Most projects start with a clear goal for how the exterior should look, but uncertainty about which house siding options can deliver that result. The first step is understanding how each material performs, what it costs over time, and the trade-offs involved.
Across Johnson County, Jackson County, and the greater Kansas City area, most homes begin with basic wood lap siding. From there, the same core siding choices come up repeatedly as people decide how to update and protect their exterior.
Common Siding Choices We See in Kansas City
Nine out of ten homes we meet with in our market have fairly colonial, traditional, basic wood lap siding. From that starting point, most homeowners really have three or four practical directions to consider.
The main options we discuss at the table are:
- Do nothing and paint
- Install new cedar siding
- Choose James Hardie fiber cement siding
- Choose vinyl siding
- Choose LP SmartSide as a half measure between Hardie and wood
Key Takeaway: These paths show up on almost every project we look at in the Kansas City area, and each one behaves very differently over time.
Option 1: Do Nothing And Paint
Many people start by asking if they can just repair a few bad spots and repaint the house instead of replacing the siding.
Pros of Painting
Painting is normally the short-term least expensive option. You keep your existing siding, change the color, and postpone a larger project.
Cons of Painting
Long term, painting becomes the most expensive choice. Over time, you are compounding issues. You are constantly fixing problems, and painting is way more expensive today than it used to be.
If you paint now and plan to sell your home in about seven years, there is a strong chance you will repaint for yourself anyway. In reality, you are likely paying to paint the house twice without changing the siding.
Pro Tip: If you feel like you are on a hamster wheel with repairs and paint, that is a good sign that it is time to look beyond another short-term paint job.
Option 2: Cedar Siding
Some homeowners ask about going back to cedar because they like a natural wood look.
Pros of Cedar Siding
Cedar is beautiful. If you want a very specific cedar-stained wood shingle look, it can deliver that appearance in a way other products cannot fully copy.
Cons of Cedar Siding
Cedar siding is extremely expensive. Between tariffs and the cost of cedar and mills, cedar can be more expensive than brick. You still have to paint it, so it becomes a very expensive option overall. For most people, unless they want that very specific cedar-stained look, it does not make a ton of sense.
Option 3: LP SmartSide As A Half Measure
LP SmartSide often comes up as a middle path between traditional wood and James Hardie fiber cement.
Pros of LP SmartSide
LP SmartSide is not a bad option. We tell people it is more of a 15 to 20-year option, and it sits between Hardie and a traditional wood product in how it is positioned.
Cons of LP SmartSide
The biggest drawback is woodpeckers. Kansas City has a huge woodpecker problem. If you have a new LP SmartSide house that is one day old, woodpeckers will attack that just as aggressively as they would cedar.
LP SmartSide is also about the same cost as Hardie. So you spend similar money yet still leave yourself susceptible to woodpeckers every single day.
Key Takeaway: When a product costs about what Hardie costs and woodpeckers still attack it just like cedar, LP SmartSide kind of makes no sense in our area.
Need expert help with siding replacement. Contact Fairway Exteriors for a free consultation.
Comparing House Siding Options: Vinyl vs James Hardie
In many appointments, the real decision comes down to these two house siding options after people rule out paint, cedar, and LP SmartSide.
Option 4: Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding has a place and is not a bad product. For years, it was viewed as a more affordable way to change the exterior.
Over the last five to six years, especially since the pandemic, vinyl has gotten so expensive that it is almost the same price as James Hardie fiber cement. As that pricing gap narrowed, fewer and fewer people are buying vinyl.
Option 5: James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding
James Hardie fiber cement siding is the most popular and most durable option we talk about with homeowners. It gives you the look and character, and feel of wood, but none of the maintenance.
You do not deal with wood rot or dry rot. You do not have to repaint very often, maybe every 20 to 25 years. You do not get woodpecker damage. You get a Class A fire rating, so it is not going to burn the way wood will. It is also warranted against hail damage.
Today, when people compare vinyl to Hardie, most agree Hardie is better. The question becomes the upcharge. Right now, we are seeing that difference at about 10 to 15 percent, which is much more manageable than the 50 percent gap we saw five or six years ago.
Pro Tip: When the upcharge to move from vinyl to Hardie is only about 10 to 15 percent instead of 50 percent, most homeowners find that upgrade much more reasonable.
Why Most Kansas City Homeowners Choose Hardie
When people add up all of this, a clear pattern shows up. Painting is still a constant hamster wheel. Cedar is beautiful but very expensive. Vinyl has gotten so expensive that it is almost the same price as Hardie. LP SmartSide costs about the same as Hardie but is still open to woodpecker damage.
It is not just our word for it. There is a reason why about 75 percent to 80 percent of people in the Kansas City area are choosing to go back with James Hardie fiber cement. Based on what we see every day, it simply makes sense for most homes here.
If you are looking at house siding options and want to talk through these exact pros and cons on your own home, reach out to Fairway Exteriors. We are ready to walk you through the same choices we review with homeowners across Johnson County, Jackson County, and the greater Kansas City area.
