LP SmartSide vs James Hardie: which siding wins in Minneapolis?
I'm certified to install both, and I've put both on Twin Cities homes for the better part of two decades. LP SmartSide is engineered wood — lighter, cuts like wood, and comes in lower on total installed cost. James Hardie is fiber cement — heavier, non-combustible, and the gold standard a lot of people picture when they think premium siding. SmartSide carries a 50-year warranty; Hardie carries 30 years non-prorated. Both survive Minnesota winters. Here's the honest version of when each one's the right call.
LP SmartSide or James Hardie?
I install both LP SmartSide and James Hardie on Twin Cities homes. Here's when each wins, and what I tell customers asking which to choose.
Side by side
Material specs and performance
Two different materials, not the same thing in different boxes. Here's what you're actually comparing.
LP SmartSide
Engineered wood substrate
OSB with zinc borate treatment
$7–$12 per square foot
Installs in 1.5–2 weeks
1.5–2 weeks
50-year substrate warranty
50 years
ExpertFinish factory paint
15+ years
Lighter, easier to cut
Accepts paint readily
Faster install, lower labor cost
Flexes under hail instead of cracking
James Hardie
Fiber cement substrate
Portland cement and cellulose
$9–$15 per square foot
Installs in 2–3 weeks
2–3 weeks
30-year substrate warranty
30 years
ColorPlus factory paint
15+ years
Non-combustible material
Zero water absorption
Holds color through years of UV
Class A fire rating, won't burn
The numbers
LP SmartSide vs James Hardie: full spec comparison
Every number below is what we quote and install against in the Twin Cities — not manufacturer brochure ranges.
| LP SmartSide | James Hardie | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Engineered wood (treated OSB substrate) | Fiber cement (Portland cement + cellulose) |
| Installed cost / sq ft | $7–$12 | $9–$15 |
| Typical Twin Cities full house | $20K–$55K | $30K–$80K |
| Substrate warranty | 50-year limited — prorated after year 5 | 30-year non-prorated |
| Factory paint warranty | 15+ years (ExpertFinish) | 15+ years (ColorPlus) |
| Hail behavior | Flexes under impact instead of cracking | Can crack under large hail; won't dent |
| Fire rating | Treated wood — combustible | Class A — won't burn |
| Water absorption | Low (resin-bonded, zinc borate treated) | Zero |
| Weight / handling | Lighter, cuts like wood, faster install | Heavier, requires dust collection to cut |
| Install time (full house) | 1.5–2 weeks | 2–3 weeks |
| Our take for Minnesota | Best value under hail exposure; labor savings are real | The premium pick where fire rating or masonry-look matters |
Costs reflect typical Twin Cities installed pricing, 2026. Your quote is line-itemed against your actual walls — call 952-206-6339.
Honest comparison
I install both, so I'll give it to you straight
Most LP-versus-Hardie comparisons are written by a contractor who only installs one of them. I install both. We're an LP SmartSide Preferred Contractor and a James Hardie Preferred Contractor, and I've watched both hold up through January cold that makes most building materials tap out. I don't give you the answer the manufacturer wants — I give you what I've seen on the side of a house.
Why it matters
Engineered wood and fiber cement behave differently in cost, in hail, and in the freeze-thaw we get about 40 times a winter.
What you'll get
Real specs, install timelines, the warranty fine print, and which one I'd put on my own house and why.
Material breakdown
What you're actually buying
People assume these are the same product in different boxes. They're not. LP SmartSide is engineered wood; James Hardie is basically a thin concrete board shaped to look like wood. That one difference drives everything — cost, how fast we install it, how it takes a hailstone, and how your house looks in year fifteen.
LP SmartSide
OSB substrate treated with zinc borate for moisture and termite resistance, resin-bonded and pressure-formed into planks.
James Hardie
Portland cement, sand, and cellulose fibers pressed into planks. Non-combustible, absorbs zero water, doesn't expand or contract with humidity.
Cost reality
Where the price gap shows up
LP SmartSide runs $7–$12 per square foot installed. James Hardie runs $9–$15. On a full house in the Twin Cities that's roughly $20K–$55K for LP and $30K–$80K for Hardie. A chunk of the gap isn't the material — it's labor. SmartSide is lighter and cuts like wood, so it goes up faster, and on a typical home the labor savings offset most of the material difference.
