James Hardie vs LP SmartSide — Which Siding Is Better for Colorado Homes?

Fiber Cement vs Engineered Wood vs Vinyl: Materials, Installation Quality, and How to Choose a Contractor

Choosing a siding material is a long-term decision. The product you select — and how well it is installed — will determine how your home performs over the next 20–30 years. This guide focuses on the three most common siding materials on the Colorado Front Range: James Hardie fiber cement, LP SmartSide engineered wood, and vinyl.

We’ll cover what each material is, how they compare in real Colorado conditions, what installation quality actually looks like, and how to evaluate the contractor you’re trusting to do the work.

James Hardie vs LP SmartSide vs Vinyl — Full Material Comparison for Colorado

Pricing reflects Primed or standard finish. Factory finish (ColorPlus / LP Pre-Finished) adds approximately $1.25–$1.60/Sq Ft. Based on 2,000 Sq Ft home / 1,600 Sq Ft siding area / Colorado 2026.

What Is Fiber Cement Siding? (James Hardie)

Fiber cement siding is a manufactured building material made from a mixture of cement, sand, and cellulose (wood) fiber, formed under heat and pressure into planks, panels, and trim boards designed to look like natural wood — without the rot, pest, and moisture vulnerabilities of real wood.

Fiber cement is dimensionally stable and non-combustible. In Colorado, where wildfire risk is real for homeowners along the Front Range and in the foothills, non-combustibility is a meaningful factor — not a marketing bullet point.

Why We Use James Hardie

James Hardie is the most widely installed fiber cement brand in the United States. Their installation requirements are detailed and clearly enforced. Their warranty program is among the strongest in the category. And their ColorPlus factory finish — a kiln-baked color system applied under controlled conditions — outperforms field-painted fiber cement in both color retention and surface durability. We observe this consistently in the field, and it is backed by Hardie’s 15-year finish warranty.

WestPro is a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor — the highest certification level Hardie offers. This certification is required for the full Hardie warranty to apply to your installation.

Primed vs. ColorPlus — Which Is Right for You?

What Is Engineered Wood Siding? (LP SmartSide)

LP SmartSide is an engineered wood composite — wood strands and fibers bonded with resins and treated with a proprietary SmartGuard process for resistance to moisture, fungal decay, and impact. It is lighter than fiber cement, easier to work with, and carries a 50-year limited warranty.

LP SmartSide performs well in Colorado’s climate and offers excellent impact resistance. It is a legitimate alternative to Hardie for homeowners who prioritize aesthetics, impact performance, and a lower installed cost — provided it is correctly detailed at all penetrations and joints.

LP SmartSide requires field painting or comes pre-finished from the factory. Like Hardie Primed, unpainted LP is not a finished installation — it must be painted or it will fail prematurely.

What About Vinyl?

Standard vinyl siding is PVC plastic — lower cost, lower performance, and not the right choice for every Colorado home. It dents under hail impact, expands and contracts significantly with temperature swings (which Colorado has in abundance), and is combustible — a meaningful concern in fire-risk zones.

That said, vinyl has a place. For budget-constrained projects in lower fire-risk areas where hail exposure is moderate and long-term ownership is not the priority, vinyl is a functional product.

James Hardie Siding Options and Installed Pricing

All pricing: 2,000 Sq Ft home / 1,600 Sq Ft siding area / 490 LF 3.5" HardieTrim / Primed finish / standard access / Colorado 2026. ColorPlus adds $1.25–$1.60/Sq Ft.

*HardieShingle is rarely installed whole-house. Typical accent applications are 150–300 Sq Ft. Full-home pricing shown for comparison only.

Siding Installation Mistakes That Cause Early Failure

Most siding failures are not material failures. They are installation failures — choices made during installation that don’t show up for 3–7 years, but cost far more to repair than the original shortcut saved.

These are the most common failures we identify when replacing siding on Front Range homes.

Ask any contractor you’re evaluating how they specifically handle each of these. A contractor who can answer clearly has actually thought about them. A contractor who can’t should be a concern.

