video, one of my favorites comparing siding.
Best review ever!! Great delivery. Facts speak for themselves but your presentation style nailed it. Loved the humour too despite a very serious topic and review. Thank you!!
I'm a retired firefighter and I have seen so many fires that either spread to or just did significant damage to structures with vinyl siding. For me personally, because of what I have seen James Hardie siding wins hands down because of this one category. All your other categories are easier to recover from compared to a house fire.
@@RoofingInsights3.0 It most certainly will melt when exposed to just the heat but frequently there are embers that can ignite it. There may be some that have had properties added to them keep them from igniting without direct flame contact. Fire sucks.
@@rickkephartactual7706 Yeah, most cities have code making homes be a certain distance apart if vinyl siding is exterior sheathing. But honestly its rarely enough.
@@anthonybalough8760 James Hardie doesn’t require fire proof caulking because it doesn’t burn, it doesn’t rot, swell, check or become moldy on the back side like LP. LP is the worst siding on the market period.
Great video. LP Smart Siding is a OSB product. Anybody that has worked in home building knows that OSB is the cheaper alternative over exterior grade plywood because OSB swells and degrades after getting exposed to water and moisture.
@Aquatic Ape LP Smart Siding is an OSB product. They do claim it is improved OSB because they treat it with Zinc Borate and Waxes. Perhaps they did make as a fiberboard core in the past, but switch to OSB. Oriented strand board is much better than fiberboard, but still has it issues with water and moisture. Here is how they make it. ruclips.net/video/9JSLknIEzg4/видео.html And picture of the backside. www.contractortalk.com/threads/lp-smart-lap-smooth-siding.138378/#lg=thread-138378&slide=0
Good break down, one thing I think is worth adding is the STC of the material for acoustic benefits. I have a train about 100 yards from where i'll be building my home and the thermal mass and STC benefits have led me to highly consider Hardie planks on top of ICFs.
Here in Texas we had vinyl siding that would get brittle in the sun. JH was a great option for the long haul. I would love to see a video in different kinds of metal siding.
Thanks I’m getting vinyl again bc it was the older style from the 90s and lasted 31 years no issues. Vinyl comes in larger plank styles that to a regular person looks like fiber cement or wood and no caulking. And I don’t grill up against my house. Honest review
One type of siding beyond woods you didn't mention was steel siding . Look at ABC siding in kcmo. The Log siding never needs paint wont dent and always looks good. But one drawback it also blocks Radio signals so you may not get WIFI outside your house. Or you might need a TV antena on your house outside.
Dmitry, I'm in Arizona and I'm getting ready to install Hardie Lap Siding on my 60 yr. old house. We get a lot of rain with 50 mph + winds and sometimes temperatures up to 120 degrees. I will use a guillotine cutter on the 8.25" siding to eliminate any dust and I will be using ring shank galvanized nails run through one of my collection of siding nailers. This video is very informative, and I did get the lap siding [8.25"x12'] on sale at Lowes for $7.97 ea.
Thank you, this was very helpful. I think you went too easy on the companies and there should have been more fours,, threes, and twos in there. For example, there's no way vinyl looks as good as Hardie board, and Hardie board is a lot more expensive when you include the paint cost. Home value for each is an important factor and vinal falls short there.
Agreed. And put up a hardie house next to a vinyl sided house here in Texas and tell me which one melts first… Hardie is a better product and vinyl is good for the price but is not for all areas of the country.
Fantastic, honest video. I loved it. I am building a barndo very soon and I really liked the warm look of wood siding and the Diamond Kote product over metal siding. This video opened my eyes and has changed my mind and will save me $20k in doing so by staying with metal.
Thank you so much for making this video! (And thank RUclips algorithm for finding it for me…) We’ve been having endless discussions about what siding to use on our off grid cabin in the rainforest of North Vancouver Island. Your video made the choice obvious. Thank you!!!
A good quality vinyl siding installed correctly is a great building science product. If water gets behind it, it allows the water/moisture to drain and dry out the backing / sheeting. Thanks for sharing you experience with all these different products!
Very good video! I always thought LP smart siding was a good product however now I understand what is more in their warranty! I will tell you it is very important to read the warranty and you pointed that out in the video and I am glad you did! Very eye opening!
Thanks for confirming what I thought. We're going to build a new home in the Twin Cities in 2022 and will go with James Hardie siding. I watched the Worst Siding video by The Honest Carpenter and can see why LP has all the exclusions in their warrantee. Even though LP reinvented hardboard siding using OSB, OSB or compressed wood chips is still a terrible choice in high moisture environments. In MN, things start to get wet in March but can't dry out with high temps in the 40's or 50's because additional snow melt pumps more moisture into the air and dew points stay high until May when temps rise into the 70's+. The cycle repeats with rain in October until late November when winter sets in. We tore down a 40 year old redwood deck due to rot because about 4 months a year here, nothing dries out (too warm for continual freezing but too cold for water evaporation). MN just changed residential wall cavity insulation from R-20 +5 back to R-20 because they finally figured out R-5 exterior insulation is not enough in zone 6. R-12 exterior insulation is needed in zone 6 to keep condensation from forming in winter up here, unless you use closed cell foam in wall cavities (2'"min). That was not stated in the code. Exterior foam panels prevent wall cavities from drying to exterior. Who are these code writers anyway?
You should go actually read the warranties for Hardie vs LP SmartSide. Hardie has a ton more exclusions that LP. Some of the most notable things that Hardie doesn't cover but LP does are: Water ingress, mold/fungal growth, structure movement/settling, hail damage/other "acts of god" (LP covers for hail up to 1.75"), etc. Hardie also almost completely voids your warranty if it's installed incorrectly. LP's warranty specifically states that the warranty is not voided by improper installation, they just won't cover damage that is clearly the result of improper installation, and only on the parts that were improperly applied. Additionally, Hardie's warranty is 30 years vs LP Smartside's is 5/50 years. So 5 years with no prorating, and then years 6-50 are prorated at 2.2% a year. Hardie isn't prorated at all, but 20 years less. So if your Hardie fails in year 31, you get $0 in coverage. If your smartside fails in year 31, you still get 40% coverage. Hardie also only warranties their siding for 30 years - their trim is only warrantied for 15 years. LP warranties both siding AND trim for 5/50 years. The list goes on. Frankly I personally believe LP's warranty is better, BUT I'd be willing to concede that Hardie & LP's warranties are equal, for different reasons. Hardie has no prorating, but LP has 20-35 more years (depending on product), less exclusions, and specifically covers relatively common things that aren't directly their fault like hail damage and water ingress.
@@Jutilaje LP does not warrant their siding in the Pacific NW and Alaska due to being wet cool climates. That sums it up for me. My climate is like those areas 4 months a year and some moisture may not dry from October until May. Hardy board being made of cement cannot rot. LP needs to add wax to their fibers for moisture and zinc borate for insect control. I had 12 year old aluminum exterior cladded windows that rotted due to the manufacture missing the step of treating the wood with preservative. They went into bankruptcy over this problem and I got stuck with the bill as did many other homeowners. That was around $36k back in 2011 and we had to finish the interior wood on something like 25 or so windows. When corporate margins shrink, departments find ways to cut costs or lose their jobs. I like stupid simple and not rely on perfectly consistent manufacturing QC. I spent 40 years in heavy manufacturing. People come and go and things can get missed.
