Compare siding materials for Lockport homes. Vinyl, James Hardie fiber cement, and LP SmartSide reviewed for Will County weather performance.
Siding in Lockport has to handle freeze and thaw, summer humidity, hail and strong sun on the south and west walls. Three materials do that well: insulated vinyl, James Hardie fiber cement and LP SmartSide engineered wood. Which one suits your house depends mostly on the house itself, so this guide starts there.
Lockport homes at a glance
Lockport was laid out in the 1830s as the headquarters of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and its downtown historic district still has limestone buildings from that era. Around it are older frame houses, postwar ranches and newer subdivisions on the east side.
Original wood clapboard is still under a lot of Lockport's older homes. When it is sound it makes a flat base for new siding; when it is not, we replace sheathing before anything goes on.
Which siding suits which Lockport home
In the historic district and the older streets off State Street, we recommend James Hardie lap siding in a narrow exposure, with real corner boards and window casings. It reads as painted wood from the street, which is what these houses were built with, and it will not need scraping and repainting every few years. Vinyl tends to flatten the trim details that give an older house its character.
In the ranches and Cape Cods built after the war, insulated vinyl is often the best value. The houses are modest in size, the walls have little insulation, and the foam-backed panel adds stiffness and some warmth. If the budget allows, Hardie on the front wall with vinyl on the other three is a sensible split.
In the newer subdivisions on the east side, the common job is replacing builder vinyl on three sides while the brick front stays. Hardie in a color chosen to sit well with the brick makes the house look custom. A heavier insulated vinyl is the right choice if you liked the low upkeep of vinyl and only want it to look and hold up better.
A typical siding job in Lockport
In old Lockport, the siding job starts with carpentry. Walls are rarely flat, corners are rarely plumb and there is often original clapboard to remove. We straighten what we can, replace bad sheathing and use Hardie lap with full corner boards. On the east side, it is a standard builder-vinyl replacement.
The three materials compared
Insulated vinyl
The least expensive of the three and the easiest to live with. It never needs paint, it washes with a hose, and the foam backing makes it stiffer and quieter than the thin vinyl builders use. Its limits: it can crack in a hard hail storm, it can warp near a grill or strong reflected sunlight, and darker colors fade faster.
James Hardie fiber cement
Our most-installed siding. It is cement-based, so it does not melt, rot or attract woodpeckers and insects, and the HZ5 line is made for climates with freezing winters. ColorPlus factory finish arrives already painted. It costs more than vinyl and is heavier to install, and after many years the finish can be repainted like any painted surface.
LP SmartSide
Engineered wood strands treated against moisture and insects, with a deep wood grain. It is lighter than fiber cement and takes impact well. Cut edges must be sealed and it needs repainting on a longer cycle, so installation quality matters.
What matters more than the brand
Most siding failures we tear off were installation failures: no weather barrier, no flashing above windows, nails driven too tight, siding run into the roof or the ground. A mid-priced material installed properly will outlast a premium one installed badly. Ask any contractor what goes on the wall before the siding does.
Permits in Lockport
Permit rules are set by the City of Lockport. We check what your project needs and pull the permit when one is required. Homes in a designated historic district may also need design review for exterior changes. See our Lockport page for this service, or the same guide for Joliet.
Common questions
Call (331) 250-3726 or request a free consultation in Lockport.