Composite Wood Siding · LP SmartSide® & ExpertFinish® · Colorado
Composite Wood & LP SmartSide® Siding Contractor in Denver & Northern Colorado
We install composite wood siding that looks like real wood — both LP SmartSide® (primed, then painted) and LP SmartSide® ExpertFinish® (factory pre-colored). It’s beautiful, budget-friendly, and tough against hail. But we’ll also tell you the truth: composite wood is combustible engineered wood, so for some Colorado homes — especially in wildfire (WUI) zones under the new state code — a non-combustible material may be the smarter or required choice. Because we install composite wood, fiber cement, metal, stucco, and stone, our recommendation fits your home, your location, your budget, and your municipality’s code.
Quick Answer: Is LP SmartSide® / Composite Wood Siding Right for Your Colorado Home?
Engineered wood siding — also called composite wood siding, like LP SmartSide® and the pre-colored LP SmartSide® ExpertFinish® — gives you an authentic wood-grain look that many homeowners prefer over fiber cement, with excellent hail and impact resistance and easy, fast installation. For homes across the Front Range and Northern Colorado, it’s a great-looking, sensible choice.
Here’s the honest part most contractors skip: composite wood is combustible engineered wood, not a non-combustible material. In Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) areas governed by Colorado’s new Wildfire Resiliency Code, Moderate- and High-fire-intensity zones generally require Class A / non-combustible exterior walls — where James Hardie® fiber cement, metal, or stone is the better fit. Northern Lights Exteriors installs all of them, so we recommend what’s genuinely right for your address — not just what we’d like to sell.
Not sure composite wood is right for your home?
Compare your options on our Denver siding company hub, see non-combustible James Hardie® fiber cement, or explore stone veneer siding.
Composite Wood & LP SmartSide® Projects in Colorado
Real Front Range exteriors in LP SmartSide® — both primed-and-painted and pre-colored ExpertFinish®. Every photo below is our own completed work, not a manufacturer stock image.
What Is Engineered Wood Siding? Composite Wood & LP SmartSide® Explained
Composite wood siding — also called engineered wood siding — is made from wood strands or fibers bound with waxes and resins, then treated for durability. The result is siding that looks like real wood (often with a deep cedar grain) but resists the splitting, cupping, and rot that plague natural cedar. LP SmartSide® by LP Building Solutions is the most popular engineered wood siding in North America, built with the proprietary SmartGuard® process — engineered waxes, adhesive resins, and zinc borate plus a resin-saturated overlay — for resistance to fungal decay and termites (rarely a concern in Colorado’s dry climate).
It comes in lap, panel, shingle, and trim profiles, so it works on everything from a modern farmhouse to a mountain cabin to a traditional two-story. Compared with fiber cement, it’s lighter and faster to install, and it tends to absorb hail and impact better — a real advantage on Colorado’s Front Range.
LP SmartSide®, ExpertFinish® & Diamond Kote®: The Three Finishes We Install
We install all three finishes of LP’s engineered wood siding. The board underneath is the same engineered wood; what changes is how and where the color is applied — and that affects your timeline, your maintenance, and how the finish is warranted.
LP SmartSide® (Primed)
Boards arrive factory-primed and are painted on site after installation. This gives you essentially unlimited color choice (any paint color you like) and easy future color changes. Backed by LP’s 5/50-year limited warranty. The trade-off: site painting adds time, depends on weather, and the paint film will eventually need refreshing.
LP SmartSide® ExpertFinish® (Pre-Colored)
Boards arrive factory pre-finished in a durable, automotive-grade color — no on-site painting. The ExpertFinish® Lap also avoids most seam caulking and joint molds for a cleaner result. Backed by the 5/15/50-year limited warranty (5-yr labor & materials, 15-yr finish, 50-yr substrate). The trade-off: you choose from a fixed palette rather than any custom paint color.