This is more of a commercial for James Hardie siding. I've been building houses since 1972 and the only thing that I can say is that each has their advantages and disadvantages. If you have proper ground clearance to avoid splash back and proper onerhang you won't have any problems. The key is to paint-all edges and at least 3 inches around the perimeter of the back before installing. Two coats of high quality paint will preserve the structural integrity of the panels be it vertical or horizontal. James Hardie panels will crack and the dust created from the sawing process is extremely hazardous to your respiratory system. You can use a razor knife to cut and snap straight edges but not when cutting around windows and doors. I built a house in West Frankfort Illinois using James Hardie horizontal lap siding. A few years later I had to replace a piece that was damaged and upon removing the damaged piece found extreme condensation between the siding and the Tyvek house wrap. As I said earlier each type of siding has their pros and cons.
@@mrpad0I totally discount vinyl in his assessment because it's like comparing apples to oranges. Most high end homes do not have vinyl applied as a siding option because of it's cheap appearance. Even in moderate priced homes vinyl has durability issues due to lawn mowers ejecting rocks and kids throwing rocks,balls or whatever that will all break vinyl especially on cool days. Hardie panels have a tendency to crack over time where nailed.
@@diamondkutz54 To be honest I live in a high-end area (4,000 sq ft homes on a minimum of an acre) and 50% of the homes are brick and/or stone (fascia) and the others are the upper range of vinyl - often with painted wood trim, etc. When there is enough land around a home, damage to a good quality vinyl appears to be rare. People tend to replace the vinyl each time (or every other time) they replace their roof shingles. It's Ohio, and vinyl appears to cope very well here.
good info - I would say that location is also very important for product choices. Where I live (South Central AK), it's dry with a large temp changes throughout the year. LP is the only way to go unless you're running cedar or another natural product. In fact, JH doesn't sell it's product in our state anymore because of all of the warranty issues. Vinyl sucks up here due to the temps and wind issues (shrinks up in the cold and breaks with the wind). I know that these products are better in moist climates vs LP, but at the same time, LP has advantages over the others in dry climates... But you're right, the advertising is a running joke with LP... I would say that painting and caulking your siding is the most important part of keeping your siding in good shape for years. Cheers!
I wonder how some of the newer composite siding materials stack up, particularly with James Hardie. I'm looking at Alside's Ascend and Everlast siding. At first glance, I really like the fire rating of Ascend and the fact that it has integrated insulation, while Everlast is basically PVC, but they both seem like viable options given the other products on the market.
detailed and useful review. great job! the only thing that worries me a lot about this review is that the guy seems to be quite (negatively) biased towards LP Smartside. ~80% of time is spent on discussing one product (LP). I would love to get more objective drill in both horizontal (across other products) and vertical (not only negative but also positive) directions
I am building in Northern Maine. I was, WAS going with LP smart side till I saw this... Thank you, I will now look into Hardi, we are too cold for vinyl.
Wow! I was seriously looking at LP Smart siding, and you possibly saved me from future headaches. Replacing 24 year old vinyl siding this summer. I hate the look of vinyl. I guess it's either Hardie (or brick veneer) this summer. Thank you. 😊
As a 74-year-old woman (I'm now 78) I installed Hardie siding on the exterior of my 1 story block and wood frame/ext. plywood house. I did not find the installation difficult, although trying to install the 16' lengths by myself required some maneuvering. With a helper, it's a breeze. I cut the material with a small, specialty saw with a concrete or diamond blade. Two issues: it's hard to carry and maneuver the 16' lengths and if not well balanced, they will break. 2nd ... I wish they had a better selection for windowsills - although maybe since I installed the product they have expanded their range. I live in FL and chose the cement-based product due to the high incidence of termites and water intrusion after torrential rains and floods. I've experienced both and the siding was not adversely affected. As for vinyl siding ... houses near me during the last 5 hurricanes I've lived through since 2004 rarely escaped without major damage.
Replaced siding on two homes with James Hardie after hail storms. One home I put up 4 x 8 sheets which has weathered several hail storms with hardly a mark. Twenty years and looks as good as new. Made a few mistakes on installation as we didn't have good youtube videos then.
This was very helpful information for me to make my choice of siding materials to use. I can also say from experience that L.P. smartside has a poor history in my area because of all the rain.
I stumbled on this video today and enjoyed it immensely. I have been in the business for 22 years and own my own for 10 with a major uptick is business following 2 hail storms and 1 derecho this year. I pride myself in quality product and application but have never really researched the products before. I have always taken the reps word on it. Not so much any more after this video.
I am planning to put siding on my home. Yesterday came a contractor to talk about the job. I am glad that I found your video for I will not cover my home with vinyl siding due to fire problems.
I removed all of the original vertical aluminum siding on my 1992 manufactured home and glued and screwed 3/8" OSB onto the wall studs, then wrapped the hole thing with a Tyvek water barrier. For the final finishing - - - - - - - I used "Fullback® Vinyl Siding" With Molded Insulation Backing. You can punch it, kick it, hit it with a hard ball, and no damage is done, it is solid to the touch. The best investment that I've made so far, other than than the Pella Low-E, argon filled Windows that I installed.
Just an FYI, LP may not warranty the 76 series in Alaska, but James Hardie doesn't warranty anything here anymore. So much so that we cannot specify it in our drawings because they're completely removed warranties in Alaska. LP does still offer warranties here.
I live in BC, Canada. I didn't need to watch this any longer passed 12minutes. I was wondering between LP and JH, my choice is sealed Thanks for the video.
Wow! Amazing video! I signed up for LP Smartside for all my fascia/soffit work. They started installing yesterday and I noticed they were actually using Hardie Board. I wasn't sure if it was a mistake and if I should complain.....if it was a mistake it was a happy one!
Seriously, you did not look at mold resistance and expansion and contraction. Vinyl is a mold magnet, expands 3/4 on each end and also adds no structural rigidity. I have installed siding for over 20 years and you provided silly comparison. How about resistance to breakage in winter, it is like glass in winter and butter in summer. Also, vinyl ages poorly over 20 years and both LP and Hardi can be painted. Seriously, you used no engineering analysis. No beef with LP, you flat out said you would call them out. Hope Hardie and vinyl paid you well.
I’m looking to remodel and wanted to be informative when speaking to the folks providing quotes! I now feel like I can have a conversation with them and know what to ask and know what they are talking about! Thank you!!!
I was so stressed trying to decide what siding to use. Stress is gone thanks to your video. You are very pleasant, intelligent, realistic and funny. Oh and cute!!!
100% agree. Just saw the smart siding at a local lumber yard and my first thought was. This is going to rot with in 15 years. And that sledgehammer hammer test only works on homeowners that have no idea how home construction works. Great review. Gives me more pride knowing I have James hardie board on my house. 20 years going now. when old friends come over they think I replaced the siding recently because it still looks new. Even had to replace a few panels after I moved my front door. And the new pieces were so close in color you can’t tell the old from the new.
I really wish that had been included too as I am now trying to decide but at our age, low maintenance is high on our list so was hoping to find out how the insulation helps in some of the problem areas. Texas heat now has me a little concerned but the house is shaded on most areas that would be affected.
@@mnj5089 One thing I leared is that insulated vinyl siding can act as a vapor barrier. So if there is the usuaul (in midwest and mid atlantic states) plastic sheet vapor barrier that stapled to the inner surface exterior walls (under plasterboard) then the two vapor barriers will trap moister and facilitate mold in the wall. I learned I have that plastic sheet under my plasterboard so no insulated siding for me. :-(
Quick question, what are your guises opinions on composite siding?? Would you recommend it over vinyl? Please get back to me with a comment at your convenience thank you!
I actually prefer JH material for a couple of reasons. It would be interesting though to see all of those siding options take your hammer test when they are built as a rain screen. Put a .75 inch gap behind them and then do the hammer test. Also JH board isn't all that tasty for termites either. The fact that you can also get it pre-painted and in multiple finishes and profiles, it usually saves when compared to siding and then paint.
