# Lp Smartside Cost Calculator

Free Lp Smartside cost calculator for 38 series lap, 76 series panel, and shake textures. Includes trim, house wrap, paint, and pro install cost per square foot.

## What this calculates

LP SmartSide engineered-wood siding (made in Minnesota by Louisiana-Pacific) is the fastest-growing siding product in North America, positioned between vinyl and fiber cement in price. This LP SmartSide cost calculator breaks down the 2025 retail costs for 38 Series lap, 76 Series panel, and shake-texture siding, plus trim, fasteners, house wrap, paint, and pro labor so you can budget a whole-house siding project or compare quotes.

## Inputs

- **Siding Area** (sq ft) — min 0 — Net wall area after subtracting windows and doors. A 2,000 sq ft two-story home has about 2,500-3,000 sq ft of siding.
- **LP SmartSide Product** — options: 38 Series Lap, primed (standard), 38 Series Lap, prefinished (Diamond Kote), 76 Series Panel, primed (vertical), 76 Series Panel, prefinished, Cedar Texture Shake Panel — Primed products require field painting; prefinished ships colored
- **Trim Linear Feet (440 series)** (linear ft) — min 0 — Corners, window/door casings, bands. A typical 2,000 sq ft home uses 200-300 lf of trim.
- **Waste Factor** (%) — min 0, max 25 — 10% for simple walls, 15% for complex facades or lots of windows
- **Labor** — options: DIY (materials only), Pro - Basic install ($3/sq ft), Pro - Standard install ($4/sq ft), Pro - Premium install ($5.50/sq ft)
- **Include House Wrap** — Tyvek or comparable weather-resistant barrier at $0.30/sq ft materials
- **Include Paint (if primed)** — 2 coats of exterior acrylic at $0.80/sq ft (paint + labor). Ignored for prefinished products.

## Outputs

- **Siding Material** — formatted as currency
- **Trim Material** — formatted as currency
- **Accessories (wrap, fasteners, caulk)** — formatted as currency
- **Paint Cost** — formatted as currency — Zero if prefinished
- **Labor Cost** — formatted as currency
- **Total Project Cost** — formatted as currency
- **Cost per Square Foot** — formatted as currency

## Details

## 2025 LP SmartSide Pricing at a Glance

| Product | Material ($/sq ft) | Installed ($/sq ft) |
|---|---|---|
| 38 Series Lap, primed | $2.40-2.80 | $5.50-7.50 |
| 38 Series Lap, prefinished (Diamond Kote) | $4.20-4.80 | $7.50-10 |
| 76 Series Panel, primed | $2.10-2.50 | $4.80-6.50 |
| 76 Series Panel, prefinished | $4.00-4.40 | $7.00-9 |
| Cedar Texture Shake Panel | $3.60-4.00 | $6.50-9 |
| LP 440 Series Trim, primed | $3.50-4.20/linear ft | N/A |

A typical **2,000 sq ft two-story home** with 2,500 sq ft of siding area:

- **DIY (primed lap, paint separately):** $7,500-10,000
- **Pro installed (primed lap, painted):** $18,000-24,000
- **Pro installed (prefinished Diamond Kote lap):** $22,000-28,000

## What Drives LP SmartSide Cost

1. **Product line.** Prefinished (Diamond Kote) adds $1.50-2.00 per sq ft over primed but eliminates field painting. Over 10 years, Diamond Kote usually costs less than painted-primed.
2. **Waste factor.** Simple single-story homes run 8-10% waste. Two-story with dormers and bay windows can hit 15-20%.
3. **Trim.** LP 440 series trim is premium priced; using regular PVC or wood trim can save $0.50/linear ft but voids the LP warranty for the trimmed detail.
4. **House wrap.** Required under warranty. Tyvek or Typar at $0.25-0.35 per sq ft installed.
5. **Labor rate.** Basic pro install is $3/sq ft; premium (intricate cuts, upgraded fasteners, caulk lines) is $5.50/sq ft.
6. **Teardown.** Removing existing siding adds $1-3 per sq ft depending on material (vinyl is easy, asbestos shingle is expensive).

## Installed Cost by Home Size

| Home Footprint | Siding Area (typical) | Pro Installed (Primed Lap) | Pro Installed (Prefinished) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200 sq ft ranch | 1,400-1,800 | $9,000-14,000 | $11,500-16,500 |
| 1,500 sq ft split | 1,800-2,200 | $11,500-17,500 | $14,500-20,500 |
| 2,000 sq ft 2-story | 2,400-2,800 | $15,500-22,500 | $19,500-26,500 |
| 3,000 sq ft 2-story | 3,400-3,800 | $22,000-30,500 | $27,500-36,500 |
| 4,000 sq ft Colonial | 4,400-4,800 | $28,500-38,500 | $35,000-46,000 |

Prefinished Diamond Kote adds 20-25% to total project cost but eliminates the $2,500-5,000 separate painting step on most homes.

