In Rapid City and the Black Hills, one insurance adjuster said repeated hail losses shaped his siding choice: he installed James Hardie on his own home rather than LP SmartSide. In his South Dakota claim experience, James Hardie performed better, while LP SmartSide chipped more and some older LP products showed bottom-edge deterioration.
Why local hail experience mattered more than product demonstrations
LP SmartSide was described as highly visible in product marketing and demonstrations. But the adjuster’s view was based on storm claims across South Dakota, where he said homeowners may replace full exteriors five or six times over 20 years because of hail.
That is the context for his preference, not a universal performance finding. For his Rapid City-area experience, he said James Hardie outperformed LP SmartSide and was the siding he wanted on a home he planned to keep for a long time.
What the adjuster reported seeing with LP SmartSide
The adjuster identified two concerns from his field experience:
- More chipping: He said LP SmartSide chipped more in hail.
- Older-product edge deterioration: He said older LP products could begin to deteriorate, delaminate, and puff up along the bottom edge.
Those observations are specific to one adjuster’s work in a severe-hail region. They do not establish that every LP SmartSide installation will have the same outcome, or that James Hardie will perform the same way in every market. Current product information and warranty terms can help homeowners compare the exact products under consideration.
The choice he made for his own exterior
The adjuster chose James Hardie siding and a Euroshield roof for his home. He said he had not seen Euroshield damaged in the claims he encountered, while nearby homes had been damaged and replaced. He also said Class 4 shingles can help with smaller hail but may still be damaged by larger hail, and metal roofs can dent.
His roof comments explain why he looked at the whole exterior in an area he described as receiving hail every two to five years. They should not be read as proof of siding performance: his James Hardie preference came from his separate observations of siding claims.
A focused decision for a hail-prone home
For a home in a frequent-hail area, this case points to a practical comparison: weigh the adjuster’s local observations of LP chipping and older-product bottom-edge deterioration against the fact that he considered James Hardie the better-performing option in his Rapid City claim experience.
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Source: LP SmartSide vs. James Hardie, Euroshield vs. Class 4 Asphalt.
FAQ
Did the Rapid City adjuster prefer James Hardie or LP SmartSide?
He preferred James Hardie. Based on his South Dakota hail-claim experience, he said James Hardie outperformed LP SmartSide and installed James Hardie on his own home.
What problems did he report with LP SmartSide?
He said LP SmartSide chipped more in hail. He also said some older LP products could deteriorate, delaminate, and puff up along the bottom edge.
Does this mean James Hardie is always better than LP SmartSide?
No. The statements came from one adjuster’s experience in Rapid City, the Black Hills, and other South Dakota storm claims. They are useful local evidence, not a universal performance guarantee.
Why did repeated hail claims affect his siding decision?
He described the area as receiving frequent hail and said some homeowners replace full exteriors five or six times over 20 years. He wanted an exterior he believed would hold up better because he expected to remain in his home for a long time.
What did the adjuster say about Class 4 shingles and Euroshield?
He said Class 4 shingles can help with smaller hail but may still be damaged by larger hail. He chose a Euroshield roof and said he had not seen Euroshield damage in the claims he encountered, though it was less common when he worked as a full-time adjuster.
