Our house has Hardie board siding and the previous owners never repainted it. How is painting fibre cement different from painting regular wood siding?

Painting Hardie board (fibre cement) siding differs from wood in several important ways, and getting the approach right matters for longevity — especially in Metro Vancouver's wet climate. Fibre cement is more dimensionally stable than wood, meaning it doesn't expand and contract as much with moisture changes, so paint adhesion tends to last longer when properly applied.

The key difference is in the prep. Fibre cement is alkaline, so it requires a primer specifically formulated for high-pH substrates. Using a standard wood primer can lead to adhesion failure within a few years. If the factory primer is still intact and in good shape, a light sanding and cleaning may be all that's needed before applying two coats of 100% acrylic latex paint. If the surface is chalky or the original coating has deteriorated, a bonding primer should be applied first.

Unlike wood, fibre cement doesn't need to be sealed on the back side, but all cut edges and joints should be caulked with a high-quality polyurethane or silicone-modified caulk to prevent moisture wicking. In Vancouver, where we get prolonged rain exposure from October through April, this step is critical.

The paint itself should be a premium exterior acrylic with good flexibility and mildew resistance. Sherwin-Williams Duration or Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior are popular professional choices here because they handle our damp conditions well.

For your next step, check a few areas of your siding by pressing painter's tape firmly against the surface and pulling it off — if old paint comes away with the tape, a full prime-and-paint job is needed rather than just a recoat.

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