Prefinished vs. Primed Siding: How to Choose

If you’re currently in the midst of a remodel or are considering future renovations for your home’s exterior, color is one of the most prominent decisions you will have to make as a homeowner. LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding comes in both primed and prefinished options to suit a variety of needs. Not sure which is the best option for you? Read on to discover the benefits of each so that you can re-side with confidence. 

What is Prefinished Siding?

Prefinished siding is siding material that is pre-painted at time of purchase. Typically, when you re-side your home, the siding material is installed and then painted. Prefinished siding takes the major priming and painting steps out of the process and allows for immediate installation. 

LP SmartSide Prefinished Siding Colors

LP® SmartSide® ExpertFinish® Trim & Siding comes in a variety of colors to create a look you love. Choose from neutrals like Snowscape White and Quarry Gray or opt for a little color with Rapids Blue or Redwood Red. Mix and match trim and siding color ideas for a look that's true to you and your home. You can find the full list of ExpertFinish prefinished color options currently available through LP here.

What is Primed Siding?

Primed siding is siding material that has already been treated with a paint primer. It allows you to go straight to painting your exterior without having to sand or prime your siding material. Primed siding also improves paint adhesion for a longer-lasting exterior with durable engineered wood siding.

How To Choose Between Primed and Prefinished Siding 

Now that you know the difference between prefinished and primed siding, it’s time to decide which option is right for you. Here are a few things to consider before you begin the engineered wood siding installation process:

Timeline

How long is your project turnaround time? If you’re on a time crunch, opt for prefinished siding for a faster solution. Eliminating painting and drying time means your siding is ready to install at time of purchase. If you’re not in a hurry to complete your re-side and want to paint your home a custom color, opt for primed siding. 

Color 

When re-siding your home, color is a key decision and an opportunity to reflect your personal style. While LP SmartSide ExpertFinish Trim & Siding comes a variety of versatile colors, you may have another color in mind. If the color you’re looking for isn’t offered in ExpertFinish Trim & Siding apply your choice of paint to primed trim and siding, which has exceptional paint adhesion. 

Maybe you want the maximum ease and workability of prefinished siding but have a custom color in mind for your trim or vice versa. There are no rules when it comes to your siding preferences; explore exterior color combos and pair prefinished siding with primed trim to get a faster, more customized exterior. 

Primed and prefinished siding are made to suit a variety of homebuilding needs. Whichever siding material you choose for your home’s exterior, you can count on LP SmartSide ExpertFinish Trim & Siding products to provide some of the most durable siding products on the market. 

Discover the full range of LP SmartSide products here.