LP SmartSide Installation Seattle — From the Contractor Who Tells You the Truth
LP SmartSide is a quality engineered wood product. But in the Pacific Northwest, it has warranty limitations most contractors won’t mention. We install it where it makes sense and recommend alternatives where it doesn’t.
WA License #GPGENGC830KD 
Hardie Certified Installer 
5-Star Rated 
Honest Assessment — No UpsellGP General Corp installs LP SmartSide engineered-wood siding across Seattle, the Eastside, and Snohomish County — pre-finished lap and panel, treated for Pacific Northwest moisture, over HydroGap drainable WRB. WA license GPGENGC830KD, MBAKS member, rated 5.0 on Google. Real installed rates on our pricing page; free written quote after an on-site assessment.
By Paul Gubenya — Owner, James Hardie Certified Installer · WA License #GPGENGC830KD · MBAKS Member · Rated 5.0 on Google · (425) 344-9635
What Homeowners Say
Real reviews from our Google profile — unedited, from real projects.
“We recently had Paul with GP General repair a damaged corner protector and sidings. His estimate was reasonable, his availability was timely, and his job was excellent. Our home hadn’t been re-painted in a while and the paint had considerably faded, yet he was able to match the color perfectly. Now we know who to turn to when in need of another repair work.”
“GP General replaced LP siding on our garage. Paul was very thorough when he came out to do the estimate; he listened to my concerns and was able to work out solutions on the spot. His crew did a great job and were very courteous. They also were careful about cleaning up (I didn’t find any nails!). Really happy with the job and can recommend GP General.”
“I highly recommend GP General Corp for siding replacement. We recently had our wood siding replaced with James Hardie lap siding, and Paul and his team did an excellent job.”
What Is LP SmartSide Siding?
LP SmartSide is an engineered wood siding from Louisiana-Pacific Corporation. Unlike solid lumber, it’s built from oriented wood strands bonded with resins and treated through LP’s SmartGuard process — a genuine improvement over the old LP Inner-Seal that cost LP $275 million in settlements.
Integrated throughout the entire strand matrix, not surface-applied. Provides resistance to fungal decay and termites from the inside out.
Wax and binding resins help repel moisture at the strand level, keeping the core of the board from absorbing water.
An overlay on the face provides an additional moisture barrier and a consistent surface for paint adhesion.
Factory-applied primer on all surfaces including edges seals the product before it leaves the plant.
The result is a siding product that’s lighter than fiber cement, easier to cut and install, and offers a genuine wood grain texture that many homeowners prefer to the flatter look of James Hardie fiber cement. It has performed well in many climates — particularly drier regions.
Ready to talk about your project?
Free walk-through with Paul. No-pressure quote. Honest assessment of what your home needs.
LP SmartSide Product Options
LP SmartSide comes in several profiles, each suited to different design goals on Seattle-area homes.
Smooth and cedar-texture finishes, 6” to 12” exposures. The most popular residential choice. Deep wood grain texture that fiber cement can’t replicate.
Large-format panels for modern farmhouse designs, garages, and outbuildings. Smooth, cedar, and stucco textures with optional grooves. 4×9 sheets reduce horizontal joints.
Smooth-finish trim boards from 1×2 to 1×12. Reversible smooth/cedar texture on select profiles. Easier to cut than fiber cement trim.
Vented and solid soffit panels for eave finishing. Pre-cut vent strips allow proper attic ventilation. Good for covered areas where direct rain exposure is minimal.
The PNW Warranty Reality for LP SmartSide
Here’s where we diverge from most siding contractors in Seattle. LP SmartSide is marketed with an impressive-sounding 5/50 warranty: 5-year full replacement plus 50-year prorated coverage. On paper, that’s competitive. In practice, there are exclusions every Seattle homeowner needs to understand.
LP SmartSide’s warranty contains moisture-related exclusions that can be triggered in high-rainfall climates like Seattle. Specifically, the warranty may not cover damage caused by sustained moisture exposure — including conditions common to many PNW homes: heavy shade, north-facing elevations with limited drying potential, and areas where rainfall contacts the siding without adequate drying time. If LP determines the installation environment contributed to a moisture failure, they can deny the claim.
