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Discussion Forum

Painting Hardiplank

| Posted in General Discussion on January 19, 1999 05:21am

*
We’re applying siding to our new house starting in January. I requested Hardiplank. Due to the cold weather, the contractor tells me he can’t paint the siding until April. I want him to order primed Hardiplank and we’ll paint when it’s warmer. According to the contractor, unpainted Haridplank only has a 90 day warrenty and he wants to install vinyl siding. I’ve tried to contact James Hardy with no success. Has anyone had experience installing Hardiplank in winter?

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Replies

  1. Montana | Dec 15, 1998 07:50pm | #1

    *
    I believe primed HardiPlank comes with a longer warranty when unpainted, such as 6 months. Stay with the HardiPlank, even if it means painting it before it goes up in a heated garage, etc.

    1. Steve_Turner | Dec 17, 1998 06:41am | #2

      *Try http://www.jameshardie.com to reach James "Hardy". Good luck!

      1. Erik_Klaproth | Dec 18, 1998 06:24am | #3

        *Hi...I installed Hardiplank on my house, over a 6 month period (worked outside when nice, inside when not.)Althoughj they don't recommend it, I don't think that weather will actually hurt Hardiplank. One friend put it on, and hasn't painted it yet..3 yrs later...and it looks just the same.MAKE SURE..that when the contractor does paint it that he uses a good quality primer first.

  2. Guest_ | Dec 19, 1998 06:09am | #4

    *
    order the hardiplank factory primed and wait until warmer weather to put on the finish coats.... make sure to do the caulking now...to keep out he spring rains..

    erid

  3. rob_ | Dec 28, 1998 07:21pm | #5

    *
    Order your Hardiplank pre-primed and pre-painted. I just finished installing ABT cement siding (a Hardiplank competitor) and had it pre-painted. As I recall it was 24 cents a square foot. I live in the Annapolis, MD area. Talk to your supplier. If they don't have pre-painters call or email the Hardiplank distributor. You can find them on the web. They can point you to a painting place. Good luck.

  4. Guest_ | Jan 05, 1999 11:14am | #6

    *
    I agree with the majority; install the stuff, paint it when it warms up. Been there, done that. It's a great product. Takes paint nicely, looks great, lasts forever. More or less.

    Brad

  5. Ted_ | Jan 09, 1999 10:35pm | #7

    *
    What are the advantages of HardiPlank over vinyl other than material cost. I am doing a hardiPlank job now and the labor costs are substantially higher than installing vinyl. Thanks for any comments or suggestions

    1. Seamus_ | Jan 10, 1999 12:58am | #8

      *Another reason to buy Hardi-plank factory primed, James Hardie and your local distributor have a list of paint manufacturers that will provide a warranty for their top coats if used over the prime coat provided by James Hardie.

      1. Jeff_Patrick | Jan 11, 1999 09:00am | #9

        *Has anyone used Hardiplank in a cold winter environment like Anchorage and NOT painted it, ever? Did it survive? Why shouldn't it, it's concrete?

        1. m_duval | Jan 12, 1999 07:28am | #10

          *I started re-siding my house with Hardiplank this past fall. Priming (including back) plus staining with Cabot Stain took place onsite. Dewalt makes a very inexpensive (20 dollars) blade for cutting. I bought 2 but can do the job with one. Cuts like butter and little dust. Anyway, my only regret was not to order the stuff pre-primed and possibly pre-stained. It was alot of work in the yard and I believe little cost savings. Looks GREAT though.

          1. JPR | Jan 12, 1999 07:51am | #11

            *Can you be more specific on the 420 DeWalt blade you are using? I have used carbide blades before but they worn rather quickly. Have thought about Dewalt diamond tipped blade but it's over $100 for chop saw blade.

          2. Dave_Magliacane | Jan 12, 1999 09:44am | #12

            *I purchased Hardiplank for the siding of my house,never even knew pre-prime was an option, and I'm a painter! I have a huge garage, so I built two large racks out of 2x4 and laid the planks on the racks. (actually leaned the racks against the wall. I used a space heater to remove the chill and moisture and applied one coat of solid stain (acrylic)by airless spray. The planks were installed over the winter, and I put the finish coat on after it was up. That way you can either paint the nail heads, or fill and paint them.Good Luck!