@@colinjones7689 Their warranty is brutal. Considering it's engineered wood, when installed in an area that get's lots of rain, that is where you run into issues. LP is a great product, and I would probably use it in the SW area due to heat retention, but otherwise, in wet areas I would prefer JH board, and same in an area prone to forest fires. It won't stop it, but it would certainly help.
built $1.8M CBS custom two story 5888sq ft in South Florida killer sun; C/O in 1998 --- Hardie Plank much cut like ginger bread scallops looks like the day installed. SW paint looks great from that day, may repaint next year. Used the best products throughout all composite high performance trim. Yeah was tuff to spend the money up front but now has paid off in the long run. $3.5M today no rot anywhere ... house looks great less some surface mold started after 10 years on the North side. hasto get pressure washed each year. Dont skimp-build your best!
My problem with Hardie is continually going to houses that have sever windows damage or the siding wears large holes around the nails and starts to fall down. I see that all the time in Des Moines. Thoughts?
Thank you for creating this comprehensive siding comparison video. We live in Northern California and are planing to have siding installed on our 3000sf home as part of an extensive home remodel. I've been doing lots of research and have 3 different siding contractors scheduled to come out and give me quotes. One thing I must say, all 3 GC's mentioned the quality of James Hardie products even before I've ever heard of them. BTW... I'm sure LP has a decent product but I cannot stand marketing gimmicks... shame on you LP!
I appreciate this video (and love some of your edited clips) because I was planning on using LP as siding on some houseboats we're looking to build. After watching this video, I'm not sure what product to use. These will be in the Gulf so the siding has to withstand hurricane winds, rain and moisture. Now, as to your video, you do realize that water from sprinklers can leave stains on your siding if there's iron in the water! Could be a reason they don't want you to spray it. Also, Hardie is more brittle and can crack when you're nailing it and can get damaged a lot easier when carrying it; it doesn't have much tensile strength. Lastly, Hardie hates water too so it can't be close to the ground or near a roofline. That leaves you with a big gap and you see the exposed flashing. Just sharing another perspective. Thanks for exposing LP.
They all have their pros and cons. We still only do vinyl siding but I really need to make jump into Hardie. I turn down as many Hardie estimates as I do vinyl siding jobs. We do lots of other stuff though more than siding. Gutters, soffit/fascia, screen rooms etc.
Your video was the most informative siding comparison I have ever seen. We are about to build a new home and I feel so much more knowledgeable. A million thanks
Please help stop these contractors I was a carpenter never given protection or even warned of the dangers when dry drilling into concrete and dry cutting fiber cement board siding now I have scarring in my lungs and worry everyday I will die from silicosis with no hope no cure no treatments everyday across the subdivisions in there are people still dry cutting and dry drilling into concrete it has turned my entire life upside down and wish 1 person would have told me so I could have left immediately I reported this to osha and nothing was done the contractor still do it to this day. Please help stop this its killing a lot of us I don't understand why the contractors are not criminally charged for this
This was great - just what we needed to compare siding options. One suggestion - maybe include energy efficiency as a rating category. Maybe it doesn't make that much difference but it's something we're considering.
As a homeowner installing siding on my house in Dallas, I chose to put on the LP lap. The selling points were that I didn't have to buy special cutting tools or a nail gun to install it and it comes in 16' lengths which worked great in my house, and I am the one installing it. Ease of installation was a big consideration. Course I am choosing to not really worry about the warranty (since I am not a certified installer). In my experience, correct installation goes much further than the quality of material. My parents have 30 year old masonite on the their house that looks great because they maintained it.
Ohh.. sigh.. my friend, you could have started with "LP SmartSide is OSB siding, JH is fiber cement siding and of course, PVC siding is, err, plastic siding.. The choice would be very clear then.. JH and PVC siding lol! OSB siding was used ALOT in Florida in the 90s and there was that large class action lawsuit against GP for their crappy OSB siding. OSB is best as fully covered sheathing only
Hardie is the cheapest looking crap. Vinyl sucks but holy shlit, fiber cement can eat pooooo. Looks like a warehouse or a car dealership. Get the f outta here with thay 😂
I need to give an update i didnt knnow there was levels to vinyl... i saw some that looked like batten board that changed my opinion before i saw horrid vinyl that looked like pure plastic
Excellent video man! I would love for you to show up at an expo and bring a wall built to code for them to do the test on. Additionally point out there stipulations on their bs warranty!
Well I'm putting the lp on my trailer ,its off the ground. I bond painted over a 100 16 foot pieces all myself. It took me a week everyday to complete it. Maybe I'll come back in 5 years and let you kn how it went and how it's holding out. I'm a do it yourself dude.
There are a LOT of homes in my area with t1-11 siding and NO sheathing, people replace it with Hardie directly over studs all the time. So the Hardie over studs test is relevant for a lot of people, and it also does nothing to stop the building/house from racking like wood siding does. You should never let sprinklers hit your house regardless of what siding you have, it will eventually rot out your sheathing and eventually studs, even if you have Hardie. No siding is water proof, it will always get through.
Thanks for the video. I’m a siding installer in New Brunswick Canada now. LP is becoming popular here whereas I used to install Hardie in Ontario Canada. Hardie won’t even warranty their product here in the Maritime provinces. The weather is too extreme. You’re probably right on with your vinyl and LP ratings but definitely not with Hardie. James Hardie is heavy and much harder to work with. James Hardie cemented board dust is dangerous, and James Hardie cement board crumbles apart when it gets water damage and it swells really bad. James Hardie paint also fades quite a bit over the years, but they all do as far as that goes. I used to hang trough for Martin Dyck from Dyck Exteriors in London Ontario, he’s much bigger than any of these siding guys in the video. Of course he is a fan of James Hardie and you should interview this guy. I’m also a fan of Hardie but in Canada you definitely could not give it a better rating than LP. LP is superior in cold, icy, snowy climates
The sledge hammer test that proves that Hardie siding isn't going to break was flawed. The entire wall was moving when the sledge head hit the Hardie siding. They also hit it right where the two layers lapped and the siding was completely supported. They need to hit the much larger area that has a gap behind it and anchor the wall so it doesn't absorb the impact. And sheathing isn't required by code. Only required where needed to provide shear wall requirements.
On fiber cement siding, the color should be mixed into the cement so every inch has the face color no more painting cut ends. If they can mix color into stuco they can mix color into cement siding as its being made. Its crazy not to do this.
I hate Smart side, BUT it's more and more common to install siding over a rainscreen where there is a gap behind the siding, not that I'm worried about my hardi siding, just pointing out a small flaw in your argument.
I have lived in homes with wood, LP (smart side) vinyl, aluminum and now Hardie plank siding. I love wood siding, but for me Hardie plank wins overall. LP siding is the worst because it does not withstand rain, fog and high moisture. Vinyl fails because it gets brittle after 10 years and easily crumbles or splits with minor impacts and is actually pretty hard to source purchase replacement panels. Esthetically, wood, Hardie plank look the best. So does LP while it’s new. Aluminum and vinyl just look cheap when they start to age.
I hung siding from 2001 to 2009, mostly vinyl. But we also hung Hardy Plank. My only experience with LP is during tear off to replace with HP. We always said “Vinyl is final” . I do prefer hardy for resale value. Trying to decide between the two for the house I’m purchasing. Rotten hardboard tear off with good straight walls. So I could go either way.
Hahaha vinyl is final is what we say too. Wonder where that phrase comes from. I like vinyl simply because you dave 1-2 repaints during life of product. Easier to replace damaged piece etc.