Why Hardie costs more
Heavier planks, specialized cutting equipment with dust collection, slower installation labor, and higher material cost per unit.
LP SmartSide advantage
Lighter material, faster cuts, quicker installation, lower labor hours per square foot, and lower total project cost.
Installation timeline
How long your project takes
LP SmartSide typically installs in 1.5–2 weeks for a full house. James Hardie typically takes 2–3 weeks. The difference is material weight, cutting complexity, and handling care. Both timelines assume good weather and standard crew size.
LP SmartSide speed
Lighter planks, easier cuts, faster fastening, and less dust management mean quicker installation and faster project completion.
Hardie installation
Heavier planks require careful handling, fiber-cement dust collection is mandatory, cuts take longer, and crews move deliberately to avoid breakage.
Warranty and durability
What the manufacturers promise
LP SmartSide carries a 50-year limited warranty — but read the fine print, it's prorated after year 5. Hardie's is 30 years non-prorated, meaning full replacement value the whole way. So SmartSide wins on years, Hardie wins on the strength of the coverage in the first 30. Both pair a 15-year factory-paint warranty on top.
Real-world Minnesota
Both ride out freeze-thaw when they're installed right — SmartSide demands the 3/16-inch expansion gaps and moisture barriers, or it buckles. Hardie's cement doesn't drink water, so it's a little more forgiving of imperfect install.
The hail factor
We get real hailstorms here most summers. SmartSide flexes and absorbs the hit; rigid fiber cement can crack. I've pulled cracked Hardie planks off homes after a storm and found the SmartSide house down the block untouched.
Curb appeal and look
Which one looks better on the house
This part's subjective, but here's what I see standing on the curb. SmartSide has the more authentic wood look — the cedar grain and shadow lines read like real wood, and nickel gap is the product I recommend most for modern homes right now. Hardie's ColorPlus palette is excellent if color staying dead-consistent for decades is what you care about most.
Modern vs. classic
Clean lines and a contemporary build? SmartSide nickel gap is hard to beat. Traditional home where you want the color locked in for 20 years? That's where Hardie's ColorPlus shines.
My recommendation
I'll tell you which one I'd pick if it were my house. The best siding in the world still fails if the install is sloppy — get that right and either one protects your home for decades.
Material
LP SmartSide or fiber cement
Both materials perform well in Minnesota. The choice comes down to budget, timeline, and how long you plan to stay in your home.
LP SmartSide
Engineered wood that accepts paint readily and installs faster than fiber cement.
James Hardie
Fiber cement that doesn't absorb water and holds its color longer than engineered wood.
The verdict
So which siding should you actually pick?
Pick LP SmartSide when hail exposure and budget lead the decision — it flexes instead of cracking and installs for less. Pick James Hardie when fire rating, zero water absorption, or the premium fiber-cement look matter more than the price gap. We install both, so the recommendation follows your house, not our supplier.
Hail corridor, budget matters
LP SmartSide
Engineered wood flexes under the 1–2" hail the western metro takes instead of cracking. Lower installed cost, and the labor savings on a full re-side are real money.
Premium look, fire rating, or masonry pairing
James Hardie
Class A fire rating, zero water absorption, and the crisp fiber-cement shadow line on Edina and lake-home architecture. The 30-year non-prorated warranty is the strongest first-30-years coverage in siding.
Deep color, low repaint appetite
Either — pick by color line
Both carry 15+ year factory finishes (ExpertFinish vs ColorPlus). Choose from the actual color you want: we bring both sample boards and render both on a 3D model of your house before you commit.
Free quote in 48 hours · no pressure, no same-day close · lifetime workmanship warranty either way
Real homes
Twin Cities projects in both materials
Ready to choose your siding?
Call us and we'll quote both options with real numbers for your home — then I'll tell you which one I'd put on my own house. Go deeper on each: LP SmartSide and James Hardie.
About
Reviewed by Joe Dvorak, owner
I've put both LP SmartSide and James Hardie on Twin Cities homes for the better part of two decades. We're an LP SmartSide Preferred Contractor and a James Hardie Preferred Contractor. I've got no stake in which one you choose — only in getting the right call for your home. Updated May 2026.
