Side by side
| Vinyl | LP SmartSide | Fiber cement (James Hardie) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | PVC panels that move with temperature | Engineered wood treated to the core with waxes, resins and zinc borate, with a resin-saturated overlay | Cement-based boards; Hardie's HZ5 line is made for freezing climates (all Minnesota ZIPs are HZ5) |
| Finish | Color is in the material; no painting | Must be painted (within 180 days if primed) or bought prefinished (ExpertFinish) | Painted or factory-finished (ColorPlus) |
| Warranty (examples) | Lifetime limited (Alside, Mastic) | 5-year 100% labor and material, 50-year prorated; ExpertFinish 15-year finish | 30-year non-prorated product; ColorPlus 15-year prorated finish |
| Hail | DOE notes some vinyl cracks when struck; Mastic's hail coverage requires pursuing insurance first | Warranty covers hail up to 1.75 inches when properly installed and maintained | DOE notes fiber cement is more rigid and prone to cracking than wood composites |
| St. Paul installed cost | $8.19–$14.14 per sq ft | No Homewyse LP page; painted wood siding runs $11.60–$18.33 | $9.96–$16.53 per sq ft |
| Twin Cities resale (2025) | 75.8% recouped | Not in the report | 95.6% recouped |
Sources: Vinyl Siding Institute, Alside, Mastic, LP SmartGuard, LP 5/50 warranty, LP ExpertFinish, LP FAQ, James Hardie, HardieZone by ZIP, Hardie warranty, Hardie catalog, DOE/PNNL, Homewyse vinyl, Homewyse fiber cement, Homewyse wood, Cost vs. Value. Homewyse figures are from its St. Paul calculator (ZIP 55101, September 2026).
Vinyl in a Minnesota winter
Vinyl moves: the Vinyl Siding Institute says it can expand and contract about 1/2 inch over a 12½-foot length through the seasons. That's why it's nailed in the center of the slots with a dime's width of clearance, never tight, and why installers leave 3/8 inch at openings when installing below 40°F instead of the usual 1/4 inch (VSI). James Hardie, a competitor, says vinyl gets more brittle in the cold (James Hardie). Insulated vinyl adds at least R-2 of continuous insulation (VSI).
LP SmartSide: the look of wood, built for weather
LP says SmartSide resists freeze/thaw damage and has been impact-tested under ICC-ES AC321 (LP). DOE's Building America program notes wood composites performed better than fiber cement, which is more rigid and prone to cracking when struck (DOE/PNNL). LP needs at least 6 inches of clearance to the ground and 1 inch to roofing, and must be painted (not stained) (LP).
Fiber cement: heavy, hard and paintable
James Hardie's HZ5 product line is made for freezing climates, and every Minnesota ZIP falls in Hardie's HZ5 zone (James Hardie, HardieZone by ZIP). It comes with a 30-year non-prorated product warranty. Cutting it creates silica dust, which OSHA regulates on job sites (OSHA 1926.1153).
All three need a water barrier behind them
Minnesota's residential code requires a water-resistive barrier (house wrap or felt) behind exterior wall covering (MN Residential Code R703.2), and both VSI and LP require one behind their siding (VSI, LP). Siding sheds most water; the barrier handles what gets past it.
How long they last
InterNACHI estimates vinyl siding at about 60 years and engineered wood and fiber cement at 100+ (InterNACHI), assuming proper installation and maintenance.
What it costs in the Twin Cities
Angi says vinyl siding in Minneapolis averages $15,201 (typically $10,257–$21,955) and fiber cement averages $18,186 (typically $10,373–$25,999) (Angi vinyl, Angi fiber cement). The 2025 Cost vs. Value benchmarks for 1,250 sq ft in the Twin Cities: $19,915 for vinyl and $24,666 for fiber cement (Cost vs. Value).
If you're selling
Siding holds its value in the Twin Cities: fiber cement replacement recouped 95.6% and vinyl 75.8% in the 2025 Cost vs. Value report (Cost vs. Value).
Where the money is best spent
- Lowest upkeep: vinyl, with no painting.
- Wood look with hail resistance: LP SmartSide, prefinished if you want to push off the first repaint.
- Every option: a proper water barrier and flashing at windows and doors. That's what keeps walls dry.