Replies

1. 
   JeffyT | Sep 30, 2008 09:46am | #1

   Prepainted looks good, but it doesn't look like painted.

   It comes with color-match caulking and some touchup paint for face-nailed spots, field joints, and scuffs/scratches, and that stuff is definitely time consuming to work with and the color match isn't always bang-on. Also, at least in this area I can't get trim boards pre-finished, only the siding itself, so I wind up doing a certain amount of painting anyway for corners, wdws&drs trim, and so on.

   All that said, it is a nice finish on the siding, seems to weather well, and I can go start to finish in one scaffolding setup per side of the house, which is a plus for me. With a bit of careful detailing during the install, which not all siding guys are used to, it turns out looking really sharp, but in a different way.

   J

2. 
   runnerguy | Sep 30, 2008 01:11pm | #2

   I just finished my own house using prepainted Hardi. Came out looking great. The caulk is a perfect match. Minimal touch up was needed but it does have a different sheen (on one 10'X10' area however one painter got carried away and touched up "everything" but that really can't be seen unless the light hits it just right, or wrong if you will). Be careful to have the siding guys not  marr the finish when they cut or shear the pieces. As another poster said, they have to be careful.

   Here's some close up photos.

    

   Runnerguy

   
1. 
   confused2 | Oct 01, 2008 01:28am | #4

   Runnerguy, do you just calk the inside corners?

1. 
   runnerguy | Oct 01, 2008 01:50am | #5

   We caulked everywhere the Hardi hit the Azek trim. Inside corners, outside corners, openings and where the topmost piece of hardi hit the fascia.Doug

1. 
   confused2 | Oct 01, 2008 02:42am | #6

   The photo looked like on the inside corner - there is no trim, or maybe it is just very thin?

1. 
   runnerguy | Oct 01, 2008 03:06am | #7

   Oh ok, I understand. On the inside corner I used the Azek 5/4 picket profile. Same thickness as the other Azek 5/4 trim so it matched up but without having to rip a standard piece down.Runnerguy

2. 
   confused2 | Oct 01, 2008 03:16am | #8

   Thanks, I will be using the 5/4 Hardie trim, but thought maybe I could get away without it.

2. 
   Scott | Oct 01, 2008 03:44am | #9

   Do you have a reference/website for color-matched caulk? (I've got the Weiss "Jungle Palm" color).Thanks,Scott.Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.”

1. 
   runnerguy | Oct 01, 2008 01:22pm | #10

   Scott: Not really sure what you are referring to. I used one of the standard Hardi colors (Navajo Beige) and the caulk and touch up kits where sold at the same place I bought the Hardi (Southern Pacific).

   Runnerguy

1. 
   Scott | Oct 02, 2008 04:32am | #11

   Sorry, I'm clearly out of touch here, probably because I bought the siding a year ago (it's sat in storage) and am only now installing it. I bought Hardi FC lap siding with Weiss factory applied coating in the "Jungle Palm" color. Is there an Internet-order supplier of color-match caulk?Thanks,Scott.Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.”

1. 
   runnerguy | Oct 02, 2008 03:53pm | #13

   No. I really don't.

   To bojangles: Never heard of the caulk changing color. A house I did 5 years ago the caulk is still exactly the same color as the siding. Looks great.

   Runnerguy

3. 
   EricPaulson | Sep 30, 2008 04:04pm | #3

   We recently did a one car garage with hardi, and had to special order the non painted boards. The lumber yard carried several colors, but no primed.

   The price difference was silly little $ so I would wonder why someone would not used the prepainted.

   Plus it will buy you some time if you don't feel like putting a good topcoat on right away.

   [email protected]

    

    

    

    

4. 
   BoJangles | Oct 02, 2008 02:27pm | #12

   My 2 cents worth....I would never install prepainted cement board siding.  Caulk will eventually turn a different color than the siding, get moldy, nail heads that show should be painted etc. etc.

   Buy good paint, caulk, paint the siding, trim and caulk with two coats and you will have a professional looking job that will last a long time.

   Nothing is easier to paint than cement siding.