Diamond Kote® (Prefinished)
A factory-applied prefinish put on LP SmartSide® boards before they reach your home. Like ExpertFinish®, it arrives pre-colored, so there is no field-painting step and no waiting on Colorado weather for a paint window. It is the option homeowners usually ask about by name when they want a prefinished board in a color range outside the ExpertFinish® palette. We will show you both prefinish systems side by side and be straight about where each one makes sense.
LP SmartSide® ExpertFinish® Colors
Comparing LP SmartSide ExpertFinish colors? ExpertFinish® is factory-finished in 16 core colors, plus the six-color Naturals Collection™ — and every color comes in either a deep cedar-grain texture or a brushed smooth finish. Because the color is applied in a controlled factory process rather than on site, you get consistent coverage on every board with no field-painting step.
The Naturals Collection™ — the six cedar-tone colors
If you are searching ExpertFinish® colors by name, you are almost certainly looking at the Naturals Collection™. These are the six wood-tone finishes built to read like stained cedar rather than painted board, and they are the ones Colorado homeowners ask for most:
- Weathered Walnut — the deepest of the browns, a cool gray-brown that reads like aged timber.
- Aged Amber — a warm mid-brown with a red undertone, closest to freshly stained cedar.
- Saffron Cedar — the lightest and warmest, a golden cedar tone.
- Smoky Slate — a mid gray with no brown in it, for modern elevations.
- Washed White — a soft grayed white that keeps the grain visible.
- Bonsai Black — a near-black charcoal, popular as a whole-house color and as a board-and-batten accent.
All six carry the cedar-grain texture. The swatches below are accurate to LP’s own artwork, but they are a starting point rather than an exact match — we bring physical samples before you choose.
2026 Color of the Year
Sand Dunes
LP’s first-ever Color of the Year — a warm, sun-bleached neutral that reads soft in Colorado’s high-altitude light and pairs with stone, brick, and black window frames. Available in both cedar texture and brushed smooth.
The 16 Core ExpertFinish® Colors
LP® ExpertFinish® Naturals Collection™ New
Six wood-inspired, stained-look tones for the timeless beauty of natural wood — shown here in the cedar-grain texture:
Looking for a color you saw a few years ago? LP retired three ExpertFinish colors in 2023. The closest current matches: Canyon Brown → Timberland Suede, Marshland Moss → Prairie Clay, and Shoreline Cream → Sand Dunes.
The swatches above are sampled from LP’s own color artwork, so treat them as a close on-screen guide rather than an exact match — screens vary. We’ll bring real samples so you can see the cedar grain and color in your own light before you commit.
LP SmartSide® Profiles We Install
LP SmartSide® is not one product — it is a family of profiles, and most Colorado exteriors we build use two or three of them together. We install all of them, which means the look is a design decision rather than a limit of what your contractor stocks.
Lap Siding
The workhorse horizontal board, and the profile on most of the composite wood homes we finish. Available in a deep cedar-grain texture or a brushed smooth face, in several board widths — wider boards read more modern, narrower boards read more traditional. This is the profile people mean when they search LP SmartSide lap siding.
Vertical Siding & Board & Batten
Vertical panels, run on their own or with battens applied over the seams for the modern-farmhouse look that has taken over new Front Range builds. Works beautifully as a whole-house treatment or as a gable and entry accent over lap. See our board & batten guide for how the look is put together.
Shakes
Cedar-look shake panels that give you the texture of hand-cut shakes without the splitting, cupping and repainting that real cedar demands at altitude. Most often used on gables, dormers, and entry features to break up a large lap-sided elevation.
Trim & Fascia
LP SmartSide® trim boards, corners and fascia in the same engineered wood as the siding. Using matched trim matters more than homeowners expect: it expands and contracts at the same rate as the field siding, so joints and corners stay tight instead of opening up through Colorado freeze-thaw cycles.
Not sure which profile suits your elevation? We bring real samples of each and hold them against your house — grain and color read very differently in Colorado light than they do on a screen.