I lived in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years and I never seen one single home owner remove James Hardie to be replaced with LP but every reside job I ever worked was removing rotten, checked, swelled non warranted LP siding for James Hardie. Most new construction homes built with James Hardie. It’s the best siding product on the market.
Wow! 👏 This video is great! Funny, informative, educational, captivating, and to the point. Despite being over 30 minutes this video couldn’t be shorter I was expecting a lot of unnecessary information or slow content and tried to let the video play while I listened to it with earbuds but kept coming back to my phone to see the video and I’m now even commenting, which I don’t normally do. Great job with this video I’ll definitely check out your other content. You’ve made a subscriber out of me
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I’ve had hardie on my house for 17 years and it’s never been hit by a sledge hammer
You must be living in good neighborhood :)
On the way!
Not yet. If I had a sledgehammer I would be looking for houses with James Hardie siding lol. Especially if it has no osb behind it. Easy money.
You’ve been lucky.
Don't you think you're overdue?
I've installed both JH and LP here in Oklahoma for years. Although this evaluation was well thought out and nicely presented as a comparison of siding options, I'm not sold that JH and LP should be compared as Best/Worst as in the "same" category. Concrete option vs Wood option, and the negative focus seems to be water penetration (?). Because I can only speak to my experiences regardless of marketing techniques, I'd like to offer a viewpoint. When given the option of siding products, it's not uncommon homeowners may choose JH. Unfortunately, when the numbers come in, LP wins almost every time. Product costs, as well as labor costs routinely will turn a customer's nose up. I simply think it's important to express that when it comes to moisture, NO wood product will ever be superior to a product lacking the ability to absorb water. For that reason, product installation, protection, and maintenance dollars spent over time typically outweigh the "up front" spending from an otherwise careful budget while building or remodeling. That said, I have no preference of one over the other. I've made plenty of JH repairs due to cracking and broken siding, just as I've made plenty of repairs to LP from moisture issues. Either siding, once compromised, moisture will find its way in.
Good video ... just another viewpoint.
That’s why I just always got with brick and rock and no Orrin’s, just have to put some more mortar in if it cracks every now and then.
A couple comments from an inspector who looks at each of these daily. Hardie board cracks fairly often. If you overdrive the nails, install too tight, or have minor expansion and contraction of the framing or sheathing. I've also seen it deteriorate pretty quickly if the paint is worn. Vinyl siding dry rots over time, especially the areas that get a lot of sun. After about 20-30 years it becomes very brittle. It always cracks. I have seen the least amount of issues with LP. The only issue is if you do not seal the ends or caulk properly it will deteriorate at the cut ends. Thats if you have no overhangs and the siding is exposed to a lot of water. It's much more forgiving and won't crack like hardie. This ranking is not accurate, vinyl is at the bottom of the barrel for siding. I would personally pick LP over hardie.
Thank you for your perspective because I have personally met people who prefer LP over Hardie siding. However, I think this gentleman did a commendable job with his comparison. I don't like gimmicks and believe manufacturers should let the product speak for itself.
Would you recommend to use over steel panel? Looking for a farmhouse look. Building a steel frame home with steel ext walls and ceiling in South Florida.
Thoughts on everlast siding?
Something lasting 30 years is bottom barrel? Wow
I respect that you see these problems as inspector but you also need to understand that it will depend on a area of the country. We live in cold climate and seen really fast paint degradation on Smart Lap siding while cement siding hold paint absolutely great for over 15 years. Based on what we see here, Smart lap siding is the cheapest option here , so loved by Builders and slapped on all new housing, while Cement siding is selected for more expensive houses and holds really well. We also live in earthquake zone and yet have not had problems.
Fantastic breakdown. I highly appreciate not only the time and effort you put in this, but above all, your honesty.
I second that motion... very in depth, but the honesty is what is most respectable . Well done video
I installed LP smart siding on my house (3600 sq ft) all by myself. After reading about the failures LP Smart siding has had in the past due to not following manufactures installation guidelines, I didn’t trust anyone to install it correctly following the instructions to a T.
I installed it exactly as manufacturer instructed and it’s been up for seven years without a problem. I haven’t had a sledge hammer hit any of it but living in the ozarks we have plenty of rocks and I’ve seen the mower throw rocks at blazing speeds at the siding on more than a few occasions and the siding has never once taken on damage. Can’t say the same thing for a couple of Windows around the house.
My neighbor built is house at the same time and has Hardie Board on his house. He wanted to install his own but after finding out the amount of dust and special cutting tools needed to install it he hired someone to install it. The people that installed it used cheap caulking when installing it and though his Hardie Board is still up, the wall it’s nailed to has taken on moisture and begun to rot and mold.
I’ve been in construction for many years and I do believe that both Hardie and LP siding both have their advantages. But if either one of them is installed by those that don’t pay extra attention to detail then you’re almost guaranteed to have problems.
As a home owner looking to update my home to me this video was absolutely the best time I have spent watching RUclips video’s. Thanks for this video.
Thank you so much for commenting!
This is probably the most honest and truthful comparison video i have personally ever watched. Great job Dmitry!
Dmitry - good job! I'm an architect and I appreciate the thorough comparison. I am so glad you called out the warranty provisions. There is nothing worse for a property owner to discover than when they realized they had all this "work" to do to "maintain" the warranty for the manufacturer!! Anyway, I have specified James Hardie products for over 35 years on all my residential and commercial projects where we want this kind of look for the client and the architecture.
As a roofing contractor, I completely agree with your recommendation.
Yeah man. I live in Washington and had two houses with LP siding. They suck. Any water that gets on the siding your house is done. LP siding is multiple class-action lawsuit in the making. Don't use it. Very good video. I agree with your evaluation completely.
I would love to see a comparison on wood sidings too (cedar, redwood, ipe, pine, etc.).
Not the same product or tier of product
I’ve sold, installed, and owned both LP & Hardie. I’ve been in the trades for almost 30 years. I like them both.
I can say that I’ve had the unique opportunity to see 2 houses across the street from each other. One with Hardie & the other with LP. I know the Hardie installer and he is a Hardie “Elite Preferred”Contractor. Don’t know the LP installer. They where at the end of a development so both walls faced the same direction. Large hail literally bashed half the Hardie off the garage wall. The garage wall on the house with LP had no holes. You had to walk up on it to see the dents. If I didn’t see it with my own eyes I wouldn’t have believed it. Same damage to the roof, gutters, and facia on both houses.
However, I think if they are installed correctly both products are very good quality and will give you many years protection. I’ve also experienced both Hardie & LP refuse a warranty claim for moisture damage & finish problems. In my opinion, take the time to vet your installer. In most cases that will make the difference. Even your Vinyl will fail, leak and promote moisture damage if installed incorrectly.
I had Hardie but now am getting siding replaced w/LP. I don’t know if my contractor’s people know how to properly install it. I think they’re using cheap caulking since it’s already receded/exposed the seams, and the siding has been on for a month! Also, all of the lower portions are buckling; I googled this, and it’s d/to improper spacing? Just looking for some advice on how to address those issues w/my contractor. It’s $16K of siding/work. I want it done RIGHT and so any warranties apply. Thank you.
The Hardie over studs test is also relevant for a lot of people in my area. t1-11 siding over studs is very common on older homes here, people replace it with Hardie thinking it's a cure all and have no idea it's not nearly as impact resistance and does nothing for shear strength like their old wood siding did. The most important thing with any siding is to install it right and in conditions where it's got a good chance to survive.
Do you like Everlast siding?
Thoughts on everlast siding?
