Painting Fiber Cement Lap Siding

Fiber cement may be a manmade material but the way that it s formed gives it the appearance of a natural wood grain.

Painting fiber cement lap siding.

We have rarely seen this material in a worn friable condition but should that occur one might paint the surface also to stop fiber shedding and to preserve the material. Using the proper materials and paint for fiber cement or hardiplank siding a very good latex primer should be used to prepare the surface for paint. Brand new fiber cement siding arrives prefinished factory primed or unprimed. This home utilizes fiber cement in both horizontal lap siding and in natural looking shakes both stained to give them appearance of real wood.

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. Acrylic paint is best suited for fiber cement stone and stucco exteriors. 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. Step 1 clean the fiber cement siding in order to properly seal the fiber cement siding it needs to be completely free of dust and debris.

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. The siding is durable termite resistant water resistant and non combustible. Do not prime the siding it comes pre primed use 100 acrylic paint. This handsome material is a high density combination of you guessed it fiber the cellulosic variety and cement plus sand.

After your surfaces are primed it is strongly encouraged to use acrylic exterior paint for your home. More and more homes and townhouses are popping up around the country with fiber cement siding. It also retains its shape with minimal bowing or warping. Caulk transitions where fiber cement meets trim.

If there s material left on the fiber cement siding it can cause voids in the painting which gives an access point for water. Make sure the fiber cement is free of dirt and mildew. While more fiber cement siding manufacturers have popped up in recent years unlike other home related materials such as flooring or tile fiber cement is not a market that lends itself to small or even medium scale manufacturers. Use a quick dry flexible paintable caulk that is designed to bond to fiber cement and your trim material.

Fiber cement siding has to be painted or stained. Manufacturers charge about 1 per square foot and offer a 15 year warranty but color choice is limited and you get only one coat. Fiber cement siding is a home siding material that is attractive paintable and is also fire resistant. Place the fiber cement siding on top of the sawhorses and brush away with a broom.

Painting cement asbestos siding or non asbestos fiber cement siding is in part a cosmetic decision. Factory primed siding has already been primed by the manufacturer so you ll just need to add one or two coats of paint.