For most Pittsburgh homeowners, the choice between LP SmartSide engineered wood siding and James Hardie fiber cement comes down to priorities. LP SmartSide is lighter, more impact-resistant, and easier to fit on older, uneven walls. James Hardie offers better fire resistance and a heavier, more masonry-like feel. Both hold up well to Western Pennsylvania winters when they’re installed correctly. The rest of this guide explains where each product works best, what the differences mean for your house, and what to ask before you hire a contractor. If you’re already planning a project, our siding installation services page shows how we approach replacement projects across the Pittsburgh area.
What Is Engineered Wood Siding, and How Is It Different From Fiber Cement?
Engineered wood siding like LP SmartSide is made from wood strands bonded with resins and waxes, then treated with zinc borate to resist fungal decay and termites. The result looks like real wood, often with a cedar-grain texture, and avoids many of the weaknesses of traditional wood clapboard. It’s sold primed for field painting or with a factory-applied finish.
James Hardie siding is fiber cement, a mix of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers pressed into boards and panels. It’s dense, rigid, and noncombustible, which gives it a solid, substantial look once installed. Hardie makes a product line for climates with freezing temperatures, and that’s the one used in Western Pennsylvania.
Both products can be made to look like lap siding, shakes, or board-and-batten, so your choice usually depends on performance, installation, and long-term upkeep rather than style alone.
How Do Both Sidings Handle Pittsburgh’s Freeze-Thaw Winters and Humid Summers?
Pittsburgh’s weather is hard on any exterior. Winter brings repeated freeze-thaw cycles, wet snow that sits against the lower courses of siding, and ice dams along the eaves. Summers are humid, with heavy thunderstorms that test every seam, flashing detail, and trim joint.
Fiber cement tolerates moisture well and won’t rot. It can still absorb water at unsealed or poorly flashed edges, though, and repeated freezing can cause problems if installers skip the required clearances. That’s why Hardie’s freeze-climate formulation and correct installation details matter in this region.
Engineered wood siding performs well in wet climates too, but it depends more on keeping water out at cut ends, joints, and the bottom edges near grade. LP requires installers to seal field-cut edges and maintain specific clearances from roofs, decks, and the ground. When those details are done right, LP SmartSide handles Western Pennsylvania’s moisture without trouble. When they’re skipped, swelling at the edges is the most common failure.
Whichever product you pick, workmanship matters more than the brand name. Pittsburgh’s hillside lots, short eaves on older homes, and drainage that sheds water toward the foundation all make proper flashing and clearance work essential.
Which Siding Holds Up Better to Impact and Everyday Wear?
Engineered wood has a clear advantage here. LP SmartSide flexes slightly on impact, so it resists cracking from hail, stray baseballs, lawn equipment, and branches coming down in a storm. For families with active kids or homes on wooded lots, that durability means fewer repairs over time.
Fiber cement is hard, but it’s also brittle. A heavy blow can crack or chip a board, especially near corners and lower courses. The damage is repairable, but matching factory-finished color on a replacement board can take some care.
On the other hand, fiber cement resists woodpeckers and pests very well. In wooded neighborhoods north and south of the city, that’s a real consideration.
What Installation Differences Matter on Older Pittsburgh Homes?
Much of Pittsburgh’s housing stock is older: brick-and-frame homes in the city neighborhoods, postwar houses in the suburbs, and plenty of homes where the walls are no longer perfectly flat or square. Installation differences between the two products matter more on these houses.
Weight and Handling
LP SmartSide is noticeably lighter than fiber cement, and its boards usually come in longer lengths. That means fewer butt joints across a wall and less strain on older framing. Fiber cement is heavy, takes more labor to handle on ladders and scaffolding, and needs careful support during installation to avoid breakage.
Cutting and Job Site Safety
Engineered wood cuts with standard woodworking tools. Fiber cement produces crystalline silica dust when cut, so experienced crews use specialized blades, shears, and dust-control methods to protect workers and keep your property clean. Ask any contractor how they manage silica dust before you sign.
Working Around Uneven Walls
Because engineered wood is a bit more forgiving, it adapts more easily to slightly wavy walls. Fiber cement is rigid, so older homes often need more prep work to get straight, clean lines. Neither product fixes rotted sheathing or framing, so a good contractor will inspect what’s under your old siding before installing anything new.
Does engineered wood siding rot?
LP SmartSide is treated to resist fungal decay, and it performs well when installed and maintained correctly. Problems usually come from unsealed cut edges, missing clearances, or damaged finishes left untreated, which is why professional installation matters.
Is James Hardie siding good for cold climates like Pittsburgh?
Yes. James Hardie makes a product formulated for regions with freezing temperatures, which is the version used in Western Pennsylvania. Proper flashing and clearances help it hold up through repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Can either siding be installed over my existing siding?
Most professionals recommend removing old siding first. That lets the crew inspect and repair the sheathing, install a proper weather barrier, and give the new siding a flat, solid base.
Which siding looks more like real wood?
Both can mimic wood grain, but many homeowners find that LP SmartSide’s deeper cedar texture and the absence of a masonry feel come closer to natural wood.
Talk to a Pittsburgh Siding Contractor
Not sure which siding fits your house? We install both and can walk your walls, trim and drainage with you before you decide.
Malick Brothers Exteriors is a family owned roofing and exterior contractor at 500 Perry Highway in the North Hills, rated 4.9 on more than 350 Google reviews. Contact us or call (412) 616-0191 to schedule a free inspection and written estimate.