Definitely 5 🌟..I was actually getting completely ready to use LP siding on my new house...starting watching video..very imformative..makes complete sense...immediately contacted drafting engineers and changed over to t1-11 plywood..it was that close..thank goodness for your imformation..viewers can definitely benefit from utube videos like this..need plenty more
Please do a metal siding comparison and pros cons. Also composite rain screen looks promising. Dude you rock. You are what makes this country amazing. Cheers yo
Thank you Michael, notes taken
Wanted Hardy. My contractor talked me into LP! We love it! Will keep it painted with the best paint! No worried about rot!
Same here, I love it too. The laser cut soffit vents are a nice touch.
Yeah, its probably okay if you paint more frequently
Suckers!!!!!
I installed vinyl siding on the second floor of my house in Sunnyvale. After a few years, large areas of the siding began to slowly melt and sag. It took a while for me to figure out that at certain times of day during the summer, some of my low-e glass windows were reflecting IR from sunlight onto those sections of vinyl. So those sections were being heated by the combination of direct sunlight PLUS the heat that was being reflected from windows. I ended up ripping off all the vinyl and doing it over with Hardie Cedermill planks. It looks beautiful. I also used Hardie on my ranch house in the mountains. We survived a wild fire that burned right up to the house.
Vinyl is indeed dangerous in fire areas and toxic too.
Here in the state of Washington, it you put on vinyl siding, it may be difficult to sell your house. Everybody uses Hardie Plank - it lasts.......
I am in the process of getting bids for windows and siding now. I have it down to LP and JH and I have gone back and forth based on the companies comments when they come out to give the bid. This is really great. Thanks for the help on this.
As a consumer I really appreciated this video! I stumbled here after seeing a video where a guy said get rid of your vinyl siding, it's like wrapping you're house in jet fuel. So of course that was a bit alarming--but thankfully I live in the country so no houses close enough to me to easily catch fire from another house, and really common sense has always been to locate/use a grill away not up next to a house! So with that potential exception, your chart looked very much in favor on what matters most of vinyl siding, especially if outs insulated. This gave me information I needed to make a decision based upon my budget what I need to do. Thank you thank you!
My builder countered with LP Smartside when I told him I wanted to upgrade from vinyl to JH. I read their warranty and was also suspicious before finding your video. THANKS for this breakdown!!
Thanks for sharing! What state are yo in?
Great video. I am currently trying to make a product decision for my siding project, a reno. The concern I have with Hardie is that it is critical that it is caulked properly and the caulking is maintained over the life of the product. If water gets behind it you can have significant problems including rot of the Hardie. So if you have a two storey house this means you have significant labour just to inspect the caulking periodically. And also you have to ensure your contractor is doing to good job on the caulking in the first place. For this reason I am leaning toward vinyl.
So ? How did it go ?
Vinyl siding melting from window reflections is the biggest issue I've seen. Easy to replace the siding with a fresh bit of vinyl, but if the neighbor doesn't get rid of their window, it's just going to continue happening. Big point deduction for vinyl because of this.
Thats why you buy 30 acres and dont live on top of each other like rats
So on a 1 acre lot where neighbors are not close this wouldnt be a concern
This is the best video! I’ve learned quite a bit and know not to buy LP Siding. But the best part was watching you call them out so harshly! Thanks for telling us the truth.
TY for doing this, like you, I have a strong distrust for marketers too, some more than others. You covered and exposed LP Smart Side well. I don’t have as much beef with James Hardy on their marketing, but concerning their durability, there are two things I’ve observed from other youtubers concerning their product. One, over time the sun will break down the cement siding and make it brittle. Two, the paint likewise exposed to sun will become powdery, rubbing your finger over old sun exposed James Hardy siding will leave streaks on the siding and powder on your fingers. Thanks for doing this video, one of my favorites comparing siding.
Thanks for Support brother! Absolutely appreciate every comment!
Best review ever!! Great delivery. Facts speak for themselves but your presentation style nailed it. Loved the humour too despite a very serious topic and review. Thank you!!
Thanks Gloria for feedback!
I'm a retired firefighter and I have seen so many fires that either spread to or just did significant damage to structures with vinyl siding. For me personally, because of what I have seen James Hardie siding wins hands down because of this one category. All your other categories are easier to recover from compared to a house fire.
great angle, thanks for sharing! I thought vinyl usually melts? At least what I have seen besides grills
@@RoofingInsights3.0 It most certainly will melt when exposed to just the heat but frequently there are embers that can ignite it. There may be some that have had properties added to them keep them from igniting without direct flame contact. Fire sucks.
LP siding also has CAL FIRE WUI certification as long as you use fire resistant caulking.
@@rickkephartactual7706 Yeah, most cities have code making homes be a certain distance apart if vinyl siding is exterior sheathing. But honestly its rarely enough.
@@anthonybalough8760 James Hardie doesn’t require fire proof caulking because it doesn’t burn, it doesn’t rot, swell, check or become moldy on the back side like LP. LP is the worst siding on the market period.
Great video. LP Smart Siding is a OSB product. Anybody that has worked in home building knows that OSB is the cheaper alternative over exterior grade plywood because OSB swells and degrades after getting exposed to water and moisture.
You are exactly right. Thanks for sharing
@Aquatic Ape LP Smart Siding is an OSB product. They do claim it is improved OSB because they treat it with Zinc Borate and Waxes. Perhaps they did make as a fiberboard core in the past, but switch to OSB. Oriented strand board is much better than fiberboard, but still has it issues with water and moisture.
Here is how they make it.
ruclips.net/video/9JSLknIEzg4/видео.html
And picture of the backside.
www.contractortalk.com/threads/lp-smart-lap-smooth-siding.138378/#lg=thread-138378&slide=0
@@aliikane So is Huber's Zip System which is widely respected. It's all in the formulation and manufacturing.
@@RoofingInsights3.0 What is OSB?
@Aquatic Ape It's OSB. And it behaves like it.
Good break down, one thing I think is worth adding is the STC of the material for acoustic benefits. I have a train about 100 yards from where i'll be building my home and the thermal mass and STC benefits have led me to highly consider Hardie planks on top of ICFs.
i m doing a hardie install over icf, what screws did you use?
Here in Texas we had vinyl siding that would get brittle in the sun. JH was a great option for the long haul. I would love to see a video in different kinds of metal siding.
Plastic vinyl will melt right off.
Thanks I’m getting vinyl again bc it was the older style from the 90s and lasted 31 years no issues. Vinyl comes in larger plank styles that to a regular person looks like fiber cement or wood and no caulking. And I don’t grill up against my house. Honest review
One type of siding beyond woods you didn't mention was steel siding .
Look at ABC siding in kcmo.
The Log siding never needs paint wont dent and always looks good. But one drawback it also blocks Radio signals so you may not get WIFI outside your house. Or you might need a TV antena on your house outside.
Dmitry, I'm in Arizona and I'm getting ready to install Hardie Lap Siding on my 60 yr. old house.
We get a lot of rain with 50 mph + winds and sometimes temperatures up to 120 degrees.
I will use a guillotine cutter on the 8.25" siding to eliminate any dust and I will be using ring shank galvanized
nails run through one of my collection of siding nailers.
This video is very informative, and I did get the lap siding [8.25"x12'] on sale at Lowes for $7.97 ea.
Thank you, this was very helpful. I think you went too easy on the companies and there should have been more fours,, threes, and twos in there. For example, there's no way vinyl looks as good as Hardie board, and Hardie board is a lot more expensive when you include the paint cost. Home value for each is an important factor and vinal falls short there.
