Is that particleboard on the inside of your shed? Not exactly! Here’s why we choose engineered wood siding for our Texas backyard buildings.
If you’ve ever stepped inside one of our Alpine Portable Buildings sheds, you may have noticed something interesting about the walls.
The outside has an attractive wood-textured finish, but the inside looks a little like particleboard.
We’ve actually had customers ask about this!
It’s a perfectly reasonable question, and we’re happy to explain what you’re seeing.
That material is LP SmartSide engineered wood siding, and we choose it for some very good reasons.
What Exactly Is LP SmartSide?
LP SmartSide is not ordinary particleboard.
It’s an engineered wood building product manufactured using specially prepared wood strands, industrial-strength resins, water-resistant waxes, and zinc borate.
These ingredients are combined under heat and pressure to create a durable siding product designed for exterior applications.
The wood strands give the back of the siding its distinctive appearance. That’s why the interior of an unfinished shed may resemble particleboard or oriented strand board (OSB).
But the manufacturing process and protective treatments are what make LP SmartSide different from ordinary interior-grade particleboard.
The exterior surface also features a protective overlay designed to resist moisture intrusion and provide a suitable surface for painting.
Why Does This Matter in Houston, Texas?
If you’ve lived in the Greater Houston area for any length of time, you know our weather can be demanding!
We experience long, hot summers, high humidity, heavy thunderstorms, and occasional dramatic temperature changes.
And let’s not forget our termites!
That’s why choosing the right building materials matters.
LP SmartSide uses a manufacturing process called SmartGuard, which incorporates several important protective ingredients:
- Water-resistant waxes help reduce moisture absorption.
- Zinc borate helps resist termite damage and fungal decay.
- Industrial-strength resins bond the wood strands together and contribute to the product’s strength.
- A protective exterior overlay helps defend against weather exposure and provides a surface for paint.
These are valuable features for backyard storage buildings in Southeast Texas.
Of course, even quality siding needs proper installation, adequate ground clearance, good drainage, and routine maintenance.
Why Not Use Hardie Board?
Some customers ask about fiber cement siding, often called Hardie Board.
Fiber cement is a legitimate building material with advantages of its own, particularly its noncombustible composition.
However, engineered wood and fiber cement behave differently.
Fiber cement is a rigid, cement-based product. It requires careful handling, cutting, fastening, and installation to help prevent cracking or edge damage.
Engineered wood siding is generally easier to cut and fasten using conventional woodworking tools and has different handling characteristics.
At Alpine, we build wooden storage sheds on-site, frequently on block-supported foundations.
Like other wood-framed structures, these buildings can experience small amounts of movement as materials respond to temperature, moisture, and changing support conditions.
We prefer LP SmartSide for our construction methods because it combines engineered wood characteristics with exterior durability.
That doesn’t mean fiber cement is unsuitable for every shed. It means we’ve chosen the material that works well with the way we build.
A Strong Shed Starts With More Than Siding
At Alpine Portable Buildings, we believe good construction starts with the entire building, not just its exterior appearance.
Our standard construction includes:
- Wall studs spaced 16 inches on center
- Floor joists spaced 12 inches on center
- Sturdy 3/4-inch plywood flooring
- LP SmartSide exterior siding
- Natural cedar exterior trim
- Composition shingle roofing
- Standard roof and wall ventilation
We also offer options such as lofts, workbenches, wider doors, and additional storage features.
Most importantly, we build directly in your backyard, usually completing the building in just one day.
Can You Finish the Inside of an LP SmartSide Shed?
Absolutely!
Some customers prefer the unfinished interior because it gives them easy access to the wall framing for installing shelves, hooks, and other storage accessories.
Others want a more finished appearance.
Depending on how you plan to use your building, you can explore painting appropriate interior surfaces, adding wall finishes, installing shelving, or creating a more customized space.
An unfinished interior doesn’t mean an inferior building.
It simply gives you the opportunity to make the space your own.
Built for Texas Backyards
At Alpine Portable Buildings, we don’t believe in choosing building materials based on appearance alone.
We consider durability, practicality, construction methods, and the conditions our sheds will face here in Southeast Texas.
That’s why LP SmartSide is an important part of our buildings.
So the next time you step inside an Alpine shed and notice that distinctive wood-strand appearance, you’ll know there’s more to those walls than meets the eye!
Looking for a quality backyard storage shed in Pasadena, La Porte, Deer Park, Baytown, Pearland, or Greater Houston?
Visit Alpine Portable Buildings at our Pasadena sales lot or explore our Gable, Gable Deluxe, and Barn-style buildings online.
Alpine Portable Buildings — Built in Your Backyard, Built to Last!