Compare siding materials for Romeoville homes. Vinyl, James Hardie fiber cement, and LP SmartSide reviewed for Will County weather performance.
Siding in Romeoville 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.
Romeoville homes at a glance
Romeoville's first big neighborhood, Hampton Park, went up in the late 1950s and 1960s. The village then grew again from the 1990s on, with subdivisions such as Weslake and Lakewood Falls, so it has two very different sets of homes.
The original Hampton Park houses have been resided at least once already. We often remove aluminum or early vinyl and find the first siding still underneath.
Which siding suits which Romeoville home
In Hampton Park and the other original neighborhoods, 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 Weslake, Lakewood Falls and the other subdivisions built since the 1990s, 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 Romeoville
In Hampton Park, we usually remove two generations of siding and install insulated vinyl, which gives these compact homes a straighter wall and better insulation at a sensible cost. In Weslake and Lakewood Falls, the job is replacing 20-year-old builder vinyl, and many owners step up to Hardie on at least the front.
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 Romeoville
Permit rules are set by the Village of Romeoville. We check what your project needs and pull the permit when one is required. See our Romeoville page for this service, or the same guide for Bolingbrook, or the same guide for Lockport.
Common questions
Call (331) 250-3726 or request a free consultation in Romeoville.