DuraTemp vs LP SmartSide: The Ultimate Siding Showdown
Choosing the right siding for your home, shed, or barn is a high-stakes decision. You’re not just picking a color; you’re selecting the primary shield that protects your structure from rain, wind, pests, and time itself. Make the wrong choice, and you could face a future of constant maintenance, repairs, and regret.
Two names that consistently come up in the world of engineered wood siding are DuraTemp and LP SmartSide. Both promise the classic look of real wood without the vulnerabilities, but they are fundamentally different products. This guide will break down the critical differences to ensure you invest in the right material for your project.
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Understanding the Contenders: What Are They Made Of?
Before we compare them, it’s crucial to understand the DNA of each product. Their construction dictates their strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases. This is where many homeowners make their first mistake—assuming all “engineered wood” is the same.
What is DuraTemp Siding?
DuraTemp is a siding panel with a very specific construction. It features a strong, genuine plywood veneer inner core, typically made from softwood like Douglas Fir. The exterior surface is a tough hardboard face that is embossed with a textured wood grain pattern and bonded to the plywood with water-resistant resins.
Think of it as a hybrid: the structural integrity of real plywood on the inside with a durable, pre-textured face on the outside. This construction makes it a very popular choice for high-quality sheds and outdoor buildings where interior appearance and strength are just as important as the exterior.
What is LP SmartSide?
LP SmartSide is a different type of engineered wood product. Instead of a plywood core, it’s made from wood strands and fibers that are coated with waxes and advanced resins. These treated strands are then compressed to create a dense, stable board.
The key to LP SmartSide’s performance is its proprietary SmartGuard manufacturing process. This process treats the wood strands with four components of protection, including zinc borate, to resist fungal decay and termite damage. This comprehensive treatment makes LP SmartSide suitable for a wide range of applications, from sheds to entire residential homes.
The Core Showdown: DuraTemp vs. LP SmartSide
Now, let’s put these two products head-to-head across the factors that matter most to property owners. Your climate, budget, and aesthetic goals will determine which product comes out on top for you.
Durability and Weather Resistance
This is often the number one concern. Both products are designed to stand up to the elements, but they do so in different ways. DuraTemp relies on its tough hardboard face and the quality of the paint job to repel water. If the surface is compromised by a deep scratch or if paint wears thin, moisture can eventually affect the panel.
LP SmartSide, however, has protection built into its very core. The waxes and zinc borate treatment permeate the wood strands, offering a more comprehensive defense against moisture and rot. This gives it an edge in consistently damp or humid climates.
Pest and Termite Resistance
Here, LP SmartSide has a clear advantage. The zinc borate used in the SmartGuard process makes the material fundamentally unappealing to termites and other wood-boring insects. This provides long-term peace of mind, especially in regions where termites are a known threat.
DuraTemp does not have this built-in chemical resistance. While its hardboard face offers some protection, it is still a real wood product that could be susceptible to insect damage if not properly maintained and kept sealed with paint.
Aesthetics and Appearance
Your choice here will come down to personal preference. DuraTemp has a deep, textured appearance that many feel closely mimics the natural, rustic look of T1-11 plywood siding. Because the back of the panel is a clean plywood veneer, it also provides a finished, attractive look on the interior of a shed or barn.
LP SmartSide offers a wider variety of styles and finishes. It’s available in traditional lap siding, panels, shakes, and board and batten styles, with either a cedar texture or a smooth finish. This versatility allows for more diverse architectural designs and makes it easier to match the siding on a main house.
Strength and Impact Resistance
When it comes to sheer toughness, both products perform exceptionally well. DuraTemp’s plywood core gives it impressive structural strength and stiffness, resisting dents and dings from everyday bumps. You can hit it with a hammer without leaving a mark.
LP SmartSide is also renowned for its impact resistance, thanks to its dense, resin-bonded composition. It stands up remarkably well to hail and other impacts that could crack or break more brittle materials like fiber cement siding.
Installation Process
Both products are generally favored by installers over heavier materials like fiber cement. DuraTemp panels are relatively lightweight and easy to handle due to their plywood core. They install much like traditional plywood siding panels.
LP SmartSide is also lighter than its fiber cement competitors and comes in longer 16-foot lengths, which can mean fewer seams and a faster installation. It cuts with standard woodworking tools, producing less hazardous dust than fiber cement.
