What it means is that the product relies heavily on a wood preservative and can be susceptible to water at any field cut edges. The triple seal on the exposed edges is there for a reason. To find that information I searched my old files. I first posted that description on the GardenWeb in 2005 less than 10 years after LP stopped making an OSB siding product called Inner Seal that failed and almost put LP out of business. LP paid off their customers and added a preservative to the OSB and called it Smartside. It was a scary time to be specifying simulated siding products so I felt is was wise to give this product time to prove itself and so far it seems to have done that. In New England, on residences, lap siding is far more common than any kind of panel siding but the embossed surface grain pattern of Smartside Lap siding is inconsistent with the traditional smooth surface of good quality cedar clapboards so I have yet to see it used on a house. Clapboard siding ready for paint: This post was edited by Renovator8 on Thu, Aug 22, 13 at 14:17

IMO a 2" (8d) ring shank siding nail is adequate for narrow cedar siding. Hitachi makes 3 models of siding nailer. They use coil nails. The difference in the models is how powerful they are, The powerful gun is very heavy. We have the middle one at work, but it won't drive nails into oak studs. For everything else it's hunky-dory. There is no other material than wood that would give you the same shadow line and trim details to match your existing work. Final thought: you'll ultimately be happier with stainless steel nails. I can't tell you if they are available for the Hitachi nailers, but if they are they'll be double the $. Casey

My girlfriend had to have all her Certainteed fiber cement siding replaced last year. It was less than 4 years after install. It actually started cracking and shrinking within the first two years. She was compensated by Certainteed but it was a hassle to get them to do so and an even bigger hassle to have it all ripped off and redone. She found out that there was a class action lawsuit because of issues with the product. They say the have corrected those issues but I suggest you check into it carefully. My Hardi plank siding as been up for several years with no problems

Lots here, but here are the points I am most interested in. "If the band under the windows is a sub-sill that is good but if it is flat casing trim it will require special flashing to prevent water penetration. I've seen that mistake result in a major lawsuit." I don't love the look of a sub-sill. I didn't know it served a purpose. Can you elaborate on this point? I was planning on doing flat casing like this: <div><a href='https://www.houzz.com/photos/the-artisan-craftsman-exterior-phvw-vp~14566829'><img src='http://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/3a31985a03bf268a_3-6177/craftsman-exterior.jpg' border=0 width='320' height='212' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='https://www.houzz.com/photos/craftsman-exterior-home-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_736~s_2116' >Craftsman Exterior</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/home-builders/c/Evans-City--PA' >Evans City Home Builders</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/brennanbuilders/brennan-builders-inc' >Brennan Builders Inc.</a></small></div> Windows are already ordered and openings are already cut. Posts are changing. Doors will be bigger than pictured (8 foot) and wider (3'6"). Fake dormer has been removed. We aren't doing keystone head trim. I like the trim of the photo above. We will be using the stone (my husband really likes it). We will be using plank siding on the front of the house - shakes only on front and rear gables (cost reasons). We will be using inner and outer corner trim, as well as starter board and frieze board. Thank you for all of your feedback!