Hardie plank siding is one of the toughest materials for home exteriors to come on the market in recent years. In the distant past, many homes used aluminum siding, which then transitioned into vinyl siding. Vinyl was a better alternative than aluminum, but Hardie Plank is taking over as the number one siding replacement or new build siding product to put on homes.
What is Hardie Plank?
Hardie Plank is a newer composite material made of concrete substrate. Hardie Plank is also called fiber cement siding. While it’s far heavier than aluminum, vinyl or wood, it is extremely durable and typically only needs a new paint every ten to twenty years for maintenance.
It is one of the best materials and long-term solutions for protecting your home. It also retains its shape, with minimal bowing or warping.
Can Hardie Plank Siding be Painted?
Painting Hardie Plank siding is not only possible, it’s a great way to refresh, update and maintain the exterior of your home. A professional exterior painting expert will have many years of experience painting Hardie Plank and will know the right paint and tools to get the job done right.
Best Kind of Paint to Use for Hardie Plank and Fiber Cement Siding
The type of paint you use on Hardie Plank is important to ensuring the life of the paint project. In fact, with the right paint and application, Hardie Plank siding can look good for up to twenty years.
If you’re installing Hardie Plank for the first time on a new build, or replacing old siding, you can order fiber cement siding with a baked-on color or without paint. Most unpainted fiber cement siding will be primed at the factory once it’s shipped to you, so your professional exterior paint expert will be able to paint as soon as the siding is installed. Just be sure your installer takes care to keep planks clean of any dust raised from cutting the planks. You’ll also want to paint your newly installed Hardie Plank within 90 days of installation.
If you’re repainting Hardie Plank or fiber cement siding, you’ll first need to clean your home’s exterior. A pressure washing is necessary to remove chalking (the old paint dusty oxidation residue from sunlight exposure). A pressure washing will also remove dirt, dust, mold and mildew. This step is important so that you don’t paint over any dirt build-up, stains or–in damper climates–moss or mildew.
If needed, you’ll also want to caulk or re-caulk every seam and joint in your Hardie Plank. This step will ensure that no moisture gets in at the joints and causes deterioration.
Once all caulk is dry and your siding is clean, you’ll paint Hardie Plank with a high quality exterior grade acrylic latex. Then, make sure the coating is completely dry before applying the 2nd coat. A professional exterior painting expert will use a spray application for a smooth, factory like finish.
Pros and Cons of Painting Hardie Plank Siding
We really can’t say enough about the pros of painting Hardie Plank and fiber cement siding. Two coats of high quality, 100% acrylic exterior paint–when applied properly and with the proper prep work–can look beautiful for up to two decades. Plus, if you happen to change your mind about the color before two decades have passed, Hardie Plank requires less repair and prep work than wood siding (which will need scraped and sanded, or even replaced in some areas).
There aren’t many cons of painting Hardie Plank Siding, unless you’re replacing old wood siding and hoping to match your home’s original color. Even then, a professional paint expert will offer a color consultation to make sure you get the exact color you want.
We always recommend hiring a professional exterior paint expert to paint your Hardie Plank siding. It’s the best way to guarantee your painted fiber cement siding stays beautiful for years to come. Plus, they’ll value your time and work efficiently to complete the project in the time allotted and on budget.
Get Expert Help When Painting Hardie Plank and Fiber Cement Siding
Our professional paint experts are ready to give your Hardie Plank siding a fresh look! We have years of experience using the right paint and tools to make fiber cement siding look great for decades. Contact us today for a free Hardie Plank painting quote.
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