How Do CertainTeed, Diamond Kote, Everlast Advanced Composite Siding, James Hardie, and LP SmartSide Siding Warranties Compare?

This Limited Warranty does not cover or provide a remedy for:

• a) Substrate Damage, Hail Damage, or any other damage to the Product caused by:
  • (i) failure to strictly follow the Instructions or failure to care for or maintain the exterior cladding or building envelope to prevent water infiltration;
  • (ii) the construction process, or failure to properly cut, prime, or paint the Product;
  • (iii) misuse or abuse of the Product;
  • (iv) impact or accidental damage to the substrate or surface of the Product;
  • (v) alteration of the Product other than as allowed in the Instructions;
  • (vi) any lack of compatibility between the Product and any other product not manufactured by LP, including, without limitation, the corrosion of fasteners, hardware, or any other materials, metal or otherwise, used to fasten the Product or to fasten anything to the Product;
  • (vii) sawing or ripping the Product lengthwise or removing the surface of the Product or the factory edge (except as expressly authorized in the Instructions, if applicable);
  • (viii) improper transport, storage, handling, or exposure of the Product, including exposure to moisture during any part of the construction process that is abnormal or in violation of the Instructions or industry standards for protecting siding materials prior to finishing;
  • (ix) improper or inadequate design, detailing, or construction of the framing or Structure, including the walls, cladding, windows, doors, roofing materials, openings, or other penetrations on or around which the Product is installed;
  • (x) failure of or improper installation of third-party flashings or water management details or systems;
  • (xi) the process of moving or transporting a moveable Structure (e.g., modular, mobile, or tiny homes, sheds, and other utility structures) after installation of the Product, but only where damage is directly related to such moving or transport;
  • (xii) alterations to the Structure or installation of equipment after installation of the Product;
  • (xiii) animals, termites or other insects (except where a ZB Resistance Issue exists);
  • (xiv) minor surface grazing by termites which does not interfere with the Product’s ability to perform as siding, soffit or trim (except where a ZB Resistance Issue exists);
  • (xv) wood fungal decay, mold or mildew (except where a ZB Resistance Issue exists);
  • (xvi) spills, harmful chemicals (including harmful cleaning compounds), salt water, fertilizer, gasoline, oil, pollution, scratching, abrading, or surfactant leaching;
  • (xvii) installation or exposure that allows for the accumulation of frost, condensation, moisture (including water vapor), standing water, repetitive wetting conditions, or submersion;
  • (xviii) inadequate ventilation or the lack of a vapor retarder under the Structure; or
  • (xix) hurricane, tornado, windstorm, lightning, fire, earthquake, flood, hail (except as covered under the Hail Damage Limited Warranty), acts of God, or other similar causes beyond the control of LP.

• b) Damage caused by termites, termite activity or fungal decay (i) that is not or does not result in a ZB Resistance Issue; (ii) that results from termite activity existing prior to installation of the Product; (iii) that results from areas of the Structure which have moisture problems, rot, fungi, or mold due to faulty plumbing, leaks, dampness due to drains, condensation or leaks from roofs, eaves, windows or doors, flooding or other sources of water or moisture in the Structure; (iv) that results from failure to maintain the Structure free from foam insulation at foundation, grade-wood contact, faulty grade, firewood against Structure, insufficient ventilation, wood debris in crawl space, wood mulch, tree branches touching Structure, landscape timbers, or wood rot; or (v) to any component of the Structure other than the Product, under any circumstances.

• c) Product applied to Structures located outside the United States, its territories, or Canada (Product sold outside these locations is “as-is”, with no express or implied warranties provided by LP).

• d) Surface or edge swelling or edge checking (minor swelling and checking occur normally in all wood and wood-based products as they expand and contract in response to changes in climatic conditions), except where Substrate Damage exists.

• e) Non-structural surface cracks or imperfections (except where Substrate Damage or Hail Damages exists).

• f) Product not installed by a licensed contractor and or in strict compliance with all applicable building codes and Instructions.

• g) Any interior installation or Non-Standard Application.

• h) Costs associated with damage to the Product or caused by the Product (other than the remedies set forth in Section 2 above), including but not limited to Product removal, disposal, or replacement, or damage to any other property.

• i) Poor workmanship, including but not limited to nailing or fastening not compliant with Instructions.

• j) Damage resulting from Owner’s failure to comply with the requirements set out under Section 4 of this Limited Warranty.

• k) Use or installation of the Product in contact with the ground or in any application which allows for the accumulation of condensation or other free water or which subjects the Product to a repetitive wetting condition at any time other than normal exposure to weather during ordinary construction periods.

• l) Damage resulting from re-manufacture, modification, alteration or processing of the Product by anyone other than LP.

• m) Any aesthetic issue caused by face-nailing the Product.
• n) Damage to any other component of the Structure, for any reason.