Mountain View LP Smartside Siding

LP SmartSide is the middle path a lot of Mountain View homeowners are actually looking for: it gives you the warmth and texture of real wood grain, but it's engineered to shrug off the moisture and pests that make solid wood a chore. It's made from wood strands bonded with resins and treated through LP's SmartGuard process, then formed into lap, panel, trim, and board-and-batten profiles. Lighter than fiber cement and easy to work, it's a favorite where a home wants a wood character without the solid-cedar upkeep. Bay Area Siding Company installs LP SmartSide, and this page is about whether it's the right fit for your house.

Thinking about SmartSide? Request an estimate or call (415) 619-5167.

What sets engineered wood apart

SmartSide occupies its own lane between solid wood and fiber cement, and its traits explain why:

• A genuine wood look and feel. The embossed grain reads as wood on the wall, and the board-and-batten and lap profiles suit a range of Mountain View homes — from mid-century ranches to bungalows.
• Lighter and more forgiving to install. It's a fraction of the weight of fiber cement, which makes for faster, cleaner handling and less strain on the wall and crew.
• Impact-resistant. The strand composition takes a knock better than cement board, which cracks — a practical edge on a busy family home or a rental.
• Treated against rot and termites. The SmartGuard treatment addresses the two failings of solid wood, backed by a well-regarded long limited warranty (we confirm the current terms in writing before you order).

The one honest requirement: it's still a wood-based product, so it's painted and needs its finish maintained on a normal repaint cycle. It isn't a paint-it-once-forever material — but it's far more stable than the solid wood or old hardboard it typically replaces.

SmartSide versus the alternatives

The decision usually comes down to how much you value the wood look against maximum low-maintenance durability. Fiber cement and James Hardie are noncombustible and stretch the repaint interval further, but they're heavier and can crack on impact; natural wood gives you the real thing at the highest maintenance cost; vinyl is the lowest-maintenance and lowest-cost but won't match SmartSide's texture. SmartSide splits those differences — real grain, real paintability, engineered stability. The Mountain View siding replacement page is the place to weigh the whole field.

The Mountain View picture

SmartSide is a common answer on Mountain View's postwar tract homes and Old Mountain View bungalows — houses that often started life with hardboard, T1-11, or solid wood that's now failing. Because the city sits on the flat valley floor, outside the foothill Fire Hazard Severity Zones, there's no fire ordinance requiring a noncombustible cladding, so an engineered-wood product is a fully open choice here (on a hillside fire-zone parcel the conversation would tilt toward noncombustible fiber cement instead). The Valley's bright summers and wet winters make maintaining the paint finish worthwhile, which is true of any painted siding.

On permitting, Mountain View's Building Division (Building/Fire Protection, within Community Development) issues a same-day permit to replace exterior siding in the same location. If the re-side changes the home's exterior appearance beyond a like-for-like swap, the city encourages a Planning Division review first. We take care of it.

Cost drivers

SmartSide typically prices between vinyl and fiber cement, but the house sets the number: wall area and stories, profile choice (board-and-batten and heavy trim add labor), how many corners and openings, factory-primed versus field-finished, and what tear-off reveals. The old cladding comes off to the sheathing so the water-resistive barrier and flashing can be inspected, and any concealed rot found there adds scope on any material. A field measure is where an accurate figure comes from.

FAQ

Is LP SmartSide real wood? It's engineered wood — wood strands bonded and treated through LP's SmartGuard process, then formed into siding. It reads and paints like wood but is treated against the rot and termites that plague solid wood.

How does SmartSide compare to fiber cement? SmartSide is lighter, easier to install, more impact-resistant, and gives a warmer wood texture; fiber cement is noncombustible and can stretch the repaint cycle further but is heavier and can crack. We compare them for your home on a walkthrough.

Does SmartSide need painting? Yes — it's a wood-based product, so its finish is maintained on a normal repaint cycle. It's much more dimensionally stable than the solid wood or hardboard it usually replaces, but it isn't maintenance-free.

Do I need a permit for SmartSide in Mountain View? Yes, though the like-for-like re-side qualifies for a same-day permit. Work that changes the exterior appearance may warrant a Planning review first. We handle the permitting.

See if SmartSide fits

Call (415) 619-5167 or request an estimate. We'll compare engineered wood against the alternatives for your home and lay out the scope. Browse finished work in the project gallery or the wider South Bay service area.