Engineered Wood Siding in Dothan, AL — LP SmartSide Installation

Engineered Wood Siding Dothan: LP SmartSide and What It Offers Southeast Alabama Homes

Engineered wood siding — LP SmartSide being the dominant product in the Dothan market — is a real step up from Masonite and original hardboard products. It uses wood strands bonded with a resin binder system treated with zinc borate for pest and rot resistance, with a textured overlay and primer factory-applied. For Dothan homeowners who want wood aesthetics at a lower cost than fiber cement and are replacing failed hardboard, LP SmartSide is worth serious consideration. It's not fiber cement, but it's a genuine improvement over what's failing on thousands of Dothan houses right now.

LP SmartSide vs. James Hardie for Dothan

Here's the honest comparison after installing both throughout the Wiregrass area:

• LP SmartSide: Wood aesthetics (actual wood grain texture), 50-year limited warranty, lighter weight (easier installation), lower cost than Hardie. Wood content in the product means it's still technically vulnerable to sustained moisture if the finish coat fails. Termite resistance from zinc borate treatment, not inherent fiber cement immunity.
• James Hardie HardiePlank HZ10: Mineral-based — no wood content at all. Completely impervious to termites. Woodpeckers won't drill it. Higher cost. Heavier. 30-year limited warranty but expected product lifespan is 50+ years in Dothan's climate.

My recommendation for most Dothan re-sides: Hardie fiber cement. But LP SmartSide is a legitimate choice if budget is tight and you commit to maintaining the paint coating.

LP SmartSide Installation Requirements for Dothan

LP SmartSide has specific installation requirements that must be met for the 50-year warranty to apply. These aren't suggestions — they're the difference between a product that performs and one that fails like the Masonite it replaced:

• Bottom clearance: 6 inches minimum from soil, 2 inches minimum from hard surfaces (concrete, deck) — stricter than fiber cement requirements
• End and cut-edge priming: all field cuts must be primed with LP approved primer before installation — unsealed cut edges are the primary moisture entry point
• Moisture barrier: house wrap or 15 lb felt, properly lapped, with flashing at all openings
• Paint within 180 days: SmartSide must be painted with two finish coats within 180 days of installation — the factory primer is not a finish coat
• Fasteners: hot-dipped galvanized or stainless — standard nails rust in Dothan's humidity
• Lap clearance at trim: 3/16-inch gap at all trim pieces for expansion

The 6-Inch Grade Clearance for Dothan

Six inches from soil to the bottom edge of LP SmartSide is more clearance than most Dothan homes currently have under their original hardboard. This matters because southeast Alabama red clay and sandy loam soil holds moisture against the bottom of any wood-content product. Six-inch clearance means the bottom course stays dry between rain events. If your Dothan home's grade doesn't allow 6-inch clearance, that's a grade-work issue to solve before siding installation — not a reason to install closer to grade.

Frequently Asked Questions — Engineered Wood Siding in Dothan

How much does LP SmartSide cost in Dothan compared to Hardie?

LP SmartSide installation in Dothan typically runs $6 to $10 per square foot installed — similar to premium vinyl siding and 15-25% less than James Hardie fiber cement. The cost difference narrows when you factor in the ColorPlus pre-finish option on Hardie (which eliminates the first repaint) versus SmartSide's 180-day paint requirement. On a 1,500-square-foot Dothan home, the difference between SmartSide and Hardie is typically $1,500 to $3,000 total — weigh that against the 50-year warranty and lower maintenance requirements of fiber cement.

Do woodpeckers damage LP SmartSide in Dothan?

Yes — engineered wood siding can be damaged by woodpeckers. The zinc borate treatment doesn't deter woodpecker activity. If you've had woodpecker problems on your current Dothan siding, LP SmartSide reduces the attraction compared to soft Masonite, but it doesn't eliminate the problem. Fiber cement is the only siding material that stops woodpeckers definitively — they can't drill through it. If you have persistent woodpecker activity on your Dothan house, factor that into your material selection.