  6. Guest_ | Jan 12, 1999 07:29pm | #13

    *
    I thought this could be blind nailed - under the lap? You had to have nails visible? What width?

    1. Guest_ | Jan 13, 1999 01:16am | #14

      *I have seen a fiber-cement siding on TV that was a clapboard, but James Hardie does not make a clapboard (4 1/4 exposure) Does anyone know who does?-Rob

      1. Guest_ | Jan 13, 1999 02:28am | #15

        *Rob - I saw a recent announcement by GP (or was that LP - back cover of JLC that came yesterday) they were now marketing a line of fibre-cem and that another company has stopped.But I'm really curious about your attaching a specific width to the term clapboard. I generally attach the term clapboard to horizontal boards that overlap regardless of width or profile. Which does raise the question about how much it would cost for a 2 3/4" or so exposure with fibre-cem - since narrowest seems to be about a "by 8" width. Hardie has a decent web site by the way.(GP=Georgia Pacific; LP = Louisiana Pacific)

        1. Guest_ | Jan 13, 1999 08:14pm | #16

          *Around here we would referr to hardie products as "lap" siding. Though usually it is done with wood. Typically large exposures 6" or 8". Usually done with non-tapered boards. When I say clapboard I am referring to a tapered board 3/8 or 1/2 thick at the thick end. Only about 6" wide total, so 4 1/4" exposure ends up being the norm. Hardie's website doesn't specifically show dimensions and textures of their products. They take a picture of the house with the siding on it. From the picture I am guessing the exposure is quite large.-Rob

  7. Erik_Kolb | Jan 13, 1999 11:40pm | #17

    *
    I just put on order some 6-1/4" pre-primed HardiPlank which will have an approximate 5" exposure.

  8. Guest_ | Jan 14, 1999 12:31am | #18

    *
    Rob - Thanks. Don't know whether I change from referring to all horizontal lapped siding boards as claps or not.

    They must have changed the Hardie web site for when I was there a few months back, I clicked on the pictures I thing and got all sorts of detailed specs on sizes, textures, close-up photos, painting and installation recommendations, etc.

  9. mduval | Jan 14, 1999 09:34am | #19

    *
    It's the DeWalt DW4712/4712B 7 1/2" circular saw blade. It says Hardiplank right on the blade. I bought them at Home Depot (of all places) for $ 19.99. I know what you mean, I had this 100 dollar blade in my hand and was cringing because I'm a home owner siding his house. I saw it out of the corner of my eye. I bought 2 thinking they wouldn't last long but I'd imagine I could do several houses with one.

    1. Louis_Fernandez | Jan 14, 1999 09:56am | #20

      *MDuval, I'm a professional and that DeWalt blade has lasted through several hardiplank jobs. It does a better job than some of the more expensive blades we've tried. You are right on the money!Louis

      1. Louis_Fernandez | Jan 14, 1999 10:07am | #21

        *MDuval, where do you find unprimed hardiplank? I live in Houston and I have not seen unprimed hardiplank. I don't think my suppliers even carry the unprimed variety. I don't want to buy any but I'm curious.Louis

        1. mduval | Jan 15, 1999 07:18am | #22

          *Louis: I'm from upstate NY and read an article in a trade magazine about fiber cement siding. Sounded like good stuff and not much more than vinyl. I called around and only one builder supply carried the stuff (change comes slow in the Northeast). Cost about a buck a square foot unprimed. The builder supply house carried the stuff in stock, and there you have it. I think an additional 12 cents per SF per application of finish.

          1. LES_HENRY | Jan 19, 1999 05:21am | #24

            *I use abrasive jig saw blades (Rem blades) to cut fiber cement siding. They are inexpensive ($1.50), produce little dust, are quick, and give the ability to cut curves. Marking is best performed with a ball point pen, they keep their point and show up bolder against the grey colored surface. Ends of boards are drilled with 1/8 inch carbide bit drill and all along the top edge if perferred.

  10. R_French | Jan 19, 1999 05:21am | #23

    *
    We're applying siding to our new house starting in January. I requested Hardiplank. Due to the cold weather, the contractor tells me he can't paint the siding until April. I want him to order primed Hardiplank and we'll paint when it's warmer. According to the contractor, unpainted Haridplank only has a 90 day warrenty and he wants to install vinyl siding. I've tried to contact James Hardy with no success. Has anyone had experience installing Hardiplank in winter?

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