To be clear: LP SmartSide does not automatically exclude Seattle from warranty coverage. But an engineered wood product in a 37-inches-per-year rainfall climate faces conditions that a cement-based product simply doesn’t. LP SmartSide is still wood. Treated wood, engineered wood, protected wood — but wood. And wood in western Washington needs to be installed with great care and in appropriate locations.
Most contractors pushing LP SmartSide in Seattle won’t mention these limitations because the product is faster to install and has wider margins. We think you should know what you’re buying.
Owner Paul reviews every project personally and tells you upfront which elevations are appropriate for LP SmartSide and which would be better served by James Hardie fiber cement. Sometimes the answer is LP SmartSide everywhere. Sometimes it’s Hardie everywhere. Often, it’s a mix — LP SmartSide on protected elevations and Hardie on exposed ones.
When LP SmartSide Makes Sense in Seattle
LP SmartSide performs well in the right conditions. For many Seattle homeowners, these scenarios make it the smart choice:
- Protected elevations: South- and west-facing walls under deep eaves (18”+) that get sunlight and dry quickly after rain.
- Garages and outbuildings: Detached garages, workshops, and ADUs where 4×8 panels keep costs down and moisture management is simpler.
- Whole-home projects where wood grain texture is the priority: When authentic wood grain texture matters more than the maintenance-free finish of Hardie ColorPlus, LP SmartSide is a strong option.
- Lower moisture exposure: Properties in eastern King County (Issaquah, Sammamish, North Bend) where rainfall is lower and sun exposure is greater.
- Design-driven projects: When you want authentic wood grain texture that fiber cement can’t match — modern farmhouse, craftsman.
- Mixed-material installs: LP SmartSide on upper stories or protected areas combined with Hardie or metal siding on exposed elevations.
When to Choose Hardie Instead
There are situations where we’ll steer you toward James Hardie or another non-wood option:
- Fully exposed elevations: North-facing walls, walls without eave protection, or any surface that gets direct, sustained rain and limited sun.
- Waterfront and coastal: Puget Sound, lakefront, or areas with persistent fog and high ambient moisture.
- Heavy shade: Properties surrounded by mature evergreens where walls may not dry for days after rainfall.
- Existing moisture problems: Homes with a history of dry rot, failed flashing, or insufficient drainage planes.
- Warranty is a priority: Hardie’s 30-year non-prorated warranty doesn’t have the same moisture exclusions. Safer bet in the PNW.
- Low maintenance: LP SmartSide needs repainting every 5–8 years. Hardie ColorPlus extends that to 10–15 years.
We did an LP SmartSide job on a Sammamish home last fall — protected elevations with deep eaves and good sun exposure. Perfect candidate. The north side with heavy tree cover? We put Hardie there. That’s how we think about every project.
LP SmartSide vs. Hardie vs. Cedar — Seattle Comparison
An honest comparison from a contractor who installs all three. No product is perfect — each has trade-offs that matter in the PNW.
| Factor | LP SmartSide | James Hardie | Western Red Cedar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installed Cost | $15–$21/sq ft | $14–$20/sq ft | $20–$40/sq ft |
| Warranty | 5-year full / 50-year prorated (moisture exclusions apply) | 30-year non-prorated (ColorPlus: 15-year finish) | Manufacturer varies; typically limited |
| PNW Moisture Handling | Good with proper install; wood-based, requires drying potential | Excellent; cement-based, does not rot | Natural resistance but degrades without maintenance |
| Maintenance | Repaint every 5–8 years | Repaint every 10–15 years (ColorPlus) | Restain/seal every 3–5 years |
| Aesthetics | Deep, authentic wood grain texture | Clean, uniform; smooth or light cedar texture | Natural wood; ages to silver-gray |
| Weight | Lightest (~1.5 lbs/sq ft) | Heaviest (~2.5 lbs/sq ft) | Medium (~1.8 lbs/sq ft) |
| Fire Resistance | Class C (treated wood) | Non-combustible (cement-based) | Combustible without treatment |
| Best For in Seattle | Protected elevations, garages, wood-grain texture projects | Fully exposed walls, primary residences, maximum durability | Historic homes, accent walls, wood lovers |
Not sure where to start?
We’ll come out, look at your siding, and give you a straight answer — even if the answer is “you don’t need us yet.”
