Does Fiber Cement Siding Need Painting

Fiber cement siding is special in that it can maintain a painted finish without a primer base.

Does fiber cement siding need painting.

And it s a great candidate for exterior painting whether to correct a failing paint job or to simply change the color of the siding. Hardie plank is also called fiber cement siding. This handsome material is a high density combination of you guessed it fiber the cellulosic variety and cement plus sand. Unfinished styles on the other hand should be painted shortly after installation.

Fiber cement siding has to be painted or stained. Products like hardiplank fiber cement siding will require regular painting to maintain their beautiful appearance unlike other sidings such as brick or insulated vinyl. This is due to the fact that fiber cement does not soak in the painting products like cedar pine or other wood siding products. As a low maintenance material fiber cement siding doesn t require frequent painting.

The siding is durable termite resistant water resistant and non combustible. More and more homes and townhouses are popping up around the country with fiber cement siding. For example do not use an oil based paint. Whatever your reason you will eventually want to repaint your beautiful james hardie exterior.

What to know before painting the exterior of your home if you decide it s time to repaint your siding plan to use two coats of paint even if you re repainting it the same color. This can be done before it s installed either by the manufacturer or by a paint shop hired by the lumberyard where you order the siding or after it s up. This version allows you to paint the fiber cement siding in whatever color scheme you choose after installation. When applied correctly paint adheres very well to fiber cement and in ideal conditions could last for decades.

The good news is hardie siding is easy to repaint. Fiber cement siding often comes pretreated with a primer base. For exposed composite siding it is important to use a primer that matches the correct ph level. Do not use improper materials or paint the use of improper paint on unprimed fiber cement can result in undesirable effects.

It also retains its shape with minimal bowing or warping. Manufacturers charge about 1 per square foot and offer a 15 year warranty but color choice is limited and you get only one coat. Acrylic paint is best suited for fiber cement stone and stucco exteriors. There are two common versions for use on homes apartment buildings or commercial structures.

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. Still a single coat of acrylic primer can prolong the life of the painted finish. If you purchase prefinished fiber cement siding you don t need to worry about painting it when it s time to install. Some factory painted siding panels are available and come with up to 15 year warranties that cover peeling cracking and chipping.