We've had good luck installing Hardie Plank siding in our mixed-humid (coastal Virginia) climate. I think that the (relatively new) Boral siding is also worth considering. LP Smart Siding, with its OSB component doesn't look so "smart" in my opinion, with the (full disclosure) that we haven't used it.

It's my belief that past problems with Hardie were limited to the pre-painted Hardie siding, and that those problems may have been addressed. My builder in SW Fl will only install the "plain" Hardieplank which then gets painted on-site after installation.

Thanks, like you we are in a hot humid climate. More challenging may be the fact that we sit right on the bay.

Hardboard and High Density Fiberboard (HDF) are similar materials made of exploded and highly compressed wood fibers. The latter is denser and made with resin. These terms are commonly misused even by manufacturers.

Hardboard is no longer used to make exterior siding but HDF is used with the addition of preservatives and waxes.

LP SmartSide is the best known version of that material and has a paintable resin saturated paper outer facing. SmartSide wood fiber siding has a smooth surface but LP also offers a simulated rough-sawn wood surface made of aspen wood strands (OSB) that is stronger.

I would never paint rough-sawn wood so I find it odd to simulate that finish on a house; in a word, it looks fake. For me that would make it necessary to use the smooth wood fiber version of SmartSide which makes me nervous. But this stuff has been around for quite a while with no class action lawsuits that I am aware of. That's faint praise but its about as good as it gets for imitative composite siding.

What keywest said and I'm in the same general area as he is. And all of us are close enough to water for it to be an issue. The other choice would be to do the house with all stucco.

What does your architect recommended based on the style of the home?

Based on my conversations with contractors they all seem to love LP smartside. This is just hearsay so take it with a grain of salt.

They said Hardie moves more in our climate, prefinished fades more quickly and they are sticklers with their warranty. They also mentioned the only reason Hardie is still around is that they give kickbacks to builders and builders continue to use the product.

If there really is a lower maintenance cedar shingle out there then nothing beats that look.

Based on cost and maintenance considerations I went with LP smartside and really like it.

Thanks for all of the replies. Just back into the office. The Hardie siding is problematic to me personally due to all of the warranty war stories. Where there is smoke, there is fire. It cannot ALL BE BAD installations, not possible. There are a lot of options for sure, the SMOOTH sided LP may be of interest. They carry it at our local Lowes and Home Depot so it may well be worth a long talk with the folks at those stores. Nothing is perfect but there has got to be a good solid product out there. The Allura has a great warranty period but we all know of the Certainteed horror stories and if they had to change the name of the product to avoid that mess, just how much did they change the product itself? They have a hell of a warranty but, in many cases those warranties are worthless. The good, here in FL the state is very hard on contractors and they'll be all over the contractor if issues arise before the 15 year mark due to water issues. We are close enough to water that I can throw a rock and it'll land in the bay.

Keep us updated, will you? I am (or should say, will be) in a similar quandary. I like the idea of Hardie, but even if it performs as advertised, the periodic re-painting and -caulking sounds like a nuisance.

the periodic re-painting and -caulking sounds like a nuisance.

That would be needed with all siding with the exception of vinyl.

Personally PI, in FL I think I'd feel more comfortable with the Hardie vs the LP Smartside.

Right now, leaning towards the Hardie materials. I have builders meetings next week and will get their input. The painting and caulking every so many years is part of owning a house. Upkeep just pretty much like changing oil in your car or replacing your brakes. NOTHING is maintenance free.

What about brick? Didn't you mention there are other brick homes, near by?

You can see how that has held up or ask if they have had any issues with it.

Don't think it would work with the plan that ARG came up with for PI.

Thanks as cp noted, brick won't work with the design.

While I have no reason to believe the folks who have had trouble with Hardi are making up their woes, it's been used extensively in my mid Atlantic area and neighborhood and haven't heard of any problems. My own house has it (prefinished)and it looks just as good as the day it was installed 10 years ago. There's another house around the corner built about 5 years before mine that installed a dark blue color (also prefinished) and it still looks great.

And the Quad sealant that can be purchased the same color of the siding is of very high quality. I've had to do some minor touch up of it over 10 years but that's due to the Azek expansion and contraction not the siding.

Thanks VERY MUCH !

Is there anything in the siding warranty that specifies WHO needs to install the siding? Any training / certification? I know that shingle warranties are compromised by the installer not being certified - wonder if that is what "could) be driving the warranty horror stories.

Not to justify it - but it seems like warranties are written so that in day to day practical installations - every company offering anything other than about a 2-3 year warranty can EASILY get out of it because you didn't wash the product in holy water on Good Friday in odd years or something else that is in the "care" instructions and subsequently can void a warranty.

Have GOT to agree with that. Like anything, it is all in the prep work and installation. I will be certain to ensure that I am familiar with the procedures and be onsite during the installation here and there. If it is not done in accordance with the instructions, the GC is going to eat it and make it right if they want to get paid. One BIG reason I am getting multiple bids and references. Classic case here where skipping a step would save the GC money but cost the homeowner a ton of money down the road. I am a BIG believer in do it once and do it right. Those "do overs" will get you every time.

The Hardie siding is problematic to me personally due to all of the
warranty war stories. Where there is smoke, there is fire. It cannot ALL
BE BAD installations, not possible.

Keep in mind that the "there was a problem, they came out and they replaced the bad siding" stories are seldom published.

Most siding goes horizontally, but some siding goes vertically; if you go diagonally it looks like your house was built in 1974.

We are going ALL horizontally for sure. I am really liking a nice clean look of all siding as I see in so many Florida coastal homes. In certain areas and with the right design, brick just works in our general area. For our new design, it is not possible.

I think the siding says coastal Fl much more so than the brick would have.