LP SmartSide Installation Cost in Seattle
LP SmartSide vs James Hardie — honest comparison →
Installed pricing includes material, labor, WRB, flashing, and finish painting. All pricing reflects proper installation with moisture management — not cut-corner installs.
| Product | Installed Cost (per sq ft) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LP SmartSide Lap | $15–$21 | Smooth or cedar texture. Includes HydroGap WRB, back-primed cuts, two-coat paint system. |
| LP SmartSide Panel (4×8/4×9) | $9–$13 | Faster coverage on large walls. Includes batten strips at joints and Z-flashing at transitions. |
| LP SmartSide Trim | $6–$10 (linear ft) | Smooth finish, all cuts back-primed. Pairs consistently with LP siding for a uniform look. |
| Mixed Install (LP + Hardie) | $14–$21 | LP SmartSide on protected walls, Hardie on exposed elevations. Often the best value in Seattle. |
| Typical Home (1,800 sq ft) | $25,200–$36,000 | Full LP SmartSide replacement. Substrate repair additional if dry rot is found. |
Some contractors quote LP SmartSide at $8–$10/sq ft by skipping the WRB upgrade and rainscreen. That saves money upfront but voids any practical warranty protection in Seattle’s climate. Every GP General Corp installation includes HydroGap drainage wrap and proper flashing because the long-term cost of moisture failure far exceeds the upfront savings.
How We Install LP SmartSide in Seattle
Proper installation is the difference between LP SmartSide lasting 30 years and failing in 10. In the PNW, every detail of moisture management matters.
We use HydroGap drainable housewrap on every LP SmartSide re-side; on new construction sheathed in ZIP System, the taped panel itself is the WRB. HydroGap creates a 1mm drainage space between the WRB and siding, allowing moisture that penetrates behind the siding to drain out at the base. Standard housewrap doesn’t provide this drainage capability. More on our moisture management approach.
On high-exposure walls or homes without deep eaves, we add a rainscreen furring system over the WRB. This creates a 3/8” to 3/4” ventilated air gap behind the siding. Not required by code for LP SmartSide, but in Seattle it’s the single best investment for long-term performance of any wood-based siding. We built exactly that wall on a new Phinney Ridge craftsman — LP SmartSide lap on 1/2″ furring strips over ZIP System.
Every cut edge must be primed before installation. Factory edges come pre-primed, but field cuts expose raw strand material that absorbs moisture rapidly if left unsealed. Our crews carry primer on every job and treat every cut, hole, and notch before the piece goes on the wall. Non-negotiable.
Hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel nails, minimum 0.113” shank, penetrating at least 1-1/2” into studs. Minimum 6” clearance from grade, 2” from roofing surfaces. Proper Z-flashing at all horizontal joints to direct water away from the wall assembly.
We install to LP’s specs and then go further — HydroGap on every job, rainscreen on exposed walls, every cut edge primed. Our workmanship is backed by our own warranty, and we document every detail so that if you ever need to file a manufacturer warranty claim, your records are complete. WA License #GPGENGC830KD — Verify.
LP SmartSide FAQ for Seattle Homeowners
Is LP SmartSide a good choice for Seattle’s rainy climate?
What does the 5/50 warranty actually cover?
Is LP SmartSide the same as the old LP Inner-Seal?
How often does LP SmartSide need repainting?
Can LP SmartSide be stained instead of painted?
Do I need a permit for LP SmartSide in Seattle?
LP SmartSide Installation — Service Area
We install LP SmartSide throughout King and Snohomish Counties. Click your city for local siding information:
Not Sure Whether LP SmartSide or Hardie Is Right?
Paul will walk your property, evaluate every elevation, and tell you where LP SmartSide makes sense and where it doesn’t. No pressure, no upsell — straight talk from a contractor who installs both products.
Recent GP siding projects:
- Ravenna Hardie board & batten reside — hidden rot discovery →
- Bellevue new construction — Hardie mixed lap & panel with composite accents →
- Mercer Island Hardie reside with R-5 exterior insulation + Shou Sugi Ban accent →
GP General Corp · James Hardie Certified Installer · WA License #GPGENGC830KD — Verify · King & Snohomish Counties