Composite Wood Siding: Honest Pros & Cons for Colorado
We’d rather you choose with clear eyes. Here’s the straight version.
Where it shines
- Authentic wood-grain look; primed boards often start at a lower material cost than fiber cement (before painting).
- Hail & impact resistance — engineered wood tends to absorb impact better than fiber cement.
- Lighter & faster to install, which can lower labor cost.
- 200 mph wind warranty rating; SmartGuard® protection against rot and pests.
- ExpertFinish® eliminates on-site painting and most caulked seams.
Where to be careful
- It’s combustible engineered wood — not non-combustible like fiber cement, metal, stucco, or stone.
- May not meet Class A wall requirements in Moderate/High WUI fire zones under Colorado’s new code.
- Primed boards need periodic repainting; even pre-finished color has a defined warranty life.
- Moisture detailing is critical — flashing, clearances, and end-cut sealing must be done to spec.
- Some insurers scrutinize combustible cladding in wildfire-prone areas.
Is Composite Wood Allowed? Colorado WUI & Wildfire-Code Compliance
This is where experience matters more than a product brochure. Colorado adopted the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code (CWRC) in 2025. It sets minimum structure-hardening standards for new construction and significant exterior alterations (including siding work) in mapped Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) areas.
What this means in plain terms:
- WUI jurisdictions were directed to adopt the CWRC by April 1, 2026, with enforcement around July 1, 2026.
- The code is tiered by fire intensity (Low / Moderate / High). Moderate and High zones generally require Class A, non-combustible exterior walls.
- Natural and engineered wood must be fire-retardant treated and tested to qualify in many WUI assemblies — and even then, results depend on the product and the wall system.
- Adoption and enforcement vary by municipality and fire district, and some are still finalizing maps and timelines.
Translation: in a Low-risk neighborhood, composite wood like LP SmartSide® can be a perfectly sound, beautiful, code-compliant choice. In a Moderate/High WUI zone — common in Colorado’s foothills and many Northern Colorado communities — a non-combustible material such as James Hardie® fiber cement or stone is often the better or required answer.
We help you confirm what actually applies at your address — your WUI classification, your jurisdiction’s adopted code, and the material that fits your aesthetics, budget, and the rules. Because we install composite wood, fiber cement, metal, stucco, and stone, our advice isn’t tied to one product. Always verify specifics with your local building department; we’ll walk through it with you.
Composite Wood & LP SmartSide® Siding Cost in Colorado
Most composite wood / LP SmartSide® projects across the Front Range and Northern Colorado run roughly $9–$16 per square foot installed (materials and labor), with typical whole-home re-sides commonly landing between $18,000 and $38,000+. Be careful with the common claim that composite wood is simply cheaper than fiber cement. On most Colorado projects the two land closer than people expect, and the honest comparison is cost of ownership, not sticker price. Primed-and-painted LP SmartSide® starts lower, but it commits you to a repaint cycle. In our experience Front Range homes typically need a repaint every 6–7 years — high-altitude UV, intense sun, and repeated freeze-thaw age a field-applied finish far faster than they would at lower elevation. Add up those cycles and primed-and-painted can finish more expensive than fiber cement, not less. Factory-finished ExpertFinish® costs more up front and pushes that repaint cycle much further out. Composite wood does install faster than fiber cement because it is lighter, which shows up in labor. Where you land depends on:
- Primed vs. ExpertFinish®: primed-and-painted has the lower up-front number but carries future repaint cost (typically every 6–7 years in Colorado); factory pre-colored ExpertFinish® adds a material premium, removes site-painting cost and weather delay, and defers the repaint cycle.
- Square footage, number of stories, and trim detail.
- Existing siding removal and any underlying sheathing or moisture repairs.
- Profile mix (lap, panel, shingle) and complexity around roofs, decks, and windows.
- Any WUI / code-driven detailing your jurisdiction requires.
Engineered wood siding typically returns a strong share of its cost at resale (commonly in the low-to-mid 80% range nationally). During your consultation we provide a clear, line-item proposal and value options.
