Painting James Hardie Siding: The Best Exterior Paint and Process for Painting Fiber Cement Siding
Do you want to paint your Hardie board siding? Here is what you should do first.
James Hardie siding is a fantastic and durable material for the exterior of your home. This guide explores the best process for painting James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding to ensure long-lasting results.
If you are searching for a long-lasting, and tough siding solution for your home, you might have settled on James Hardie Siding Cement Siding. It's very popular with private homeowners and building contractors alike, many home builders are replacing typical stucco and vinyl siding and using James Hardie fiber cement siding as the ultimate solution.
Hardie Siding is made of a concrete substrate and is also often referred to as fiber cement siding. Heavier than wood or aluminum it’s as tough as nails and will only need painting every 10 years or so. However, that will only be the case if you use the right painting process.
Is It Possible To Paint Hardie Fiber Cement Siding?
You might be wondering whether painting James Hardie Siding is even an option. We’re pleased to say that this is a possibility. It’s a great way to give your home a brand-new look that expresses your own personality, style, and, taste. You can use professional painters to complete this job for you or you can explore the right DIY tips to take on this project yourself.
What Is The Best Kind Of Exterior Paint To Use?
The type of paint you use is going to have a long-term impact on how long your paint job lasts. If you manage to get the right paint, then Hardie siding can look good for up to a maximum of twenty years. Consult a professional exterior painter for their recommendations, but one of the best paints for this project is going to be 100% premium acrylic latex paint. Apply two coats of paint for the best results. We usually use Sherwin Williams Emerald paint or Benjamin Moore Regal Select. Both of these paints are top-of-the-line acrylic latex paint that will ensure you get the best results for your James Hardie siding painting project.
If this is the first time you are installing Hardie siding, then you can order fiber cement that has a baked-on color, or without paint at all. The fiber cement siding will have already been primed by the time it reaches you, so whoever you hire to complete the topcoat won’t have to worry about this as long as they get rid of any excess dust and dirt that is covering it. The exterior painting needs to be done within 90 days of installing the James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding for the best results.
The Best Paint For James Hardie Is A Premium 100% Acrylic Paint.
Here is our list of good, better, best, excellent, and outstanding acrylic Exterior James Hardie Paint.
Good - Sherwin Williams Exterior SuperPaint (budget friendly)
Better - Sherwin Williams Exterior Latitude (budget friendly)
Best - Sherwin Williams Exterior Duration (affordable)
Excellent - Sherwin Williams Exterior Emerald (pricey)
Outstanding - Sherwin Williams Exterior Emerald RAIN REFRESH (pricey)
Pros Of Painting James Hardie Siding
If you want to have the siding pre-painted from the factory, then there are several benefits to this. One is that the boards are placed on the rack to ensure that the paint is even which provides you with a uniform finish. The paint won’t run like it could when you paint the home yourself. That is why it's important to hire a professional exterior painter to paint your home!
A benefit of having it painted either by a professional or by the factory is that two coats of a 100% premium acrylic latex paint will keep your exterior looking fresh for around 10-15 years. If you then decide to change your mind down the line, there is less prep work needed to change the color than there would be with your usual wood siding.
Cons Of Painting James Hardie Siding
When it comes to painting Hardie siding, the main issue appears if you are trying to replace old wood siding. It can be extremely difficult to match the color if this is what you are looking for. However, it can be done, it might just draw the process out a little longer than you would like.
If you try to paint touch-up pre-painted Hardie siding after it has been installed on your home, this can be a bit of a nightmare. The best thing that you can do is to have it done after it's been installed. This will help avoid any issues with color matching and ensure even coverage across the entire home.
The Priming Process
The siding will be shipped to you primed and ready to paint. Most painters will say that you should have a fresh coat of primer though as you have no idea how long ago the material was primed. Emerald paint can also be used as a primer, so it’s an excellent choice.
You should now have all of the information you need about the best exterior paint and process for painting fiber cement siding. We highly recommend that you hire a professional to help you with painting Hardie siding for the simple reason that it can be quite tough to do.
How To Paint Your James Hardie Siding
- Remove dirt and mildew. First, you might want to apply a light cleaning solution to the areas being painted. We recommend using bleach and water. mix 25% bleach and 70% water into a pump sprayer and spray it onto the surfaces that need to be cleaned. Then lightly pressure wash clean. Let dry for 2-3 days prior to painting.
- Do not prime. As mentioned above, James Hardie is already pre-primed!
- Seal cracks with a quality acrylic caulk. Make sure to use a quality 50-year paintable caulking.
- Use 100% acrylic paint or acrylic latex paint. We also recommend using the best paint you can afford. What is the best paint for exterior painting?
- Apply up to two coats of paint. Don't gamble with your exterior paint!