Feature Comparison Table at a Glance
For a quick overview, this table summarizes the key differences between DuraTemp and LP SmartSide.
| Feature | DuraTemp Siding | LP SmartSide |
|---|---|---|
| Core Material | Plywood Veneer Core | Engineered Wood Strands (OSB-like) |
| Surface | Tempered Hardboard Face | Resin-Saturated Overlay |
| Pest/Rot Resistance | Relies on Surface Barrier (Paint) | Treated Throughout with Zinc Borate |
| Primary Use | Sheds, Barns, Outbuildings | Residential Homes, Sheds, Commercial |
| Appearance | Textured, Rustic Wood Grain | Multiple Styles (Lap, Panel, Shake) & Finishes |
| Warranty | Typically 50-Year Limited Warranty | 5/50-Year Limited Warranty |
| Key Advantage | Plywood Strength & Interior Finish | Advanced Moisture & Pest Resistance |
The Hidden Dangers: What Could Go Wrong?
No product is perfect. Understanding the potential failure points is key to making a smart decision and ensuring a long service life for your siding. Ignoring these can lead to costly problems down the road.
DuraTemp’s Vulnerabilities
The biggest risk with DuraTemp is moisture infiltration due to poor maintenance. If the paint finish is allowed to crack, peel, or wear away, water can get to the core. This can lead to swelling or delamination of the hardboard face from the plywood backer over time. Regular painting every 5-7 years is not just for looks; it’s critical maintenance.
LP SmartSide’s Achilles’ Heel: Installation Errors
LP SmartSide is an excellent product, but it is highly dependent on strict adherence to installation guidelines. The most common failure point is not properly priming and painting cut edges. When a board is cut, the treated core is exposed. If that cut edge isn’t sealed, it can act like a sponge, wicking up moisture and leading to swelling and eventual deterioration at the joints.
Making the Right Choice for YOUR Project
So, how do you decide? The answer lies in your specific project needs, budget, and long-term maintenance tolerance.
When to Choose DuraTemp
DuraTemp is the ideal choice for high-end sheds, workshops, and barns. Its strong plywood core provides excellent shear strength, and the attractive interior wood finish saves you the step and cost of finishing the inside walls. If you value the rugged feel and structural nature of plywood and are diligent about maintenance, DuraTemp is a fantastic and durable option.
When to Choose LP SmartSide
LP SmartSide is the superior choice for most residential applications and for any structure in a particularly wet, humid, or termite-prone area. Its engineered resistance to moisture and pests provides a higher level of security and potentially lower long-term maintenance. The wide variety of styles also makes it a more versatile design choice for matching a home’s aesthetic.
Installation is Key: Don’t Ruin Your Investment
Whichever product you choose, its longevity is ultimately in the hands of the installer. A great product installed incorrectly will fail. A critical part of any siding job is what lies beneath. A solid wall structure, built with quality materials, is essential. When considering the underlying wall, understanding the difference between various sheathing materials, like in this comparison of plywood and sheathing, can be crucial for overall wall integrity.
Proper installation also involves using the right underlayment or house wrap. A modern weather barrier system can make a huge difference in the long-term health of your structure’s walls. For more on this, exploring options like the WeatherLogic vs ZIP System showdown can provide valuable insights into protecting your investment from the inside out. Even the specific thickness of your structural panels, such as detailed in this 19/32 vs 5/8 plywood guide, contributes to the overall stability your siding relies on.
Crucial Installation Tips
- Seal All Cuts: This is non-negotiable for LP SmartSide and highly recommended for DuraTemp. Every cut edge must be primed and painted.
- Proper Nailing: Follow the manufacturer’s nailing schedule precisely to allow for natural expansion and contraction. Do not overdrive the nails.
- Mind the Gaps: Leave the specified expansion gaps at butt joints and where siding meets trim to prevent buckling as temperatures change.
The Final Verdict: A Choice of Priority
The “DuraTemp vs LP SmartSide” debate doesn’t have a single winner. It has a winner for *your* specific situation. If your priority is the unmatched structural integrity and interior finish of plywood for an outbuilding, DuraTemp is your champion.
If your priority is advanced, engineered protection against the worst of Mother Nature—moisture and pests—for your home or a premium shed, then LP SmartSide takes the crown. By understanding their core differences and committing to proper installation and maintenance, you can confidently choose the siding that will protect your investment and look great for decades.