Agreed. And put up a hardie house next to a vinyl sided house here in Texas and tell me which one melts first… Hardie is a better product and vinyl is good for the price but is not for all areas of the country.
Fantastic, honest video. I loved it. I am building a barndo very soon and I really liked the warm look of wood siding and the Diamond Kote product over metal siding. This video opened my eyes and has changed my mind and will save me $20k in doing so by staying with metal.
Thank you so much for making this video! (And thank RUclips algorithm for finding it for me…)
We’ve been having endless discussions about what siding to use on our off grid cabin in the rainforest of North Vancouver Island. Your video made the choice obvious.
Thank you!!!
A good quality vinyl siding installed correctly is a great building science product. If water gets behind it, it allows the water/moisture to drain and dry out the backing / sheeting. Thanks for sharing you experience with all these different products!
Great point!
I’m dying to get the vinyl off my house and put up jh and change the look of my house.
Very good video! I always thought LP smart siding was a good product however now I understand what is more in their warranty! I will tell you it is very important to read the warranty and you pointed that out in the video and I am glad you did! Very eye opening!
Thanks for confirming what I thought. We're going to build a new home in the Twin Cities in 2022 and will go with James Hardie siding. I watched the Worst Siding video by The Honest Carpenter and can see why LP has all the exclusions in their warrantee. Even though LP reinvented hardboard siding using OSB, OSB or compressed wood chips is still a terrible choice in high moisture environments. In MN, things start to get wet in March but can't dry out with high temps in the 40's or 50's because additional snow melt pumps more moisture into the air and dew points stay high until May when temps rise into the 70's+. The cycle repeats with rain in October until late November when winter sets in. We tore down a 40 year old redwood deck due to rot because about 4 months a year here, nothing dries out (too warm for continual freezing but too cold for water evaporation).
MN just changed residential wall cavity insulation from R-20 +5 back to R-20 because they finally figured out R-5 exterior insulation is not enough in zone 6. R-12 exterior insulation is needed in zone 6 to keep condensation from forming in winter up here, unless you use closed cell foam in wall cavities (2'"min). That was not stated in the code. Exterior foam panels prevent wall cavities from drying to exterior. Who are these code writers anyway?
You should go actually read the warranties for Hardie vs LP SmartSide. Hardie has a ton more exclusions that LP. Some of the most notable things that Hardie doesn't cover but LP does are:
Water ingress, mold/fungal growth, structure movement/settling, hail damage/other "acts of god" (LP covers for hail up to 1.75"), etc. Hardie also almost completely voids your warranty if it's installed incorrectly. LP's warranty specifically states that the warranty is not voided by improper installation, they just won't cover damage that is clearly the result of improper installation, and only on the parts that were improperly applied.
Additionally, Hardie's warranty is 30 years vs LP Smartside's is 5/50 years. So 5 years with no prorating, and then years 6-50 are prorated at 2.2% a year. Hardie isn't prorated at all, but 20 years less. So if your Hardie fails in year 31, you get $0 in coverage. If your smartside fails in year 31, you still get 40% coverage. Hardie also only warranties their siding for 30 years - their trim is only warrantied for 15 years. LP warranties both siding AND trim for 5/50 years.
The list goes on. Frankly I personally believe LP's warranty is better, BUT I'd be willing to concede that Hardie & LP's warranties are equal, for different reasons. Hardie has no prorating, but LP has 20-35 more years (depending on product), less exclusions, and specifically covers relatively common things that aren't directly their fault like hail damage and water ingress.
@@Jutilaje LP does not warrant their siding in the Pacific NW and Alaska due to being wet cool climates. That sums it up for me. My climate is like those areas 4 months a year and some moisture may not dry from October until May. Hardy board being made of cement cannot rot. LP needs to add wax to their fibers for moisture and zinc borate for insect control.
I had 12 year old aluminum exterior cladded windows that rotted due to the manufacture missing the step of treating the wood with preservative. They went into bankruptcy over this problem and I got stuck with the bill as did many other homeowners. That was around $36k back in 2011 and we had to finish the interior wood on something like 25 or so windows. When corporate margins shrink, departments find ways to cut costs or lose their jobs. I like stupid simple and not rely on perfectly consistent manufacturing QC. I spent 40 years in heavy manufacturing. People come and go and things can get missed.
This is more of a commercial for James Hardie siding. I've been building houses since 1972 and the only thing that I can say is that each has their advantages and disadvantages. If you have proper ground clearance to avoid splash back and proper onerhang you won't have any problems. The key is to paint-all edges and at least 3 inches around the perimeter of the back before installing. Two coats of high quality paint will preserve the structural integrity of the panels be it vertical or horizontal. James Hardie panels will crack and the dust created from the sawing process is extremely hazardous to your respiratory system. You can use a razor knife to cut and snap straight edges but not when cutting around windows and doors. I built a house in West Frankfort Illinois using James Hardie horizontal lap siding. A few years later I had to replace a piece that was damaged and upon removing the damaged piece found extreme condensation between the siding and the Tyvek house wrap. As I said earlier each type of siding has their pros and cons.
Th overall 'winner' here was vinyl, so I am not sure how this was a commercial for James Hardie Siding. (!)
@@mrpad0I totally discount vinyl in his assessment because it's like comparing apples to oranges. Most high end homes do not have vinyl applied as a siding option because of it's cheap appearance. Even in moderate priced homes vinyl has durability issues due to lawn mowers ejecting rocks and kids throwing rocks,balls or whatever that will all break vinyl especially on cool days. Hardie panels have a tendency to crack over time where nailed.
@@diamondkutz54 To be honest I live in a high-end area (4,000 sq ft homes on a minimum of an acre) and 50% of the homes are brick and/or stone (fascia) and the others are the upper range of vinyl - often with painted wood trim, etc. When there is enough land around a home, damage to a good quality vinyl appears to be rare. People tend to replace the vinyl each time (or every other time) they replace their roof shingles. It's Ohio, and vinyl appears to cope very well here.
@@mrpad0 That's good.
good info - I would say that location is also very important for product choices. Where I live (South Central AK), it's dry with a large temp changes throughout the year. LP is the only way to go unless you're running cedar or another natural product. In fact, JH doesn't sell it's product in our state anymore because of all of the warranty issues. Vinyl sucks up here due to the temps and wind issues (shrinks up in the cold and breaks with the wind). I know that these products are better in moist climates vs LP, but at the same time, LP has advantages over the others in dry climates... But you're right, the advertising is a running joke with LP...
I would say that painting and caulking your siding is the most important part of keeping your siding in good shape for years. Cheers!
I wonder how some of the newer composite siding materials stack up, particularly with James Hardie. I'm looking at Alside's Ascend and Everlast siding. At first glance, I really like the fire rating of Ascend and the fact that it has integrated insulation, while Everlast is basically PVC, but they both seem like viable options given the other products on the market.
detailed and useful review. great job! the only thing that worries me a lot about this review is that the guy seems to be quite (negatively) biased towards LP Smartside. ~80% of time is spent on discussing one product (LP). I would love to get more objective drill in both horizontal (across other products) and vertical (not only negative but also positive) directions
I am building in Northern Maine. I was, WAS going with LP smart side till I saw this... Thank you, I will now look into Hardi, we are too cold for vinyl.
