Replies

1. Expert Member
   Dana Dorsett | Feb 20, 2020 03:14pm | #1

   The purpose of a rainscreen is more to protect the structural sheathing & wall assembly more than to protect the siding or paint (though it does all of the above). A rainscreen is a powerful capillary break between the siding & sheathing layers, and improves drying rates for both.

   In any location/climate where rain &/or dew wetting of the siding is common, including a rainscreen is going to be "worth it" in the long term.

2. Expert Member
   RICHARD EVANS | Feb 20, 2020 04:14pm | #2

   Nic,

   I would never build a house without a rainscreen gap. It's cheap insurance. If the OSB becomes wet due to bulk rain water, vapor transmission, flooding, sprinklers, etc; then you will give it a chance to dry out with the gap.

   LP's first engineered product failed and resulted in lawsuits. Their new product is excellent but they aren't taking any chances with their warranty. I installed our LP smartside over 1x3 furring strips. I used stainless steel, ring shank coil siding nails. The siding is bomber but will not be covered under warranty. They wanted framing nails hitting studs,etc. With 5/8" plywood, it was overkill.

   I trust the product enough that I gave up on the warranty. As Tommy Boy once said... " You can get a look of a cow's..."

1. Expert Member
   MALCOLM TAYLOR | Feb 20, 2020 05:21pm | #3

   Rick,

   It seems counter-productive and a bit backwards to me that a manufacturer would make a product the then needed major modifications to the rest of the building to meet warranty. It effectively means using it on most re-siding jobs wouldn't fly. A real cart pulling the horse way of doing things.

3. 
   PensacolaPI | Feb 20, 2020 05:33pm | #4

   Agree with Rick, cheap insurance and a no brainer. Murphy’s Law comes to mind for some reason. We are starting a new house within a few months and using LP and will use one for sure.

4. 
   grmp945 | Feb 20, 2020 07:36pm | #5

   Everyone - thanks a lot for the replies!

   OK then - I'll be using a rainscreen!

   I'm thinking of using either MTI's corrugated lath strips or Cor-a-Vent's sturdi-strips. MTI's product is available as either 1/8" or 3/8" deep, and Cor-a-Vent's strips are 3/8" deep. Any thoughts on using the 1/8" vs the 3/8" product?

5. 
   PensacolaPI | Feb 20, 2020 09:03pm | #6

   I’d go 3/8” but that’s me.

1. Expert Member
   MALCOLM TAYLOR | Feb 20, 2020 10:50pm | #7

   I agree. At 1/8" you would be lucky to maintain a cavity or capillary break, and the amount of ventilation would be negligible.

6. 
   Roger_S39 | Feb 21, 2020 10:23am | #8

   Hi Nic,

   Purely as an effort to learn and hear ideas and thoughts, any chance you can share your thinking on going with the above mentioned product over others - fiber cement board etc.

   Thank you.

1. 
   grmp945 | Feb 21, 2020 12:27pm | #9

   Hi Roger,

   Caveat: I'm not a professional, let alone an expert!

   From my perspective, I like LP smartside over fiber cement board because it is simply easier for me to work with: I can cut it just like wood with no special tools or much less worrisome/hazardous dust. LP Smartside is also lighter, easier to handle (bends without breaking), and possibly less expensive compared to fiber cement. Also, I'm using 4x8 panels - in fiber cement, these are too heavy for me to work with alone, but the smartside panels are doable by myself.

   Here is a good recent video comparing the two:
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uzBC_EGQyA

   Also, for the horizontal lap siding, there is a brand new feature: a shiplap edge. Previously you had to caulk or flash between pieces, but the new shiplap edge allows for a faster, simpler installation. You can see it at 10:06 in this recent video:

   https://youtu.be/IFDsmE9iusI?t=606

1. 
   Roger_S39 | Feb 21, 2020 01:48pm | #10

   Awesome!

   Good points.

   Thanks for the reply and all the best with the project.

7. 
   walta100 | Feb 21, 2020 06:42pm | #11

   After see LP siding on my friends house fail miserably after only a few years followed by 5 years of paperwork pointless delays. The settlement seemed very small considering the work required.

   Given the small price difference I would avoid the product.

   Walta

1. 
   monkeyman9 | Nov 04, 2021 05:55pm | #12

   Curious how it failed? Did it delaminate or expand or? And was it newer smartside or the older stuff that all failed.