If you’re a home or property owner, builder, or designer, choosing the right paint for your building’s exterior is crucial. This is because substrates differ in their composition and requirements.
For example, cedar wood siding is soft and porous, and tends to have a better lasting performance when stained. Similarly, stucco siding is very forgiving and performs better when an acrylic latex paint is applied.
Considering there’s many different paint products on the market it can be confusing which product to use.
When dealing with Hardie board siding, a durable and low-maintenance option, finding the best paint can be a game-changer. And surprisingly, it doesn’t have to be the most expensive paint either.
In a recent conversation between 20 year house painter Paul Stein and Melissa McKenna a paint rep for Sherwin Williams, you’ll learn valuable insights on the best Sherwin Williams paint products to use for Hardie board siding homes.
Understanding the Core of Hardie Board Siding
Firstly, it’s essential to grasp the essence of Hardie board siding. As Paul Stein mentions in the interview, “Hardie, at its core, is concrete boards.”
Many homeowners may not be aware of this fact, but it’s a critical piece of information when choosing the right paint. This is because hardie board siding doesn’t always need the highest quality paint. There are many suitable options that create equal longevity and durability.
However, as Melissa McKenna emphasizes, it’s important to use the correct primer to bond effectively with the concrete and to prevent issues down the road.
Choosing the Right Primer
There’s an argument between painters whether you should use a primer or not prior to painting your hardie board siding. Melissa promotes the use of a primer coat prior to painting to make sure you get a strong bond and lasting finish.
“Depending on your builder, your home could already have pre-dipped primed Hardie board siding.” You can determine this by performing a simple water test.
If water beads up and rolls down the siding, your Hardie board may already have a primer. If it absorbs water, it likely needs priming.
For those needing to prime their Hardie board, Melissa recommends the Loxon Concrete and Masonry Primer. This primer not only ensures excellent bonding but also prevents future problems.
It’s a crucial step to ensure the longevity of your paint job because a primer is formulated to ensure maximum adhesion for the paint coatings. Primers generally seal porous surfaces that would otherwise absorb the first few coats of paint and ultimately create a better paint adhesion. This means your paint job lasts longer and protects your home from harsh environment climates.
Top Coating Options
When it comes to topcoating your Hardie board siding, Sherwin Williams offers some excellent options:
- Loxon Self-Cleaning Paint: For the highest level of protection, Melissa recommends the Loxon Self-Cleaning Paint. This innovative product features technology that allows the paint to dry at an inverted angle, making it difficult for dirt to cling to your home. Perfect for concrete and masonry, when it rains, the dirt is washed away, leaving your home looking fresh and clean. It also has a mildew-resistant formula that contains agents that inhibit the growth of mold and mildew – perfect for wet and humid environmental climates.
- A-100 100% Acrylic Coating: If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, the A-100 100% Acrylic Coating is an excellent choice. With a 100% acrylic latex paint formula, it covers well and lasts over time. It’s a trusted product and commonly used by many builders, offering durability and a beautiful finish.
Selecting the Right Trim Paint
While hardie board siding is a modern substrate applied to new homes due to its economical costs, its also common for builders to use comb face pine to trim out the surrounding surfaces of your windows, corner boards and fascias.
Comb faced pine is a popular and economical approach when trimming out new homes. It’s a light-weight and versatile softwood that often needs to be primed prior to painting. Yes, most comb faced pine boards comes pre-primed from the factory however, this primer is often cheap and tends to fail quickly.
To avoid this common problem, Melissa recommends applying a high-quality primer to the comb faced pine trim prior to applying the top coat paint product.
Melissa recommends the following approach:
- Extreme Block Alkyd Primer: Just like with MDF, you should prime the comb face pine trim with the Extreme Block Alkyd Primer. This oil-based, high-quality primer prevents the edges from swelling and ensures better paint adhesion.
- A100 Paint: If the rest of your house is coated with A100 paint, using it on the trim is an option. It provides a cohesive look and excellent durability.
- Duration Exterior Acrylic Latex: For more enhanced protection, Duration Exterior Acrylic Latex is a great trim product from Sherwin Williams. It’s a self-priming exterior acrylic latex that provides a mildew-resistance coating. It requires just one coat for repaints and two coats for new work so exterior jobs get done fast. As this product is more expensive, it can help reduce the labour costs of using a primer.
Choosing the Sheen for Trim
In the above video, Paul Stein and Melissa McKenna also discuss the sheen level for trim. While a semi-gloss finish tends to hold up well, it’s essential to consider your design preferences.
A semi-gloss finish is more resistant to scratches, cleaning, and moisture, making it a popular choice. However, some homeowners opt for a flat or satin sheen on the trim, depending on their aesthetic preferences.
Ultimately, the choice of sheen for trim comes down to design choices and the level of longevity you desire. For all-around durability and longevity, a semi-gloss for trim and satin or low luster for the body of the house is a reliable recommendation.
In conclusion, Sherwin Williams offers a range of paint products that cater to the unique needs of Hardie board siding homes. Whether you’re looking for top-notch protection, cost-effectiveness, or the perfect finish for your trim, Sherwin Williams has you covered.
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