The Siding Decision I Made for My Own Home
When it came time to side our 1998 colonial, I had a choice to make. I’d installed both fiber cement (like James Hardie) and engineered wood (like LP SmartSide) on customer homes for years. For my own house I decided to split them: fiber cement on the highly visible front and sides, engineered wood on the back and garage. Seven years later, I have real data from the same property through the same harsh conditions.
This isn’t a manufacturer comparison sheet. It’s a contractor’s honest take after living with both materials.
I've been on that roof — and those walls. Let me save you the trip.
Head-to-Head Comparison After Seven Years
Durability in Freeze-Thaw Cycles
Fiber Cement: Outstanding. It laughs at hail and temperature swings. The front of my house still looks nearly new. Minimal expansion/contraction issues when installed with proper gaps.
Engineered Wood: Good but not great. The back side has shown more edge swelling and some minor checking. It holds up well overall but clearly shows more wear than the fiber cement on the same house.
Winner: Fiber cement for pure toughness in Minnesota conditions.
Appearance and Paint Hold
Fiber Cement: Looks like real wood. Takes paint beautifully and holds color longer. The factory edges need careful sealing but the finish is very stable.
Engineered Wood: Also looks good initially. Paint adhesion is solid but I’ve had to touch up a few edges where moisture got in. The wood grain texture is nice but slightly less crisp over time.
Winner: Slight edge to fiber cement for long-term appearance.
Weight and Installation
Fiber Cement: Heavy. One bundle can be 70-80+ pounds. Makes for slower, more tiring installs, especially on two-story homes. Requires careful crew coordination.
Engineered Wood: Much lighter and easier to work with. Faster installation and less strain on the crew. Big advantage on larger jobs or upper floors.
Winner: Engineered wood for ease of installation.
Cost Reality
Fiber Cement: Higher upfront. Expect $15K–$22K for an average ranch installed.
Engineered Wood: Noticeably cheaper. Usually 20-35% less than fiber cement for the same square footage.
Winner: Engineered wood for budget.
Maintenance Over Time
Both need periodic painting, but fiber cement has shown less need for edge touch-ups on my house. Engineered wood required more attention to cut ends and seams after heavy rains and snow melt.
What I’d Do Differently (and What I Got Right)
I’m glad I went with fiber cement on the main elevations. It has performed exactly as I hoped. The engineered wood on the less visible areas was a smart cost-saving move, but I’d probably go full fiber cement if doing it again purely for peace of mind.
Key things I did right:
Used proper house wrap and flashed every penetration aggressively.
Left recommended expansion gaps.
Sealed all cut edges carefully during install.
Chose quality paint with good flexibility.
Lessons From Hundreds of Customer Jobs
I’ve seen engineered wood fail early when contractors skipped edge sealing or proper flashing. I’ve also seen fiber cement look terrible when installed poorly (especially on the bottom course). The material matters, but installation quality matters more.
In cold climates, water management is everything. Both materials will perform well if you keep water from getting behind them.
Practical Recommendation for Homeowners
Choose Fiber Cement if:
You plan to stay long-term (10+ years)
You want maximum durability and low long-term maintenance
Budget allows for the premium
Choose Engineered Wood if:
You want good looks at a lower cost
You’re okay with a bit more maintenance
The house is a shorter-term ownership situation
Many of my clients do exactly what I did — fiber cement on front/sides, engineered wood on back/garage — and it’s a solid compromise.
The Bottom Line from My Own House
Seven years in, the fiber cement still looks sharp and requires almost zero attention. The engineered wood looks good but has needed more touch-ups. Both are vastly better than cheap vinyl or neglected cedar.
If I were building new or doing a full re-side today, I’d lean strongly toward fiber cement for the whole house, but engineered wood remains a very respectable runner-up when budget is a major factor.
The real key isn’t just the material — it’s who installs it and how carefully they detail the flashing, seams, and bottom course. Choose your contractor as carefully as you choose the siding.
Stay warm. Stay dry.
— Dean
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