## LP SmartSide vs Competitors (Installed Cost)

- **Vinyl siding:** $4-7/sq ft (cheaper upfront, shorter life)
- **LP SmartSide (primed lap):** $6-9/sq ft (mid-range, 50 year warranty)
- **James Hardie (fiber cement):** $7-12/sq ft (similar look, heavier, needs carbide blade to cut)
- **Cedar:** $8-15/sq ft (natural, needs maintenance every 3-5 years)
- **Engineered stone / brick veneer:** $15-25/sq ft (premium, labor-heavy)

LP SmartSide's core pitch: lighter than Hardie (2 people can carry a 16 ft plank), cheaper than Hardie by $1-2/sq ft installed, holds paint longer than traditional wood, and can be nailed with standard siding nails (no carbide blade needed like fiber cement).

## Trim and Accessories

Every siding job needs trim. A 2,000 sq ft two-story home typically uses:

- **200-300 linear ft of 1x4 corner trim** (LP 440 series)
- **80-120 linear ft of band boards** (water table, belt course)
- **120-180 linear ft of window and door casings**
- **15-25 tubes of LP-approved caulk** (OSI Quad Max or GE SCS2700 silicone)
- **1 roll of house wrap** per 1,000 sq ft of wall area

Budget $1,500-3,000 for trim and accessories on a typical project.

## When to Hire a Pro

LP SmartSide is DIY-friendly for single-story homes with experienced builders, but multi-story homes, complex gables, or warranty-critical installs (commercial, historical, or Diamond Kote prefinished) should go to a pro. Diamond Kote warranty requires installation by a certified contractor; DIY install voids the finish warranty. Always verify certification through LP's locator.

## Painting Primed LP SmartSide

Primed 38 Series lap ships with a factory primer. Field paint with **100% acrylic exterior latex** (Sherwin-Williams Emerald, Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior, or equivalent), 2 coats, within 180 days of installation per LP's warranty. One gallon covers about 300-350 sq ft per coat, so a 2,500 sq ft home needs about 14-16 gallons for 2 coats.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: How much does LP SmartSide cost per square foot installed?**

A: Primed 38 Series lap siding runs $5.50-7.50 per sq ft installed in 2025 (material + pro labor + accessories, painted separately). Prefinished Diamond Kote lap is $7.50-10 per sq ft installed (no field painting needed). Panel siding is $4.80-6.50 per sq ft installed (primed) or $7-9 (prefinished). A 2,000 sq ft two-story home with 2,500 sq ft of siding area typically costs $18,000-28,000 installed depending on product line and labor market.

**Q: Is LP SmartSide cheaper than Hardie?**

A: Yes, LP SmartSide typically costs $1-2 per sq ft less installed than James Hardie fiber cement. A 2,500 sq ft siding project is roughly $19,000-22,000 in LP SmartSide primed lap (installed) versus $21,500-26,000 in Hardie lap. Part of the saving is material ($2.60/sq ft vs $2.90/sq ft) and part is labor (LP cuts with a standard saw, Hardie needs a carbide blade and generates silica dust that requires respiratory protection).

**Q: How long does LP SmartSide last?**

A: LP SmartSide carries a 50 year substrate warranty (5 years full replacement, then prorated). Real-world lifespan depends on finish maintenance: prefinished Diamond Kote has a 25 year no-fade warranty; primed and field-painted needs repaint every 10-15 years. The underlying engineered wood holds up as long as the finish is intact and the house is flashed properly. Properly maintained LP SmartSide installed in 2000 is still performing well in 2025.

**Q: Can I install LP SmartSide as DIY?**

A: Yes for primed 38 Series lap or 76 Series panel. The material is lighter and easier to cut than Hardie, handles like cedar, and uses standard siding nails. DIY is reasonable for single-story homes with straightforward gables. Avoid DIY for: prefinished Diamond Kote (voids the finish warranty unless installed by a certified contractor), multi-story homes (scaffolding complexity), or historical details with custom bends.

**Q: What is the difference between primed and prefinished LP SmartSide?**

A: Primed SmartSide ships with a factory primer coat only; you field paint it with 2 coats of exterior acrylic within 180 days of installation. Prefinished SmartSide (usually Diamond Kote) ships with 2 factory-applied coats of color in one of 20+ standard colors, eliminating the field painting step. Prefinished costs $1.50-2.00 more per sq ft in materials but saves $2-3 per sq ft in paint labor, so total installed cost is usually very close, with prefinished holding color better long-term.

**Q: How much waste should I factor into an LP SmartSide order?**

A: 10% is standard for simple single-story homes with rectangular walls and typical window/door count. 15% for two-story homes with dormers, bay windows, or complex gables. 20% for homes with lots of angles, round-top windows, or scalloped gable detail. Waste includes cut-offs from butt joints, mitered corners, and the mandatory 3/8 inch gap at the bottom of each course. Do not go below 10% unless you are extremely experienced.

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Source: https://vastcalc.com/calculators/construction/lp-smartside-cost
Category: Construction
Last updated: 2026-04-08