Wow! I was seriously looking at LP Smart siding, and you possibly saved me from future headaches. Replacing 24 year old vinyl siding this summer. I hate the look of vinyl. I guess it's either Hardie (or brick veneer) this summer. Thank you. 😊
As a 74-year-old woman (I'm now 78) I installed Hardie siding on the exterior of my 1 story block and wood frame/ext. plywood house. I did not find the installation difficult, although trying to install the 16' lengths by myself required some maneuvering. With a helper, it's a breeze. I cut the material with a small, specialty saw with a concrete or diamond blade. Two issues: it's hard to carry and maneuver the 16' lengths and if not well balanced, they will break. 2nd ... I wish they had a better selection for windowsills - although maybe since I installed the product they have expanded their range. I live in FL and chose the cement-based product due to the high incidence of termites and water intrusion after torrential rains and floods. I've experienced both and the siding was not adversely affected. As for vinyl siding ... houses near me during the last 5 hurricanes I've lived through since 2004 rarely escaped without major damage.
Replaced siding on two homes with James Hardie after hail storms. One home I put up 4 x 8 sheets which has weathered several hail storms with hardly a mark. Twenty years and looks as good as new. Made a few mistakes on installation as we didn't have good youtube videos then.
This was very helpful information for me to make my choice of siding materials to use.
I can also say from experience that L.P. smartside has a poor history in my area because of all the rain.
Glad it was helpful! LP has issues on wet climates!
I stumbled on this video today and enjoyed it immensely. I have been in the business for 22 years and own my own for 10 with a major uptick is business following 2 hail storms and 1 derecho this year. I pride myself in quality product and application but have never really researched the products before. I have always taken the reps word on it. Not so much any more after this video.
Fantastic! Thanks for generous feedback!
Hey, really good information, really appreciate that people like you are around! Thank you!!
I am planning to put siding on my home. Yesterday came a contractor to talk about the job. I am glad that I found your video for I will not cover my home with vinyl siding due to fire problems.
I removed all of the original vertical aluminum siding on my 1992 manufactured home and glued and screwed 3/8" OSB onto the wall studs, then wrapped the hole thing with a Tyvek water barrier. For the final finishing - - - - - - - I used "Fullback® Vinyl Siding" With Molded Insulation Backing. You can punch it, kick it, hit it with a hard ball, and no damage is done, it is solid to the touch. The best investment that I've made so far, other than than the Pella Low-E, argon filled Windows that I installed.
Just an FYI, LP may not warranty the 76 series in Alaska, but James Hardie doesn't warranty anything here anymore. So much so that we cannot specify it in our drawings because they're completely removed warranties in Alaska. LP does still offer warranties here.
This video and information was exceptionally helpful for me as I make a decision about what to replace my old vinyl with. Thank you so much!!!
I live in BC, Canada. I didn't need to watch this any longer passed 12minutes. I was wondering between LP and JH, my choice is sealed
Thanks for the video.
Wow! Amazing video! I signed up for LP Smartside for all my fascia/soffit work. They started installing yesterday and I noticed they were actually using Hardie Board. I wasn't sure if it was a mistake and if I should complain.....if it was a mistake it was a happy one!
Facia and soffit is usually done with hardy, even if it's lp below. Ice is actually the worst for lp
This video made me realize vinyl is a really great option
Yes it is. Not the cheapest vinyl but good grade is good siding option
@@RoofingInsights3.0 What do you consider to be "good grade" vinyl? Mastic?
@@ErikHaanVincent .46 mm or better
You do understand that sprinklers spray UP under the siding. It will do this to our JH siding as well.
Seriously, you did not look at mold resistance and expansion and contraction. Vinyl is a mold magnet, expands 3/4 on each end and also adds no structural rigidity. I have installed siding for over 20 years and you provided silly comparison. How about resistance to breakage in winter, it is like glass in winter and butter in summer. Also, vinyl ages poorly over 20 years and both LP and Hardi can be painted. Seriously, you used no engineering analysis. No beef with LP, you flat out said you would call them out. Hope Hardie and vinyl paid you well.
All vinyl brands had a meeting and decided what to pay him 🤣? How much LP paying you?
@@patjohn775 haha i was thinking the same thing. Quality vinyl is just fine
I’m looking to remodel and wanted to be informative when speaking to the folks providing quotes! I now feel like I can have a conversation with them and know what to ask and know what they are talking about! Thank you!!!
I was so stressed trying to decide what siding to use. Stress is gone thanks to your video. You are very pleasant, intelligent, realistic and funny. Oh and cute!!!
This was very informative and helpful! Thank you for the objective analysis. Now I know what product to use to replace my siding.👍
100% agree. Just saw the smart siding at a local lumber yard and my first thought was. This is going to rot with in 15 years. And that sledgehammer hammer test only works on homeowners that have no idea how home construction works. Great review. Gives me more pride knowing I have James hardie board on my house. 20 years going now. when old friends come over they think I replaced the siding recently because it still looks new. Even had to replace a few panels after I moved my front door. And the new pieces were so close in color you can’t tell the old from the new.
How many times have you painted the Hardie siding if at all in 20 years, and how often have you had to recaulk it?
I like your integrity
Thanks Mannie!
Subscribed based on details and honesty in reviewing. Great video Dmitry!
if one is to include vinyl siding as an option, one should include both plain and insulated (aka solid core) vinyl siding.
I really wish that had been included too as I am now trying to decide but at our age, low maintenance is high on our list so was hoping to find out how the insulation helps in some of the problem areas. Texas heat now has me a little concerned but the house is shaded on most areas that would be affected.
@@mnj5089 One thing I leared is that insulated vinyl siding can act as a vapor barrier. So if there is the usuaul (in midwest and mid atlantic states) plastic sheet vapor barrier that stapled to the inner surface exterior walls (under plasterboard) then the two vapor barriers will trap moister and facilitate mold in the wall. I learned I have that plastic sheet under my plasterboard so no insulated siding for me. :-(
Quick question, what are your guises opinions on composite siding?? Would you recommend it over vinyl? Please get back to me with a comment at your convenience thank you!
Very helpful video, thank you for your honest review of those siding options. I'm definitely leaning towards cement. Thanks again.
I actually prefer JH material for a couple of reasons. It would be interesting though to see all of those siding options take your hammer test when they are built as a rain screen. Put a .75 inch gap behind them and then do the hammer test. Also JH board isn't all that tasty for termites either. The fact that you can also get it pre-painted and in multiple finishes and profiles, it usually saves when compared to siding and then paint.
LP comes pre-painted.
well I can tell you that only LP would survive a rainscreen hammer test. that's fairly obvious
@@colinjones7689 Their warranty is brutal. Considering it's engineered wood, when installed in an area that get's lots of rain, that is where you run into issues. LP is a great product, and I would probably use it in the SW area due to heat retention, but otherwise, in wet areas I would prefer JH board, and same in an area prone to forest fires. It won't stop it, but it would certainly help.
Great review & I'd be amazed if many people in the US know that James Hardie are actually a really successful Australian company (like Boral).
built $1.8M CBS custom two story 5888sq ft in South Florida killer sun; C/O in 1998 --- Hardie Plank much cut like ginger bread scallops looks like the day installed. SW paint looks great from that day, may repaint next year. Used the best products throughout all composite high performance trim. Yeah was tuff to spend the money up front but now has paid off in the long run. $3.5M today no rot anywhere ... house looks great less some surface mold started after 10 years on the North side. hasto get pressure washed each year. Dont skimp-build your best!
Thank you. Insulated Vinyl Siding is now the plan and keep the grill away from the house❤
My problem with Hardie is continually going to houses that have sever windows damage or the siding wears large holes around the nails and starts to fall down. I see that all the time in Des Moines. Thoughts?
The girl crying OMG. You nailed it! 😂😂
Dude you put alot of work into this video, def thumbed up and subed.
