Compare siding materials for New Lenox homes. Vinyl, James Hardie fiber cement, and LP SmartSide reviewed for Will County weather performance.
Siding in New Lenox 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.
New Lenox homes at a glance
New Lenox is a few minutes from our Manhattan office. The older part of town near Route 30 and Cedar Road has ranches and split-levels from the 1960s and 1970s, and the rest is mostly 1990s and 2000s subdivisions with larger brick-front two-story homes.
Many New Lenox homes are brick on the front and vinyl on the other three sides. Residing those three sides in James Hardie or insulated vinyl changes the whole house without touching the masonry.
Which siding suits which New Lenox home
In the older part of town near Route 30 and Cedar Road, the cedar or hardboard that is on the house now is the problem, so anything that ends the paint cycle is an upgrade. Hardie is the closest match to the original wood look. Insulated vinyl in a wide plank or a board-and-batten profile is the lower-cost route.
In the subdivisions built through the 1990s and 2000s, 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.
On the larger lots with custom-built homes, siding is usually an accent beside brick or stone, so mixed profiles earn their keep: lap on the walls, shingle or board-and-batten in the gables. Hardie and LP SmartSide both offer those profiles. On a house this size the trim package matters as much as the siding.
A typical siding job in New Lenox
The most common New Lenox request is replacing vinyl on the sides and back of a brick-front two-story. Because the brick stays, color choice matters: we bring large Hardie samples and look at them against your brick in daylight. Board-and-batten in the front gables is a popular way to update the look without touching the masonry.
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 New Lenox
Permit rules are set by the Village of New Lenox. We check what your project needs and pull the permit when one is required. See our New Lenox page for this service, or the same guide for Frankfort.
Common questions
Call (331) 250-3726 or request a free consultation in New Lenox.