James Hardie® siding has long been the number one siding brand in America. Millions of homes in the United States boast the durable, beautiful, and low maintenance materials. When looking to make a change on your home’s exterior, Hardie siding gives you increased curb appeal and value. Its longevity and resistance to the elements make it a great option for any homeowner, but especially those of us in New Jersey.
At American Home Contractors, we believe that your siding is a big investment and should last the lifetime of your home. With our ever-changing New Jersey weather, Hardie siding is durable and Engineered for Climate®. So, if you are ready to install Hardie siding, what color and siding option should you choose? James Hardie offers two forms of its siding — primed boards and boards coated with ColorPlus® technology. While both are quality choices, here are some pointers that may help you decide which siding is better suited for your home.
James Hardie’s ColorPlus technology bakes multiple coats of color onto your siding for a perfect finish and long-lasting color. There are many reasons to choose this form of siding.
Less work is involved in the siding installation process, as the product arrives primed and painted. It simply needs to be installed (by a professional siding company who is trained in Hardie siding products).More coats of paint are seamlessly applied to ColorPlus siding by factory machines (they are baked on). Whereas, fewer coats are typically applied when done by hand.Faster installation process accompanies the lessened workload, so your siding can protect your home sooner!Longer color lifespans, on average, are a result of the baked-on technology. Paint that is exposed to the sun inevitably fades over time. ColorPlus technology is designed to resist harmful UV rays, keeping your exterior vibrant for longer.A positive environmental impact also accompanies the product. Due to the in-factory painting process and the need for fewer paint jobs, ColorPlus siding eliminates onsite volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are present in paint, thus helping the environment.No waiting on weather when it comes to ColorPlus installation. Because the material does not need onsite painting, it is ready to install the minute it arrives, which means no wait for enough sunny days to complete the entire painting process.No extra paint mess remains a side effect of the pre-painted boards. Without the need to paint on site, you won’t experience the headache of having to cover shrubs and plants or deal with cleanup from paint spills. And you don’t have to worry about getting paint on your deck, porch, exterior stone, or brick.The 15-year limited warranty on ColorPlus technology covers the paint and labor. It protects your paint in the event of peeling, cracking, or chipping. Hardie primed siding does not have a warranty covering color.
Painting Hardie siding can also provide a great option for your home. In fact, painting Hardie siding provides many benefits that ColorPlus does not.
More color selections are available with primed boards. While the ColorPlus boards come in only 33 preset colors, your options are almost innumerable with primed boards, meaning you can get the exact look for your home that you desire.Availability can be an issue with ColorPlus boards, as many have to be special ordered due to a limit in colors, but not with primed boards. They are very rarely out of stock or on backorder, so you can get them immediately.Easily covering installation mistakes remains a simpler task with the primed boards, as your leftover paint color will perfectly match your siding for touch-ups. However, hiring a qualified contractor can also help eliminate this problem. Caulk that is used in the home’s seams can also be painted the same color as your siding to help mask its appearance.Better looking touchups can be achieved with the primed boards, for the same reason as coving up installation mistakes. Chips or scratches in the paint can be perfectly matched to your personal choice of paint for the primed boards.Slightly more affordable than ColorPlus boards, primed boards can save you money. However, there is not a large difference in price when it comes to painting Hardie siding yourself versus the pre-painted siding. While primed boards are cheaper, you must purchase paint for an entire exterior. Installation costs will typically remain the same but keep in mind you also have to hire a crew to paint the boards.
The answer of which siding option is best will vary from homeowner to homeowner, but for a majority of the population, ColorPlus is the way to go. An easier installation with a perfect paint job that lasts for decades is tough to beat. And that’s exactly what ColorPlus will get you. Hardie’s ColorPlus technology really is a top-notch product on the market.
With both siding options, James Hardie provides a 30-year limited warranty. The siding installation should be completed in accordance with James Hardie’s standards for the warranty to remain in effect. Without proper professional installation, the warranty will be voided.
About Priming
James Hardie will ship your siding to you or your contractor, primed and ready to be painted. Although the James Hardie website states that their factory primer can be top-coated within 180 days, most professional painters will tell you that a fresh coat of primer makes everything better because you just never really know how long ago the product was actually primed and how long it was hanging out at the factory before shipping.
We live in the south and Ive seen both put on houses. Both are put on and then painted (so neither is the final color). Whats the difference in these two versions? Someone I know said some people here who used the mustardy yellow were having paint coverage issues and to see if we could specify getting the gray. Before I specify, Id like to know the difference/ Thanks! Related Stories
When the color you want for your Hardie siding isn’t available
The obvious solution is to paint it, but before jumping on that train, it’s important to understand a few things about this product beforehand.
Hardie fiber cement siding is an excellent product but has different properties than typical cedar siding. Fiber cement has a higher PH value (more alkaline), which means it can be very tough on the paint that covers it. So you need to use a paint that’s engineered to work with masonry products.
The best way to paint Hardie siding is to do it in a controlled environment before it’s installed on your home. This is what James Hardie does at the factory and you can have this professionally done for you too.
The key advantages of machine painting Hardie Board prior to installation:
FAQ
Does Yellow Hardie board need to be primed?
We know that Hardie comes pre-primed and they say you have 180 days to apply your top coat, but we usually opt to prime before painting just in case the primer is older than we think it is.
What color is Hardie primer?
Is Hardie panel primed?
