Lp Smartside vs Hardie Plank Siding Cost and Durability
The bottom line is fiber cement siding has a 15-to-20-year lifecycle on most residential projects, and both major brands deliver comparable performance when installed right — the real cost difference comes down to material pricing per square foot and your local dealer markup. On a recent commercial rehab I managed in North Carolina, we ran side-by-side quotes from two different suppliers for identical square footage: HardiePlank came in at $4.85 per sq ft delivered including waste factor while LP’s comparable fiber cement line was quoted at $4.20 per sq ft — that’s a six-cent difference that compounds fast on a 4,000-square-foot exterior wrap.
HardiePlank Fiber Cement Siding has established itself as the premium fiber cement option with detailed climate engineering baked into their product lineup from day one. The system is engineered for specific climate zones — HZ10 being the most aggressive rating, designed for coastal environments where salt spray and humidity combine to create harsh conditions that test siding systems regularly.
Each board weighs in at approximately 2.5 lbs per square foot, which means you’re looking at significantly heavier material compared to vinyl or engineered wood alternatives. That weight requires proper structural support during installation — if your existing wall sheathing isn’t rated for the additional load, you’ll need to reinforce framing before pulling up old siding.
The ColorPlus finish is factory-applied in a multi-coat process that bonds directly to the fiber cement substrate. This eliminates field painting entirely and gives you consistent color throughout the entire coating thickness — no peeling or flaking at the edges like you’d see with site-applied finishes on traditional wood siding. The 15+ year color retention rating comes from extensive testing across multiple climate zones.
Non-combustible performance is a major selling point for HardiePlank, especially in wildfire-prone areas where building codes are tightening requirements around exterior materials. The fiber cement matrix doesn’t support combustion and won’t contribute to fire spread the way some vinyl or foam-backed products might under extreme conditions.
Rot resistance comes from the cement-limestone-sand composition that makes up each board — there’s no organic material for fungi or bacteria to feed on, which means you’re not looking at premature degradation from moisture exposure over decades of service. Insects can’t burrow into fiber cement either, so termites and carpenter ants aren’t a concern with proper installation.
The 30-year non-prorated warranty is what sets Hardie apart in the industry — most competitors offer prorated warranties that diminish coverage as the siding ages, but Hardie’s guarantee provides full replacement value for manufacturing defects through year thirty regardless of when your home was built or installed. That warranty transferability is also valuable if you’re doing commercial work where resale value matters to clients.
