Best Paint for LP SmartSide Siding: Type, Sheen and Edges

Quick answer: The best paint for LP SmartSide siding is a high quality exterior 100 percent acrylic latex made for wood and engineered wood. LP recommends two coats of unthinned paint at the spread rate on the label, satin on smooth lap siding and satin or semi-gloss on cedar texture, and it says every exposed edge must be painted. Do not use transparent stain, and do not pressure wash the siding.

LP SmartSide is engineered wood siding: wood strands bonded with resins and treated, then given a factory primer or a full factory finish. It paints well, and LP publishes clear guidance on how to do it. Most problems come from treating it like solid wood or like vinyl, when it is neither. This guide follows the LP guidance point by point and adds the practical steps around it.

Which LP SmartSide do you have?

LP SmartSide is sold two ways, and the job is different for each.

• Primed. The front face and edges are primed at the factory, LP says in its guide to exterior paint for LP engineered wood siding. Primed siding is meant to be painted on site after installation. The primer is a base for paint, not a finish.
• Prefinished, sold as LP SmartSide ExpertFinish. This arrives already painted in a factory color, so installation and painting happen in one step. LP says in its guide to painting siding that the prefinished product carries a prorated limited warranty that includes a 15 year finish warranty.

The builder, the original paperwork or the label on leftover boards will tell you which one you have. If the siding is prefinished and still under its finish warranty, check the warranty terms before painting over it.

What type of paint to use

LP is consistent on this across its guidance:

• Use an exterior quality 100 percent acrylic paint formulated for wood and engineered wood, as LP describes in its painting guide.
• LP also says it highly recommends acrylic latex coatings designed specifically for wood composites.
• Do not use transparent stains. LP says so directly. A transparent stain does not build the film that protects an engineered wood substrate. If you want a stained look, LP notes that some newer acrylic latex products can mimic a semi transparent stain finish.
• Follow the paint maker. LP repeatedly points back to the application instructions on the paint you choose.

Several major brands make premium exterior acrylics that fit this description. Treat any brand name as an example of the category rather than a requirement, and confirm on the product data sheet that the paint is rated for engineered wood or wood composite siding.

Sheen: satin or semi-gloss

LP gives a simple rule:

Flat paint is missing from that list. A satin or semi-gloss film sheds water and dirt better than flat, which matters on a product made from wood. For trim boards, the same logic usually points to satin or semi-gloss, as explained in best paint for exterior trim.

Edges and the back side

This is the part of the LP guidance that is easiest to miss, and it matters most for how long the siding lasts.

• Every exposed edge must be painted. LP says all exposed edges of LP SmartSide siding and trim must be painted with approved paint to protect the siding substrate. That includes field cuts made during installation and, as the painting guide stresses, the bottom edges of each course.
• Do not prime the back side. LP says not to prime the back of the siding or trim.

Bottom edges are where water sits after rain, and they are hard to reach once the siding is up. Whoever paints should work the brush or spray under each lap, not just across the face.

Painting new primed siding

1. Check the boards. LP says to look for dents, cracks, mold and mildew, and any damage that could let water in. Repair or replace damaged boards first.
2. Make sure the surface is clean and completely dry.
3. Caulk gaps at trim and openings with a paintable exterior sealant where the installation instructions call for it. Technique is covered in how to caulk before painting.
4. Seal every cut edge with the approved paint.
5. Apply two coats of unthinned 100 percent acrylic at the spread rate on the label, as LP recommends, covering the bottom edges with each coat.

Do not leave primed siding unpainted longer than necessary. The factory primer is not designed to be the only protection on the wall. If you are working to a schedule, check the current LP installation and finishing instructions for any time limit that applies to your product.

Repainting older LP SmartSide

When painted LP SmartSide starts to fade or chalk, the repaint follows the same rules with more prep.

1. Wash gently. LP says to remove dust and mildew by washing with a brush and a mild detergent solution, rinse from top to bottom, and not to pressure wash. A pressure washer can force water into the engineered wood and damage the surface.
2. Let it dry completely.
3. Inspect closely. Look at bottom edges, butt joints and boards near the ground or under roof runoff. Swollen or soft areas are not a paint problem and should be repaired or replaced before painting.
4. Spot prime any exposed substrate with a primer the paint maker approves for engineered wood.
5. Apply the topcoat following the same paint type and sheen rules as new siding.

For mildew, test a spot first: dirt stays put, mildew usually lightens when a little diluted bleach touches it. If the house is in a damp or coastal area, the extra steps in best paint for coastal homes apply too.

Touch up and color match

Small scuffs on prefinished siding are usually handled with the touch up products sold for that color, because a store mixed match can look different in sunlight even when the color code matches. On field painted siding, keep a labeled can of the exact paint used, including the sheen, so touch ups blend. If a touch up does not blend, painting the full board from edge to edge usually hides it better than a spot.

Common mistakes on LP SmartSide

• Pressure washing before a repaint.
• Using transparent stain or a stain that does not form a film.
• Leaving cut ends and bottom edges unpainted.
• Priming or painting the back of the boards before installation, against LP guidance.
• One thin coat instead of two coats at the label spread rate.
• Painting over swollen or damaged boards instead of replacing them.

How LP SmartSide compares with other sidings

Each of those sidings has its own guide: wood siding, vinyl siding and aluminum siding. If you are pricing the job, how to paint wood siding covers the full exterior workflow that most siding repaints follow.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best paint for LP SmartSide?

A high quality exterior 100 percent acrylic latex formulated for wood and engineered wood. LP recommends two coats of unthinned paint at the spread rate on the label, and says to follow the paint maker application instructions.

Does LP SmartSide need to be painted?

Primed LP SmartSide does. The factory primer is a base for paint, not a finished surface. Prefinished LP SmartSide ExpertFinish arrives painted from the factory and does not need painting after installation.

What sheen should I use on LP SmartSide?

LP recommends satin for smooth finish lap siding, and satin or semi-gloss for cedar texture lap siding.

Can you stain LP SmartSide?

Not with a transparent stain. LP says not to use transparent stains. Some newer acrylic latex products can give a look similar to a semi transparent stain while still forming a protective film.

Can I pressure wash LP SmartSide before painting?

No. LP says to wash with a brush and a mild detergent solution, rinse from top to bottom, and not to pressure wash. Let the siding dry completely before painting.

Do I need to paint the edges and the back of LP SmartSide?

Paint every exposed edge, including field cuts and bottom edges, with approved paint. Do not prime the back side; LP says it should be left unprimed.