- Free, accurate estimates tailored to your home.
- 0% interest promotional financing for qualified buyers.
- Bundle siding with windows or roofing for efficiency and long-term savings.
Composite Wood & LP SmartSide® Siding Replacement
If your existing wood, hardboard, or composite siding is swelling, delaminating, peeling, or hail-damaged, we provide full composite wood siding replacement built for Colorado’s UV, wind, and freeze-thaw. We always remove the old siding, replace rotten underlying sheathing when needed, add proper weather-resistive barrier and flashing details, and install LP SmartSide® or ExpertFinish® to manufacturer specification.
- Full siding tear-off & replacement (wood, hardboard, vinyl, or failing composite)
- Moisture/rot repair and flashing corrections behind the siding
- LP SmartSide® lap, panel, and shingle profiles, plus matching trim
- ExpertFinish® pre-colored options to skip site painting
Why Homeowners Trust Northern Lights Exteriors for the Right Recommendation
Northern Lights Exteriors has remodeled Colorado exteriors since 2001. Because we install composite wood (LP SmartSide® & ExpertFinish®), James Hardie® fiber cement, metal, stucco, and stone, we’re not locked into steering you toward a single product. We start by understanding your home, your neighborhood’s fire/WUI classification, your budget, and the look you want — then we recommend the material that genuinely fits.
- LP® SmartSide® Preferred Contractor: trained on LP’s SmartSide® installation methods through the LP® Remodelers Edge™ program.
- Multi-material expertise: honest comparisons, not one-size-fits-all sales.
- Code & WUI awareness: we help you navigate Colorado’s wildfire-code landscape.
- Local crews, not storm-chasers: we work where we live, so our reputation rides on every project.
Every project runs through our secure client portal for schedule, milestones, documents, and progress photos. Call or message us to talk through your project.
Composite Wood & LP SmartSide® Siding Service Areas
We install composite wood and LP SmartSide® siding across the entire Front Range. Pick your area for local siding details, recent projects and code notes:
Foothills and mountain properties: composite wood is combustible engineered wood, so in wildfire (WUI) zones it is often not the right — or the permitted — choice. For those addresses we start with a non-combustible assembly instead. See Colorado WUI & wildfire-code compliance above, or our James Hardie® fiber cement siding.
Denver Metro
Boulder County & the US-36 Corridor
Northern Colorado
Composite Wood & LP SmartSide® Siding FAQs (Colorado)
What is composite wood siding?
Composite (engineered) wood siding is made from wood strands or fibers bound with waxes and resins and treated for durability. It delivers an authentic wood-grain look — siding that looks like real wood — while resisting the splitting, cupping, and rot common to natural cedar. LP SmartSide® is the best-known engineered wood siding, built with LP’s SmartGuard® process.
What’s the difference between LP SmartSide® and ExpertFinish®?
Both are LP’s engineered wood siding; the difference is the finish. Standard LP SmartSide® comes primed and is painted on site, giving you unlimited color choice. LP SmartSide® ExpertFinish® comes factory pre-colored, so there’s no on-site painting and fewer caulked seams, backed by a 5/15/50-year limited warranty.
What colors does LP SmartSide® ExpertFinish® come in?
ExpertFinish® offers 16 core colors in cedar-grain and smooth finishes, plus the 2025 Naturals Collection of six wood-inspired tones — Bonsai Black, Weathered Walnut, Aged Amber, Saffron Cedar, Smoky Slate, and Washed White. We bring samples so you can see them in your home’s light.
Is LP SmartSide® / composite wood siding good for Colorado?
For many Colorado homes, yes — it offers a real wood look, strong hail and impact resistance, a 200 mph wind warranty rating, and faster installation than fiber cement, often at a lower cost. The key caveat is wildfire risk: composite wood is combustible, so in higher-risk WUI areas a non-combustible material may be the better or required choice.
Is composite wood siding fire-resistant or WUI code-compliant?
