James Hardie vs. LP SmartSide vs. Vinyl: Which Is Right for Lincoln?

When you start getting siding bids in Lincoln, you'll hear about three products: James Hardie fiber cement, LP SmartSide engineered wood, and premium vinyl. They're all good products. They are not, however, interchangeable — and the right one depends more on your house and how long you're staying than on which one is "best."

The short version

• James Hardie wins on fire resistance, fade resistance, and resale value — at the highest install cost.
• LP SmartSide wins on real wood appearance, impact resistance, and ease of complex trim work.
• Premium vinyl wins on dollar-per-year value, lifetime transferable warranty, and lowest maintenance over time.

James Hardie fiber cement — the premium pick

What's good

• Non-combustible per ASTM E136. Real factor for Lincoln homes near grain handling, garages with workshops, or in fire-conscious neighborhoods.
• Class 4 hail rating available — earns insurance discounts in much of Nebraska.
• ColorPlus® baked-on finish carries a 15-year fade warranty. In real Lincoln UV exposure, ColorPlus stays sharp for 20+ years.
• 30-year non-prorated substrate warranty. Best in class.
• Strongest documented resale value per national appraisal data.

What's not

• Highest installed cost — typically 60–90% more than premium vinyl on the same Lincoln home.
• Heavy. Installs take more labor hours and more crew per day.
• Brittle on edges if mishandled. Crew skill matters a lot.

LP SmartSide — the wood-look pick

What's good

• Authentic cedar wood grain in pre-finished options. Reads as real wood from the curb.
• Better impact resistance than fiber cement in certain tests — handles hail, baseballs, and ladder bumps.
• Lighter than Hardie — easier and cheaper to install around complex trim.
• Diamond Kote pre-finish carries a 30-year no-fade promise.
• 5/50 limited warranty: 5-year 100% labor and replacement, 50-year limited substrate.

What's not

• Combustible (it's wood). Not the right choice if non-combustibility is required.
• Slightly more expensive than premium vinyl. Cheaper than Hardie.
• Susceptible to woodpecker damage in certain Lincoln rural and wooded settings.

Premium vinyl — the value pick

What's good

• Lifetime, transferable warranty on premium .046" panels. Real selling point at resale.
• Lowest installed cost — typically 40–60% of fiber cement.
• Insulated upgrade adds R-3 to R-4 to the wall — measurable energy bill impact.
• Truly maintenance-free. No paint cycle, no rot, no termites.

What's not

• Combustible.
• Hollow panels can ripple in extreme summer heat without proper expansion gaps.
• Color fading is real on dark colors, even on premium product.
• Hail can crack panels — though they're easy and cheap to replace under insurance.

How to actually choose

Choose James Hardie if:

• You're staying in your Lincoln home 7+ years and want to maximize resale.
• Fire resistance matters to your home or property.
• You want the best long-term color durability available in the market.

Choose LP SmartSide if:

• Your home's architecture (craftsman, farmhouse, traditional) calls for visible wood grain.
• You want premium-tier durability without the cost of Hardie.
• You like the Diamond Kote 30-year no-fade promise.

Choose premium vinyl if:

• Budget is the primary driver.
• You own rental property and need the best dollar-per-year exterior.
• You want insulated siding for energy bill impact at the lowest material premium.

One thing all three have in common

The install matters more than the product choice. A poorly installed Hardie job will fail faster than a properly installed premium vinyl job — and we see it in the field all the time. Whichever product you pick, hire a manufacturer-certified installer, get the wrap and flashing detail in writing, and verify the warranty registration after install.

Talk to a Lincoln specialist

Free on-site consultation with samples of all three products in your color shortlist, brought to your home in real Lincoln daylight. Call (402) 261-7100.