Hardie Board is among the most durable exterior siding solutions to hit the construction industry in recent years.
Previously, many buildings used aluminum siding which was later replaced by vinyl siding because it was considered a long-lasting option.
Although vinyl was formerly a superior option to aluminum, Hardie Board quickly became popular because of its versatility and is now the most preferred siding option for homes looking for siding replacement or new construction siding.
What is Hardie Board?
Hardie Board is a more recent siding option made up of concrete and fiberglass material, and has replaced previously popular siding options such as vinyl and aluminum sidings.
Hardie Board is made up of cement fibers, in which cement is combined with sand, water, and cellulose wood fiber to create a long-lasting material to protect homes.
Hardie Boards, because it is a long-lasting fiber-cement composite, helps protect your house by withstanding harsh weather and extreme conditions.
It is one of the most durable and long-lasting materials available for protecting and beautifying your property. Even after years, it continues to hold its shape well, with little bending or deformation.
The versatility of Hardie Board siding is one of its best features.
While it is extremely sturdy and long-lasting, it also has the texture of wood, giving it a beautiful appeal.
So, if a homeowner wants to touch up or modify the color of their Hardie Board siding, then it can be easily painted or repainted and only requires refinishing every fifteen to thirty years.
Reasons You Should Use Hardie Board Siding
Hardie Board in the recent past has become an extremely common siding choice for homeowners.
And there are a number of justified reasons that make Hardie Board a popular choice.
It has a variety of advantages while still adding a beautiful and aesthetic look to the house.
The following are some of its primary advantages:
1. Resistant to Fire
Hardie Board, although heavier than aluminum, vinyl, or wood, has an appearance that is wood-like, which helps to add an aesthetic appeal to the exterior look of the house.
However, it is not actually made of wood, and so in case of fire, it doesn’t burn like wood siding also, despite its appearance.
Although it is not flame-resistant like asbestos siding, it still does not aggressively fuel the fires or cause equal damage to wood.
2. Superior Longevity
Hardie boards can endure a wide range of weather conditions, ensuring that the property is protected at all times.
It is resistant to rainfall, thunderstorms, frost, severe humidity, wetness, and temperature variations throughout the year.
It also protects the house from decaying, drooping, and deformation by resisting humidity infiltration.
It is long-lasting and offers the house a stunning appearance.
3. Rot and Wrapping Resistant
Hardie Board is built to last. It usually comes with up to 30 years of guarantee.
The fiber cement substance of Hardie Board makes it sturdier and resilient to extreme conditions overall.
Also, since it’s not made up of wood, it doesn’t rot or shrink over time and sustains its shape and color for years.
4. Protection against Pests
Hardie board siding is resistant to the organic life that wreaks havoc on a home’s wood exterior.
It protects the house from ants, termites, and fungus, so you don’t have to worry about repairing your sides after every few years.
5. Aesthetic Curb Appeal
Hardie boards are available in a wide range of shapes and colors.
It helps enhance the overall appeal of the home without making much effort.
It has the appearance of wood sidings and has a remarkable similarity to authentic cedar claddings, which contribute to the overall aesthetic of the house.
It also doesn’t require regular upkeep or maintenance because it is not actually made up of real wood.
6. Eco-Friendly
Hardie Board is a very environmentally friendly product to use.
The fact that fiber cement is made primarily of sand, cement, and recycled wood, makes it much more easily recyclable.
Also, releases fewer pollutants and toxins during its manufacturing as compared to vinyl or aluminum.
Fiber-cement also has a higher energy and resource efficiency rating, so in terms of the thermal transfer, it is equivalent to hardwood and far superior to many other synthetic materials.
7. Extremely Adaptable
Hardie boards are available in a variety of styles, giving an abundance of alternatives and options to choose from to fit your style and need.
Hardie boards are offered in a variety of customized alternatives for any kind or size of home.
Painting Hardie boards in a variety of ways or colors are also one great option available to add beauty to the exterior of the house.
Cons of Using Hardie Board Siding
1. Costly
Hardie Board is a bit on the expensive side. Because they are meant to last a lifetime, they cost a little more than aluminum, wood, and vinyl.
2. Requires Intensive Labor
Hardie Boards are difficult to install and require a lot of labor to properly place the sidings.
3. Installation is Time Consuming
Hardie Board is heavier than aluminum and so installing Hardie Board properly can be a little challenging and time-consuming because if they are not properly installed, then there is an option available other than taking out the entire siding and reinstalling, which can get very costly.
Is Hardie Board Siding Paintable?
Yes! It’s not only possible to paint Hardie Board siding, but it’s also a wonderful method to freshen, renovate, and preserve the exterior of the house.
Hardie board siding can be painted or repainted after some years to enhance its appearance and endurance.
Siding paint typically lasts about two decades, so it is important to get the Hardie board installed correctly the first time.
Painting it can highlight the dark timbre texture of the Hardie board and help to enhance the beauty of the house.
