Strong value
A painted wood look for less than fiber cement or cedar, with comparable service life when installed and maintained well.
LP SmartSide installation
LP SmartSide siding for Puget Sound homes
Engineered wood siding with a real wood look, long boards and a mid-range price. Here is what LP SmartSide siding costs, how it holds up in our rain and what it takes to install it correctly.
Engineered wood
What LP SmartSide siding is and why it is popular
LP SmartSide siding is an engineered wood product: wood strands bonded with resins and waxes, treated to resist fungal decay and termites, and finished with a resin-saturated overlay that carries a cedar-grain or smooth texture. It gives you the look and workability of wood at a price below fiber cement and well below cedar, which is why it has become a common choice on new construction and replacements across the Puget Sound.
How LP SmartSide siding performs in our climate
Engineered wood is lighter and tougher than fiber cement. Boards come in 16-foot lengths, so long walls need fewer butt joints, and the material flexes rather than cracks when a ball or a branch hits it. The treated strands resist rot, but engineered wood is still wood: its weak points are unsealed cut edges and bottom edges that sit in standing water. In a climate where walls stay damp for weeks, those details decide whether the siding lasts decades or swells at the joints in a few years.
Installation details we do not skip
- Prime or seal every field cut, especially bottom edges and ends at trim and windows.
- Keep clearances above grade, decks, patios and roof lines so edges never wick water.
- Flash properly over windows and doors and at roof-to-wall joints, including kick-out flashing.
- Fasten to spec: correct nail type and spacing, and no overdriven nails that break the surface overlay.
- Finish promptly. Primed boards should be painted within the window the manufacturer specifies; pre-finished boards need touch-up at cuts and nails.
Following LP's installation instructions is also what keeps the manufacturer coverage intact. LP offers a limited warranty on SmartSide products; terms vary by product and finish, so we review the current terms for the line you choose.
Profiles
Lap siding in several widths, panels with battens for vertical looks, shakes for gables and a matching trim and soffit system let you do the whole exterior in one product. Want to compare against the alternatives? See fiber cement siding, cedar siding, or the full siding materials comparison.
Planning numbers
How this material compares on cost
Typical Puget Sound installed ranges per square foot of wall — removal of one layer, weather barrier and standard trim included.
- Vinyl $26.0k–$43.4k : $9 to $15 per square foot installed
- LP SmartSide $31.8k–$52.1k : $11 to $18 per square foot installed
- Fiber cement $37.6k–$60.8k : $13 to $21 per square foot installed
- Cedar $46.3k–$81.0k : $16 to $28 per square foot installed
Pros and what to know
Where engineered wood shines, and where it needs care
Impact resistant
Engineered wood absorbs hits from hail, balls and branches that could crack rigid siding.
Long 16-foot boards
Fewer joints on long walls means cleaner lines and fewer places for water to get in.
Lighter, easier handling
Cuts with standard woodworking tools and without the silica dust fiber cement produces.
Edges must stay sealed
Unsealed cuts and edges in splash zones are how engineered wood swells. Inspect caulk and paint regularly.
Combustible material
Unlike fiber cement, engineered wood can burn. Where fire resistance is a priority, compare both.
Worked cost example
LP SmartSide cost on a 1,700 sq ft Renton home
Renton has many split-levels and newer two-story homes where LP SmartSide is a natural fit. Here is the planning math for a two-story home with 1,700 sq ft of living space in Renton.
- Wall area: 1,700 × 1.36 = 2,312 sq ft of wall.
- Installed rate: 2,312 × $11 = $25,432 low; 2,312 × $18 = $41,616 high.
- Renton factor: × 1.08.
That puts this project at roughly $27,500–$44,900. On a larger 1,900 sq ft two-story in Seattle (2,584 sq ft × $11–$18 × 1.12), the range is about $31,800–$52,100.
Low end versus high end
Primed lap siding with standard trim, painted on site, sits near the low end. Pre-finished boards, shake gables, board-and-batten accents, full LP trim packages and tricky access move toward the top. Rot repair behind the old siding is priced after tear-off. Treat these numbers as a planning range, then use the siding cost estimator or see what is typical for homes on our Renton siding page.
Is it right for you?
LP SmartSide versus the alternatives
A quick way to see where engineered wood lands among the four materials we install.
Versus vinyl
Costs more upfront and needs paint, but looks like painted wood, has crisper shadow lines and resists impacts better.
Versus fiber cement
Usually costs less, installs faster and resists impacts better; fiber cement wins on fire resistance and edge moisture tolerance.
Versus cedar
Much lower cost and less frequent maintenance, but a painted finish rather than the natural grain and stain of real cedar.
Best overall fit
Homeowners who want a painted wood look, plan to stay for years and will keep up caulk and paint.
Examples
Engineered wood styles
Lap, panel and board-and-batten looks that engineered wood siding is often used for.
LP SmartSide questions
LP SmartSide siding FAQ
Is LP SmartSide real wood?
It is made from real wood strands, but it is an engineered product. The strands are treated and bonded with resins and waxes, then given an embossed overlay. It paints and cuts like wood, but it is more uniform and more decay-resistant than untreated lumber.
Why does engineered wood siding swell at the bottom edges?
Swelling almost always traces back to installation or maintenance: bottom edges set too close to soil, decks or roofs, unsealed cuts, or paint left to fail. Correct clearances and a sealed, maintained finish prevent it.
Should I buy pre-finished or primed LP SmartSide?
Pre-finished boards arrive with a factory coating, which shortens the schedule and gives a consistent finish. Primed boards let you pick any color and are painted after installation. Both need touch-up at cuts and nail heads.
Can LP SmartSide be used for trim and soffits too?
Yes. LP makes matching trim and soffit products, so the whole exterior can be done in one system. Some homeowners pair SmartSide walls with other trim materials; either approach works when the joints are flashed and sealed properly.
How often does LP SmartSide need repainting?
Plan on a repaint every 10–15 years, sooner on sunny south and west walls. Check caulk joints and edges every year or two in the meantime, since keeping edges sealed is the most important upkeep for engineered wood.
Free, no-pressure estimate
Price LP SmartSide siding for your home.
We measure, inspect the sheathing and prepare a written estimate for LP SmartSide, with fiber cement or vinyl alongside if you want to compare.