Composite (engineered) wood is combustible and is generally not classified as non-combustible the way fiber cement, metal, or stucco are. Under Colorado’s Wildfire Resiliency Code, Moderate- and High-fire-intensity WUI zones generally require Class A, non-combustible exterior walls. Whether composite wood is allowed depends on your home’s WUI classification and your jurisdiction’s adopted code, so we help you verify with your local building department.
How much does composite wood / LP SmartSide® siding cost in Colorado?
Most Colorado projects run about $9–$16 per square foot installed, with typical whole-home re-sides between $18,000 and $38,000+. Primed-and-painted sits at the lower end; pre-colored ExpertFinish® adds a material premium but removes site painting. Which material is cheaper depends on the finish you choose and how long you keep the home: primed-and-painted starts lower but needs a repaint roughly every 6–7 years in Colorado, which sun and freeze-thaw accelerate, while factory-finished ExpertFinish® costs more up front and defers that cycle. We provide a free, line-item proposal.
LP SmartSide® vs. James Hardie® fiber cement — which is better?
It depends on your priorities. Choose composite wood for budget, the warmest wood-grain look, and superior hail/impact give. Choose fiber cement when fire performance, WUI code compliance, longevity, and a non-combustible exterior matter most. We install both and will give you an honest recommendation for your home.
Does composite wood siding hold up to Colorado hail and weather?
Engineered wood tends to absorb hail and impact better than fiber cement, and LP SmartSide® carries a 200 mph wind warranty rating with SmartGuard® protection against rot and termites. As with any cladding, long-term performance depends on correct moisture detailing — flashing, clearances, and sealed end cuts — which we install to manufacturer spec.
How long does LP SmartSide® siding last in Colorado?
LP backs SmartSide® trim and siding with a pro-rated 50-year limited warranty, but a warranty is not a lifespan promise. In Colorado, how long engineered wood siding performs depends on two things: the finish and the installation. Primed-and-painted boards typically need a repaint roughly every 6–7 years at our altitude, where UV and freeze-thaw are hard on paint; factory-finished ExpertFinish® pushes that cycle further out. On the installation side, sealed end cuts, correct ground and roof clearances, and proper flashing keep moisture out of the substrate. That detailing is where most engineered wood siding failures start, and it is what LP’s warranty requires.
Is Northern Lights Exteriors an LP SmartSide® Preferred Contractor?
Yes. Northern Lights Exteriors is an LP® SmartSide® Preferred Contractor through LP’s Remodelers Edge™ program, which requires completing LP’s SmartSide® installation training. We install engineered wood siding, including SmartSide® primed, ExpertFinish® and Diamond Kote®, across the Denver metro, Boulder County and Northern Colorado.
What Colorado Homeowners Say About Our Siding Work
“I recently hired North Lights Exteriors to replace our siding, soffit, and gutters after seeing their work on my neighbor’s house and I can’t say enough good things about the experience. From start to finish, the communication was clear and professional, and the quality of the work exceeded my expectations. Allen was especially great to work with — responsive, knowledgeable, and genuinely committed to making sure everything was done right. He kept me informed throughout the entire process and took the time to walk me through every detail. My home looks fantastic, and I’ve already received compliments from neighbors. If you’re looking for a reliable, high-quality team for exterior work, I highly recommend North Lights Exteriors — and definitely ask for Allen!”
— Nance E. · Lakewood, CO
“We appreciated Northern Lights Exteriors for their polite professional interactions. The attention to details on the job made a difference. They were timely and communicated through the process of repair work on our home. We will certainly seek their services in future repair work as needed.”
— E. Smith · Superior, CO
Read more verified Northern Lights Exteriors reviews →
Get an Honest Recommendation for Your Home
Composite wood, fiber cement, or stone — we’ll show you what fits your aesthetics, budget, location, and Colorado code, then give you a precise, line-item proposal.
Page last reviewed and updated: May 2026 · Northern Lights Exteriors · Colorado