Installation Techniques That Affect Cost and Performance

Blind Nailing vs. Face Nailing

As covered above — blind nailing is correct for Hardie and LP SmartSide. It is required for warranty compliance and wind resistance ratings. Face nailing is faster but wrong.

Rain Screen Installation

A rain screen creates a designed air gap between the housewrap and siding, improving drainage and drying performance behind the wall. It adds approximately 8–15% to total project cost. For homes in high moisture or driving rain environments, it is worth discussing with your contractor.

Caulking and Joint Treatment

On fiber cement, all cut edges must be back-primed and sealed before installation. Proper caulking at all joints, corners, and penetrations is required per manufacturer specification — not optional. Rushing this step is a leading cause of premature failure.

How to Choose a Siding Contractor in Colorado — What to Look For

The right material installed incorrectly will fail. The wrong contractor is a more expensive mistake than the wrong product. Here is how to evaluate who you’re hiring.

Questions to Ask Every Contractor

• Are you a certified installer for the product you’re proposing? For Hardie, ask specifically what certification level they hold. Elite Preferred is the highest.
• Do your installation crews carry workers’ compensation insurance? Request certificates of insurance. This is not optional — uninsured crews on your property create liability for you.
• How do you handle sheathing discoveries? Sheathing condition cannot be known without opening walls. A contractor with a clear, defined process for identifying and communicating sheathing issues — before work starts — is a contractor who has dealt with this before.
• How are roof tie-in areas detailed? Where siding meets rooflines, specific flashing corrections are often needed. Ask how they are handled.
• What is your labor warranty, and what does it cover? Get it in writing.

What a Professional Proposal Should Include

A professional siding proposal does not need to be a line-item spreadsheet — experienced contractors present complete scope in a clean total. What matters is that the contractor can clearly answer the questions above and that the contract reflects those answers in writing.

On a standard 2,000 Sq Ft Front Range home, bids from legitimate professional contractors typically vary by $3,000–$6,000. A gap significantly larger than this almost always means the bids do not cover the same scope.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is James Hardie worth the extra cost over vinyl?

For most Front Range homeowners — yes. Particularly those staying 10+ years or in fire-risk areas. Hardie is non-combustible, dimensionally stable in Colorado’s temperature swings, and does not dent under hail impact the way standard vinyl does. The premium reflects real performance differences.

How long does James Hardie siding last?

Hardie carries a 30-year limited transferable product warranty. ColorPlus carries a 15-year finish warranty. Real-world lifespan on properly installed Hardie exceeds 30 years in most Colorado climates.

What siding is best for hail?

Both James Hardie and LP SmartSide outperform standard vinyl in hail resistance. Ask specifically about impact-resistance ratings and FM4473 testing. Some insurance carriers offer premium discounts for impact-rated products on Front Range homes.

What is the difference between Primed and ColorPlus Hardie?

Primed is delivered ready for field painting. ColorPlus is factory-applied under controlled conditions and carries its own 15-year finish warranty. The installed price difference is approximately $1.25–$1.60/Sq Ft. For most homeowners, ColorPlus is the better long-term value — it eliminates paint quality and repainting costs as variables entirely.

How do I know if my sheathing needs to be replaced?

You typically cannot know without invasive testing. Visible signs include soft spots in the wall, siding that moves when pressed, and interior water stains near exterior walls. The most reliable method is a core test before work begins — which is standard in our pre-construction process.

Can I install siding over my existing siding?

In most cases, no. Installing over existing siding traps moisture, adds weight to the wall, prevents sheathing and housewrap inspection, and typically voids manufacturer warranties. Full tear-off is the correct approach for a quality installation.

Does homeowner’s insurance cover siding replacement?

Hail and wind damage is commonly covered in Colorado, subject to your deductible and policy terms. Age- or wear-related replacement is typically not covered. Document storm damage carefully before filing a claim.

Does new siding increase home value?

Siding replacement consistently ranks among the higher-ROI exterior remodeling projects. Fiber cement carries particularly strong resale value because buyers recognize the material and its reduced maintenance burden.