Engineered Wood Siding (LP SmartSide)
Engineered wood siding is made from wood strands bonded with resins and treated against moisture and pests, then pressed into planks and panels. LP SmartSide is the brand we install, and we install it across Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Marlton, Mount Laurel, Moorestown, Haddonfield and our other South Jersey towns. It gives you the deep texture and shadow lines of real wood without the weight and brittleness of fiber cement. The trade: it is still a wood-based product, so the cut edges, clearances and finish care in LP’s written instructions are not optional — and we treat them that way.
What does engineered wood look like on a house?
Close to real wood — because it mostly is. SmartSide lap siding and shakes carry a deep cedar-grain texture that vinyl cannot match, and the shadow lines read like painted lumber from the street.
The other visual advantage is length. SmartSide planks come in long lengths VERIFY: LP SmartSide current lengths and profiles, which means fewer butt joints (the seams where two plank ends meet) across a wide wall. Fewer joints means a cleaner look and fewer places to seal and maintain.
Profile and color options vary by product line VERIFY: LP SmartSide current catalog; we bring physical samples to your estimate so you can judge the texture in your own light. SmartSide also offers matching trim and shake profiles, so gables and accents can carry the same wood texture as the main walls.
On upkeep, plan on it like you would a quality painted exterior: the finish has a rated lifespan, joints should be checked periodically, and sprinklers should not soak the walls daily VERIFY: LP SmartSide care and maintenance instructions. None of that is burdensome, but it is real.
Is SmartSide the same as the old hardboard siding that failed?
Fair question, and we hear it a lot. Older hardboard and composite sidings from decades past earned a bad reputation for swelling and delaminating, and some of those products ended up in class-action settlements. Modern LP SmartSide is a different product: the strands are treated through the board (LP calls the process SmartGuard) against moisture and fungal decay, and it carries its own written warranty VERIFY manufacturer claims: LP SmartSide warranty and SmartGuard literature, current rev.
That said, the lesson from the hardboard era still applies: wood-based siding lives or dies on water management. That is why we are strict about cut-edge sealing, clearances, and the flashing and housewrap behind the boards — and why we photograph those details for your job file.
What installation details make or break LP SmartSide?
Three things, all spelled out in LP’s written instructions:
- Cut-edge sealing. The factory faces are sealed, but every field cut exposes raw wood fibers. LP requires sealing cut edges before the board goes on the wall VERIFY: LP SmartSide installation instructions, current rev. The most common SmartSide failure we see on other companies’ jobs is swollen, flaking joints — skipped edge sealing.
- Clearances. Like fiber cement, SmartSide must be held off soil, concrete, roofs and decks by set minimums VERIFY: LP SmartSide installation instructions, current rev. Wood-based products that touch grade will wick water.
- Finish care. Primed SmartSide must be painted within the window LP specifies, and factory-finished boards carry their own finish warranty terms VERIFY: LP SmartSide finish instructions and warranty, current rev. We put the finish plan in writing in your proposal.
We photograph edge sealing and clearances before the wall closes, and the photos go in your job file. Watch: LP SmartSide — is engineered wood right for NJ? → You can also compare SmartSide against insulated vinyl if budget is part of the decision.
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Fiber cement and engineered wood requirements in plain language, plus the 2-page “Before You Sign” quote checklist.
Send Me the Free GuideWhen do we recommend SmartSide over fiber cement?
We install both, so we have no reason to push either one. Here is the honest split:
| Situation | Our usual recommendation |
|---|---|
| You want the deepest real-wood texture | LP SmartSide |
| Wide walls where long lengths cut joint count | LP SmartSide |
| Fire characteristics are a priority | Fiber cement VERIFY manufacturer claims |
| Maximum dimensional stability, crisp painted look | Fiber cement |
| Tightest budget | Vinyl |
On many estimates we price two materials side by side on the same scope, so you are comparing real numbers instead of guesses. Cost depends on product line, home size and repairs; current ranges are on the siding cost page VERIFY: SJCC price book, current rev.
Engineered wood FAQ
What is engineered wood siding?
Wood strands or fibers bonded with resins and treated for moisture and pest resistance, pressed into planks and panels. LP SmartSide is the brand we install — real-wood look, lighter and more uniform than lumber.
Does LP SmartSide need painting?
It comes primed or factory-finished, and either way the finish has a lifespan. All cut edges must be sealed per LP’s written instructions VERIFY: LP SmartSide instructions. Lower upkeep, not zero upkeep.
Why do cut edges matter so much?
Cuts expose raw wood fiber. Unsealed edges swell and flake at joints — the most common SmartSide failure we see. Sealing is required by the written instructions VERIFY: LP SmartSide instructions.
Should I choose SmartSide or fiber cement?
SmartSide wins on texture, long lengths and handling; fiber cement wins on fire characteristics and stability. We will price both on your house if you want a real comparison.