Painting Hardie Board vs. Replacing It
Hardie board siding is an excellent choice for a basic repainting job because of its long-lasting durability and amazingly rugged structure.
Even material such as branches or twigs will not chip or swell the siding.
It is tough to destroy this extremely durable siding no matter what Mother Nature throws at it.
So, if there’s very little that can ruin the Hardie board cladding, repainting it rather than reinstalling it is the better option.
Signs Your Old Hardie Board Needs New Paint
1. Chipped Hardie Board
If the paint on the Hardie Board is chipping or rotting, then it’s a clear indication that they are in need of a coat of paint.
Immediately get your Hardie Board repainted before you might have to completely get it replaced.
2. Evidence of Internal Damage
The interior of your house starts damaging when the Hardie Board has been completely damaged from the outside.
A number of things like moisture, fog, mold, and airborne wastage of trees and nearby plants can damage your Hardie Board.
A well-painted Hardie Board protects the house from external or internal damage as it doesn’t let the moisture penetrate through the walls.
So if the inside walls of your house are getting damaged, get the sidings painted or repainted to add longevity to your house exterior.
3. Faded Exterior Look
If the exterior of your house looks dull and boring, it is ideal for getting it repainted to add a new and fresh look to your house.
This could also save you from the effort of entirely replacing the Hardie Boards, which could also be an expensive pursuit.
By simply repainting the old Hardie Board siding, you can achieve an amazing outlook of your house.
Repainting the sidings would also add extra life to the Hardie Boards, and they may last ten years longer than their original expiration date.
How to Effectively Paint Hardie Board
1. Paint Hardie Board before Installing
The best time to paint the Hardie Board is before it is installed.
There is always a risk of a bad painting job, and if the Hardie Boards are already installed, then it would be difficult taking them out.
So, it is better to paint them in a controlled environment before getting them installed on your house.
Following are the other advantages of painting Hardie Boards beforehand:
a. Uniform Finishing
It is difficult to get a uniform paint finish after they are installed.
For an evenly painted Hardie Board siding, it is best to place them one inch above the ground, straight and horizontally, and spray paint them for a better finish.
b. All Sides Are Painted Properly
All sides of the Hardie are to be painted to provide equal protection against moisture.
If the Hardie boards are installed before painting, then the inner sides of the siding would be difficult to paint, so for all sides to be painted, it is advisable to paint Hardie boards beforehand.
c. Optimal Painting Result
Painting Hardie Board indoors can provide optimal results.
The siding would be protected from humidity or moisture in the air and would also reduce the risk of paint getting sun-baked and dry.
d. Less Expensive
Pre-painting Hardie Board siding is less expensive than replacing a badly painted siding.
In order to save your money from reinstalling the Hardie Board, it is best to paint the sidings before installing them on your building’s exterior.
2. Remove Any Dust or Molds
Before applying new paint to cement paneling, it is important to make sure it’s clean and dry.
First, power-wash the outside with water to remove dirt and grime.
It is necessary to scrub the dirt away; a power wash with appropriate force and pressure would suffice.
For stubborn mold streaks, make a bleach-water solution, rub the fungus spots, and wash after 15 min.
3. Replace the Caulking
Before painting the Hardie board, it is essential to ensure that the caulking is in good condition.
Around frames and at curves, most Hardie Boards siding is sealed with color-matched caulking.
Hardie Board installers and professionals mostly utilize caulking that has an 18-month guarantee, so if the siding of the house has been installed for over two years, it might be the ideal time to upgrade your caulking and can save your money and time.
4. Remove Old Paint
To modify the color of your varnish, you first need to correctly remove the existing and flaking paint that your siding may have for years.
To do this, remove the old paint carefully while using a scraper and meticulously wire-brush it in the line of wood grain that may exist on the board.
It is very important to ensure the area is free from dust and debris before painting it.
Wear a surgical mask and ensure skin or eye safety while completing this work.
5. Prime the Hardie Board before Painting
Hardie Board is composed of sand grits and basalt cement and is intended to soak paint efficiently.
Adding one layer of a high-quality exterior latex primer that is stain-blocking and UV protectant to all the sides of the Hardie Board can assist the fresh paint in effectively binding to the fiber cement siding.
So the second coat of priming can give the fiber cement board a nicer and more uniform gloss.
6. Select the Acrylic Paint
Hardie Plank siding can last for up to thirty years with the appropriate paint and treatment.
The quality of paint being used on Hardie Plank has a significant impact on determining how long the paint would last.
When getting new Hardie Boards installed or replacing the old ones, it is better to order the sidings that either have a caramelized color or are without paint.
Most untreated sidings are primed beforehand at the factory, allowing your exterior paint specialist to begin painting immediately after the material is installed.
Suppose you are repainting the old siding, then choose the right color after washing and drying the siding.
For painting, commonly available commercial exterior paints would work, but make sure to not choose the oil-based paints or stains on the sidings.
It is advisable to only use the acrylic exterior paint that is 100 percent acrylic for the paint to last a long time.