Thank you for creating this comprehensive siding comparison video. We live in Northern California and are planing to have siding installed on our 3000sf home as part of an extensive home remodel. I've been doing lots of research and have 3 different siding contractors scheduled to come out and give me quotes. One thing I must say, all 3 GC's mentioned the quality of James Hardie products even before I've ever heard of them. BTW... I'm sure LP has a decent product but I cannot stand marketing gimmicks... shame on you LP!
I appreciate this video (and love some of your edited clips) because I was planning on using LP as siding on some houseboats we're looking to build. After watching this video, I'm not sure what product to use. These will be in the Gulf so the siding has to withstand hurricane winds, rain and moisture. Now, as to your video, you do realize that water from sprinklers can leave stains on your siding if there's iron in the water! Could be a reason they don't want you to spray it. Also, Hardie is more brittle and can crack when you're nailing it and can get damaged a lot easier when carrying it; it doesn't have much tensile strength. Lastly, Hardie hates water too so it can't be close to the ground or near a roofline. That leaves you with a big gap and you see the exposed flashing. Just sharing another perspective. Thanks for exposing LP.
Use fiberglass siding
build a 4" brick on 4' block house with steel studs and trusses.
They all have their pros and cons. We still only do vinyl siding but I really need to make jump into Hardie. I turn down as many Hardie estimates as I do vinyl siding jobs. We do lots of other stuff though more than siding. Gutters, soffit/fascia, screen rooms etc.
Your video was the most informative siding comparison I have ever seen. We are about to build a new home and I feel so much more knowledgeable. A million thanks
Really enjoyed the education for my upcoming siding project. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Please help stop these contractors I was a carpenter never given protection or even warned of the dangers when dry drilling into concrete and dry cutting fiber cement board siding now I have scarring in my lungs and worry everyday I will die from silicosis with no hope no cure no treatments everyday across the subdivisions in there are people still dry cutting and dry drilling into concrete it has turned my entire life upside down and wish 1 person would have told me so I could have left immediately I reported this to osha and nothing was done the contractor still do it to this day. Please help stop this its killing a lot of us I don't understand why the contractors are not criminally charged for this
This was great - just what we needed to compare siding options. One suggestion - maybe include energy efficiency as a rating category. Maybe it doesn't make that much difference but it's something we're considering.
As a homeowner installing siding on my house in Dallas, I chose to put on the LP lap. The selling points were that I didn't have to buy special cutting tools or a nail gun to install it and it comes in 16' lengths which worked great in my house, and I am the one installing it. Ease of installation was a big consideration. Course I am choosing to not really worry about the warranty (since I am not a certified installer). In my experience, correct installation goes much further than the quality of material. My parents have 30 year old masonite on the their house that looks great because they maintained it.
Ohh.. sigh.. my friend, you could have started with "LP SmartSide is OSB siding, JH is fiber cement siding and of course, PVC siding is, err, plastic siding.. The choice would be very clear then.. JH and PVC siding lol! OSB siding was used ALOT in Florida in the 90s and there was that large class action lawsuit against GP for their crappy OSB siding. OSB is best as fully covered sheathing only
LP is not OSB
👏👏👏
Thankyou as I am researching what to use.
Keep it up!!
I hate vinyl siding
Hardie is the cheapest looking crap. Vinyl sucks but holy shlit, fiber cement can eat pooooo. Looks like a warehouse or a car dealership. Get the f outta here with thay 😂
I need to give an update i didnt knnow there was levels to vinyl... i saw some that looked like batten board that changed my opinion before i saw horrid vinyl that looked like pure plastic
Excellent video man! I would love for you to show up at an expo and bring a wall built to code for them to do the test on. Additionally point out there stipulations on their bs warranty!
Well I'm putting the lp on my trailer ,its off the ground. I bond painted over a 100 16 foot pieces all myself. It took me a week everyday to complete it. Maybe I'll come back in 5 years and let you kn how it went and how it's holding out. I'm a do it yourself dude.
Let us know! Hope you don’t leave in Seattle!
There are a LOT of homes in my area with t1-11 siding and NO sheathing, people replace it with Hardie directly over studs all the time. So the Hardie over studs test is relevant for a lot of people, and it also does nothing to stop the building/house from racking like wood siding does.
You should never let sprinklers hit your house regardless of what siding you have, it will eventually rot out your sheathing and eventually studs, even if you have Hardie. No siding is water proof, it will always get through.
Thanks for the video. I’m a siding installer in New Brunswick Canada now. LP is becoming popular here whereas I used to install Hardie in Ontario Canada. Hardie won’t even warranty their product here in the Maritime provinces. The weather is too extreme. You’re probably right on with your vinyl and LP ratings but definitely not with Hardie. James Hardie is heavy and much harder to work with. James Hardie cemented board dust is dangerous, and James Hardie cement board crumbles apart when it gets water damage and it swells really bad. James Hardie paint also fades quite a bit over the years, but they all do as far as that goes.
I used to hang trough for Martin Dyck from Dyck Exteriors in London Ontario, he’s much bigger than any of these siding guys in the video. Of course he is a fan of James Hardie and you should interview this guy.
I’m also a fan of Hardie but in Canada you definitely could not give it a better rating than LP. LP is superior in cold, icy, snowy climates
Thank you for taking you’re time to educate folks on this topic
Love your honesty, live long and prosper
The sledge hammer test that proves that Hardie siding isn't going to break was flawed. The entire wall was moving when the sledge head hit the Hardie siding. They also hit it right where the two layers lapped and the siding was completely supported. They need to hit the much larger area that has a gap behind it and anchor the wall so it doesn't absorb the impact. And sheathing isn't required by code. Only required where needed to provide shear wall requirements.
On fiber cement siding, the color should be mixed into the cement so every inch has the face color no more painting cut ends. If they can mix color into stuco they can mix color into cement siding as its being made. Its crazy not to do this.
I hate Smart side, BUT it's more and more common to install siding over a rainscreen where there is a gap behind the siding, not that I'm worried about my hardi siding, just pointing out a small flaw in your argument.
Great video, we are new to installing siding. We are training now. Your video was very helpful.
Glad it was helpful! Let me know what products you love!
I have lived in homes with wood, LP (smart side) vinyl, aluminum and now Hardie plank siding. I love wood siding, but for me Hardie plank wins overall. LP siding is the worst because it does not withstand rain, fog and high moisture. Vinyl fails because it gets brittle after 10 years and easily crumbles or splits with minor impacts and is actually pretty hard to source purchase replacement panels. Esthetically, wood, Hardie plank look the best. So does LP while it’s new. Aluminum and vinyl just look cheap when they start to age.
I hung siding from 2001 to 2009, mostly vinyl. But we also hung Hardy Plank. My only experience with LP is during tear off to replace with HP. We always said “Vinyl is final” . I do prefer hardy for resale value. Trying to decide between the two for the house I’m purchasing. Rotten hardboard tear off with good straight walls. So I could go either way.
Hahaha vinyl is final is what we say too. Wonder where that phrase comes from. I like vinyl simply because you dave 1-2 repaints during life of product. Easier to replace damaged piece etc.
I lived in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years and I never seen one single home owner remove James Hardie to be replaced with LP but every reside job I ever worked was removing rotten, checked, swelled non warranted LP siding for James Hardie. Most new construction homes built with James Hardie. It’s the best siding product on the market.
Yes sir!
Wow! 👏 This video is great! Funny, informative, educational, captivating, and to the point.
Despite being over 30 minutes this video couldn’t be shorter I was expecting a lot of unnecessary information or slow content and tried to let the video play while I listened to it with earbuds but kept coming back to my phone to see the video and I’m now even commenting, which I don’t normally do.
Great job with this video I’ll definitely check out your other content. You’ve made a subscriber out of me