Paint or stain on hardi plank? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Jer · 01-28-2009, 01:44 PM

Hi guys, I am a siding contractor trying to decide whether to stain or paint the hardi plank on my own shop. I know paint would last longer but in the long run would prep work to re-paint (which I assume is much more work than prep work to re-stain) gradually out weigh the benefit of having to re-do paint finish less often?
I much prefer the look of stain over paint but I dont want to make the wrong choice and create a maintenance issue that I will probably have to live with for a long time.
Any feedback much appreciated!

premierpainter · 01-28-2009, 03:45 PM

Paint it with Duration Satin two coats and you will have a great finish for about the next 15 years. Hardie will not peel. Stain will not work....plain and simple

capital city · 01-28-2009, 03:55 PM

I agree with SW Duration, to be honest I didnt know that you could stain Hardi board, never seen it done. But there is not much staining around here.

precisionbuild · 01-28-2009, 06:01 PM

Hardie can't be stained.

Jer · 01-29-2009, 10:31 AM

Actually hardi can be stained. In fact it is offered as an option by hardi in their pre finished product line. The scary thing is they only warranty the pre stained material 7 years as opposed to 25yrs. for pre painted.
The pre stained material really has a nice deep woodgrain look.

tomstruble · 01-29-2009, 11:41 AM

hardi can be stained lot like doing a fiberglass door i would guess.The duration is an excellent suggestion also i think it has a lifetime warranty for what that's worth

Kgmz · 01-29-2009, 11:43 AM

If by stain, you mean a transparant cedar stained look. then yes it can.

This is what we use.
http://www.superdeck.com/masonsselect/6700spec.htm

tomstruble · 01-29-2009, 11:46 AM

paint would be easier to touch up around a shop i would think

Bender · 01-29-2009, 01:06 PM

Paint it, like Premier said

You need to apply 2 coats for warranty as well.

Jer · 01-29-2009, 02:19 PM

Thanks KGMZ for that link.
Have you seen good results with that type of finish? Every body paints the hardi around here so I havent been able to look at a job that is more than two years old.
At two years it does look great still, I wonder about after five or ten.
Am I correct in assuming that re staining would be easier than re painting labor wise?
Thanks to all

nEighter · 01-29-2009, 03:34 PM

I have never seen any paint that has lasted a lifetime, so don't buy duration for that fact alone (easy for manufacturer to back out of warranty) I would go with an elastomeric paint that is suited for concrete/brick/masonry substrates.

tomstruble · 01-29-2009, 04:05 PM

i was just stating the warranty, wasn't assuming anything.The hardi is a very stable product and duration is way flexible enough

nEighter · 01-29-2009, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomstruble

i was just stating the warranty, wasn't assuming anything.The hardi is a very stable product and duration is way flexible enough

I wasn't trying to be a jerk.. was more saying don't buy it for their "warranty" cause like anyone they can weasel out of it

world llc · 01-29-2009, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jer

Hi guys, I am a siding contractor trying to decide whether to stain or paint the hardi plank on my own shop. I know paint would last longer but in the long run would prep work to re-paint (which I assume is much more work than prep work to re-stain) gradually out weigh the benefit of having to re-do paint finish less often?
I much prefer the look of stain over paint but I dont want to make the wrong choice and create a maintenance issue that I will probably have to live with for a long time.
Any feedback much appreciated!

hardi recomends a solid color stain

jdframer · 01-29-2009, 05:41 PM

If you google james hardie siding they have some pretty specific instructions on applications and coverings and they do state that it should only be painted not stained

world llc · 01-30-2009, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdframer

If you google james hardie siding they have some pretty specific instructions on applications and coverings and they do state that it should only be painted not stained

if that is so (i'll check in to it) then they changed somthing. we have been staining hardi for the last 7 years... when we first saw the product i looked into the manf. specs and it stated premium solid color stain.

world llc · 01-30-2009, 06:40 PM

well it does say no stain... but i can only interpret that as wood stain and not as an acrylic solid color stain. maybe they found it's been failing? i gotta call my rep on monday and get to the bottom of this.

precisionbuild · 01-30-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdframer

If you google james hardie siding they have some pretty specific instructions on applications and coverings and they do state that it should only be painted not stained

That's what I originally stated. You have to go with the manufacturer on these issues, not what "can" be done.

gideond · 01-31-2009, 06:58 AM

The last time I reads specs on the product it stated Acrylic paint or Acrylic solid stain. No oils, and no mention of s/t stains. That was a couple of years ago so they may have changed it. I can't see why an acrylic solid stain would have any issues at all. Sikkens RSF is made for such applications. In some cases I'd rather trust a reputable coatings company like Sikkens that makes a product to handle this situation, than the manufacturer of the siding that can't possibly take into consideration all the coatings out there that may be applied to the siding.

tomstruble · 01-31-2009, 12:55 PM

well you can get it prestained wood look so the must be some way of doing it