7. Paint within Six Months of Installation
It is advised that primed Hardie Board siding must be painted within three months, to 6 months, after installation to prevent them from damaging.
If your siding isn’t primed, the time it takes to color the panels is cut in half, to ninety days or four months. If left ignored or neglected, Hardie Board can have flaws such as degradation or bending.
Tips to Uniformly Paint Hardie Board Siding
To evenly paint the Hardie Board siding, make sure the paint is applied uniformly on all the sides of the siding.
To avoid getting the paint dried, paint the siding indoors for more efficient results.
The quality of your paint would also determine how quickly your paint would dry.
Cover any surfaces that you don’t want the paint to drip on.
Although this step may require a little more time, it is worth the effort.
Make sure that any protruding taps or sections of your house that do not have to be colored are covered with adhesive or standard electrical tape.
Use smooth and straight stroke movements when painting the siding.
It is better to always start with the initial layer.
Then paint the margins and fill in the wider regions with a narrower paintbrush.
A high-quality painting roller may assist you in applying even, clear strokes.
Try to fill the paint in as much area as possible at once.
Don’t rush this process; it’s preferable to take the painting job slowly.
There is no guaranteed technique to ensure an even painting job when repainting siding that has previously been installed.
This is something to keep in mind as you or your painter begins.
Any effort you make to maintain the strokes of the paint application process will assist your refinished Hardie siding lasting another 10 to 12 years.
How to Make Your Painted Hardie Board Siding Last Longer
If you have recently painted or repainted the Hardie Boards, then using the following tips could help you extend the life of your Hardie Board sidings:
- At the beginning of every year, examine the caulk around the siding to ensure that it is free of cracks and that no repairs are required.
- Maintain your Hardie board siding on a regular basis by removing any algae or fungal growth.
- Pollen and smears from breeding birds should be washed away.
- Look for any cracks or rips on your siding so you can fix them before they expand.
Advantages of Painting Hardie Board
From increasing its durability to providing additional beauty to your house, there are numerous advantages of painting a Hardie Board Siding. Some of the advantages are:
1. Long-Term Benefits
You could achieve a long-lasting finish after applying the two new coats of the properly applied paint to your Hardie board siding.
Repainted Hardie board siding lasts an average of 15 years before it needs to be repainted again.
2. Cost-Effective
A new coat of paint would give your old, faded siding a whole new look.
Repainting a siding is less expensive than replacing the siding because it requires you to invest in new sidings and involve a greater workforce.
3. Enhance the Look of Your Exterior
Hardie Boards usually have a woody texture, and even without getting painted, the sidings could look beautiful.
However, if you want to add an aesthetic appeal to the exterior of your house, then you can repaint the Hardie board in the color of your choice and enhance the overall look of your house.
Cons of Painting Hardie Board
1. It is Difficult to Find the Old Color
There are not many disadvantages of painting a Hardie Board.
The only difficulty you may face is if you are repainting your old siding and wants the new paint to match the old color.
If you are not good at deciding when and how to paint your Hardie board, it is advisable to hire a professional paint specialist.
A painter might be able to guide you well about the colors and how to apply them uniformly to have a beautiful house exterior. It’s the most effective technique to ensure that the painted fiber cement siding looks great for years to come.
A professional painter would also respect your time and budget and would complete the project efficiently on time.
2. Repainting the Hardie Board Could Affect the Warranty
You will lose the warranty on the existing finish of the siding once you repaint your Hardie Boards.
However, you would only be losing your fifteen years color warranty and not the warranty of the entire Hardie Board material.
You may still be eligible for warranty coverage from the paint contractor you hire for your job, depending on the paint you choose.
Commonly Asked Question When Painting Hardie Board
Hardie Board is difficult, and so people often get confused before beginning the entire process. Here are a few commonly asked questions:
1. Can Hardie Board Be Polished Like Drywall?
Hardie Board is made up of fiber cement, which makes it easier to paint it, and if you get it painted correctly or professionally, the Hardie Board can look more polished and clean than the Drywall.
2. What Is The Best Paint to Use On Cement Board?
For a newly installed Hardie Board, Acrylic paint is the ideal option.
It is always advisable to use only acrylic paint instead of the oil-based coat because it can cause the surface to get rough.
3. What Is the Best Way to Paint Over Cement Board?
Hardie Board can be painted using a paintbrush or a roller.
It is best to apply thin coats to the surface for best results and let each layer dry before adding another.
Apply three to four layers of paint to ensure that the paint is sturdy and deep.
Last Thoughts
It’s critical to take the proper precautions to keep your Hardie Board siding looking good.
Proper siding care and maintenance can ensure that your paintwork and your siding last longer.
Painting Hardie Board is not difficult, but it requires precision and timely care.
Instead of replacing your old Hardie Boards, get them repainted or if you are installing a new siding, then get it painted to add to the overall aesthetic appeal to the exterior of your house and prevent it from getting damaged and lasting a long time.
