LP SmartSide vs. Vinyl vs. Fiber Cement Siding for Missouri Homes
Siding in Franklin County has to take wind-driven hail on the storm-facing walls, humid summers, and winters that freeze and thaw the same wall over and over. LP SmartSide engineered wood, vinyl, and fiber cement each handle those conditions differently, and the right choice depends on your budget, your home's exposure, and how much upkeep you're willing to do.
Emmendorfer Exteriors installs LP SmartSide and vinyl from Royal, CertainTeed, and Georgia-Pacific. We don't install fiber cement. That makes us a hands-on source for the first two materials and an outside observer of the third, and we'll be clear about where fiber cement comes out ahead.
Siding materials at a glance
| LP SmartSide | Vinyl | Fiber cement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Engineered wood strands or fibers, treated with LP's SmartGuard process | Rigid PVC panels | Cement, sand, and cellulose fibers |
| Hail | Limited hail warranty up to 1.75-inch hail | Varies by panel thickness and product line | Hard, dense board |
| Fire | Combustible wood product | Plastic; softens and melts in high heat | Noncombustible (ASTM E136, James Hardie) |
| Upkeep | Repainting over time, sealed cut edges | Washing; no paint | Repainting unless factory-finished |
| Example warranty | 5-year 100% labor and material, 50-year prorated limited | Varies by line | 30-year non-prorated limited (James Hardie) |
| Installed by Emmendorfer | Yes | Yes | No |
How each material handles Missouri hail
Hail is the deciding factor for many homeowners here. Our Franklin County hail and wind storm history shows how often the county takes large hail, and the storm-facing walls usually catch the worst of it.
Vinyl
Vinyl's hail performance depends heavily on the specific product. Thin, budget panels crack and hole more easily, especially when cold. Thicker premium lines hold up better.
Vinyl siding certified through the industry's VSI product certification program, now run by the Polymeric Exterior Products Association, is independently verified to the ASTM D3679 standard, which covers wind load and impact resistance. Asking for a certified product with a heavier panel is the simplest way to improve vinyl's odds in a hailstorm.
LP SmartSide
LP backs SmartSide with a 5/50-year limited warranty: five years of 100% labor and material replacement, then a 50-year prorated period, with limited hail coverage for hail up to 1.75 inches in diameter on properly installed and maintained siding.
LP's warranty summary excludes damage from hail larger than 1.75 inches and damage to the paint. In testing LP commissioned at Texas Tech's Debris Impact Facility, LP reported that its lap siding showed no impact damage from 1.75-inch hail at 81 mph, while vinyl fractured from 1.25-inch hail at 57 mph (LP announcement). Keep in mind those results come from the manufacturer.
Fiber cement
Fiber cement is a heavy, rigid board. LP's same announcement claims fiber cement carries more hail risk than SmartSide, but that is one manufacturer describing a competitor. James Hardie builds its HZ5 product line for climates with freezing temperatures and wide seasonal swings, and backs its siding with a 30-year non-prorated limited warranty.
Freeze-thaw, moisture, and upkeep
Water behind the siding does more damage than any freeze-thaw cycle on the face of it. The house wrap, window and door flashing, and sound sheathing underneath matter as much as the panel itself. Our siding installation process starts by pulling the old siding to the sheathing and replacing any rot before the new system goes up.
Each material has its own upkeep. LP SmartSide is a wood-based product, so it needs to be painted, with cut edges sealed and the clearances from roofs and grade that LP's instructions require. LP's warranty notes that an installation error voids coverage only for the damage it causes, not the entire warranty.
Vinyl never needs paint and cleans with a hose and a soft brush, but it moves with temperature changes, so it has to be hung loosely enough to expand. Fiber cement needs paint and caulk upkeep unless you buy a factory finish, which carries its own finish warranty.
Fire resistance
This is where fiber cement has the clearest advantage. James Hardie lists its lap siding as noncombustible under the ASTM E136 test. Neither vinyl nor LP SmartSide can claim that. For homes on wooded acreage, or close to a neighboring structure, fire resistance may outweigh everything else on this list.
If you still want fiber cement
We'd rather you choose the right siding than choose us. When a homeowner wants the toughness and woodgrain look people associate with fiber cement, we install LP SmartSide instead. If fire resistance or another factor points you to fiber cement, ask the installer you hire:
- Is the product rated for our climate, such as James Hardie's HZ5 line?
- How will you control dust when cutting? OSHA regulates the silica dust from cutting fiber cement board and lists specific saw and dust collection controls.
- Is the siding factory-finished or painted on site, and what finish warranty applies?
- How will rotten sheathing and trim found during tear-off be priced?
- What flashing details and clearances does the manufacturer require at rooflines and grade?
Which siding fits your home
Most decisions come down to a few common situations:
- For a whole-home re-side on a budget with almost no upkeep, certified vinyl in a heavier panel is hard to beat.
- For storm-facing walls, a woodgrain look, and a manufacturer hail warranty, LP SmartSide is our usual recommendation.
- When fire resistance is the top priority, fiber cement is the stronger material.
- LP's warranty allows SmartSide to be combined with other siding materials on the same home, which opens up mixed designs.
Frequently asked questions
Is LP SmartSide better than fiber cement?
It depends on your priority. LP SmartSide is lighter, carries a limited hail warranty up to 1.75-inch hail, and has a 50-year prorated limited warranty. Fiber cement is noncombustible and James Hardie's comes with a 30-year non-prorated limited warranty.
Does vinyl siding crack in hail?
It can. Thin vinyl panels are more likely to crack or hole, particularly in cold weather. Thicker, certified vinyl resists impact better. Choosing a product verified to ASTM D3679 through the VSI certification program is a good starting point.
What does the LP SmartSide hail warranty cover?
LP's limited warranty covers hail damage from hailstones up to 1.75 inches in diameter on siding installed and maintained per LP's instructions. Its summary excludes hail larger than 1.75 inches and damage to the paint finish.
Does Emmendorfer Exteriors install fiber cement siding?
No. We install LP SmartSide engineered wood and vinyl from Royal, CertainTeed, and Georgia-Pacific. When a homeowner wants a durable, woodgrain look, we recommend LP SmartSide and name it on the written estimate.
Can siding and a roof be replaced at the same time?
Yes. Doing both at once means one crew, one schedule, and one cleanup, and the roof edge and wall flashing get detailed together. It's especially common after a storm damages the roof and the storm-facing walls in the same event.
Choosing with confidence
No siding wins every category. Vinyl is the budget, low-upkeep choice, LP SmartSide pairs storm toughness with a hail warranty, and fiber cement leads on fire resistance. Emmendorfer Exteriors will look at your walls, explain which material fits your home, and put the brand, profile, and color on a written estimate.
We install siding in Union, Washington, Pacific, St. Clair, Sullivan, Villa Ridge, and New Haven. Request a free siding estimate to get started.
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