Behind the Scenes: What was Revamped? Why? How much did it cost? We answer it all!
Many of you have asked us for more information about this head-to-toe transformation: what was revamped? Where is the house located? How much did it cost? Etc.
We thought it would be fun to reach out directly to Kelly, the infamous homeowner herself, and to the local Spray-Net franchisee who oversaw the project to give you the extra details you’re looking for!
Introducing Kelly, owner of the most popular Spray-Net transformation… ever.
Spray-Net:Tell us about yourself: where do you live? What do you do for a living? Kelly: My husband and I were born and raised in Calgary, AB. and both of us work for ENMAX, an electric services company.
SN:How did you initially hear about Spray-Net? K: We first heard about Spray-Net from a brochure that was delivered to our mailbox at our house.
SN: Why did you contact Spray-Net? What was the reason for your revamp? K: From the day we purchased our home, we didn’t like the outside 1970’s look and color. We wanted to consider all our options before remodeling the outside of our unattractive house, and keep our cost within our renovation budget.
Spray-Net: Did you also look into replacing the surfaces you wanted to revamp? Kelly: We considered replacing our aluminum siding with Hardie Board or Stucco, but it was too costly.
SN: What convinced you to work with Spray-Net? What stood out to you about our service? K: When we first met up with the Spray-Net rep in Calgary, Dave Martin, at our home, there was no pressure in just getting a quote. Dave explained how the Spray-Net product works on the siding and brick, plus the variety of modern colors that are offered. We were sold.
SN: What impressed you most about your Spray-Net experience? K: I found Dave and Younes, the team lead, and the crew to be extremely professional in all their dealing with us, plus we were very pleased with the overall “personal touch” experience.
SN: How long did the revamp take to complete? K: At first, we were told the revamp would take only a couple of days. We ended up with rainy weather that set the crew back about a week. However, Dave was in full contact with us every step of the way.
SN: What do you have to say about the final transformation of your home? K: Spray-Net has transformed our ugly house into a modern updated home, which I can be proud to come home to at half the cost of replacing the siding.
SN: Did any of your neighbours take notice? Did you receive any compliments? K: Absolutely! My neighbours were curious on the Spray-Net process and complimented our house and how beautiful it turned out at the end.
SN: Would you recommend Spray-Net to your family and friends? If so, why? K: We transformed our home just over a year ago, and still get comments on “How they can’t believe it’s the same home” I would not hesitate to recommend Dave and his crew from Spray Net, and their first-class service.
Some background information on the project by Dave Martin, from Spray-Net Calgary
How old was the house? 1970’s
In what state was the surface? Faded and discolored
What did you revamp? Siding (on all 4 sides), brick, all windows, front & garage doors, as well as soffits
How much did it cost? $15,000, which covered every aspect of the project: surface preparation, masking & protecting all surfaces, paint application and our 15-year warranty against peeling.
On average, how much can people expect to save when revamping their home with Spray-Net Calgary instead of replacing? Depending on the surface, people will save anywhere from 50% to 66%.
Every year, Spray-Net organizes a nationwide contest where participants can win the revamp of their dreams. Last year, the winner of our contest came from Edmonton, AB. This year? We got to visit the Prairies: welcome to Saskatoon, SK! Given the popularity of stucco in the region, it is no surprise that the winner’s home was covered by the same material. Chances are if you live around there or in Western Canada, you too have stucco siding. And it is likely that you are facing some of the same issues, such as stucco cracks.
If you think your stucco is beyond repair, you might want to read Bonnie’s story!
The 2017 Winner
Bonnie could be your mother. She could be mine. Her children are now adults and have left the nest many years ago. Her house was built in 1976, and like many others in Saskatoon, she opted for stucco siding. The timeless material has the reputation of being sturdy and long-lasting, which – considering how chilly it can get in the winter in the Prairies – makes a lot of sense. Despite its durability, however, stucco is not invincible. Regular wear-and-tear means hairline cracks, and unfortunately, it gets worse with time. The good news for Bonnie: it wasn’t too late.
The House
After over 40 harsh winters, the stucco siding was starting to show heavy signs of fatigue: cracking, and even pieces falling off. Bonnie had been thinking about renovating her house for a while but thought replacing her stucco was the only solution. After doing some extensive research for the perfect contractor, she realized that most of them were just not interested in doing anything with old stucco. She was ready to give up, until she came across an ad for Spray-Net on her Facebook feed. She clicked the link and started to look further into it. She thought to herself: “maybe there is a solution after all!” Bonnie then decided to book a free consultation with Cari and Don from Spray-Net Saskatoon, she figured she had nothing to lose. The two local specialists explained to her how the weather-adjustable elastomeric coating could not only fix the stucco cracks, but also reinforce the overall structure by preventing future water damage and infiltration. She was sold.
The Contest
Shortly after booking her project, Bonnie received an email from Cari telling her about the Revamp of Your Dreams Contest. By entering, she could win a free transformation. She didn’t really bother with it: “With all the people entering the contest in Canada, my chances were pretty slim.” A week later, she figured it wouldn’t hurt to fill out the form. And so she did, without expecting much. She actually forgot about it… until she heard someone ringing the doorbell. Bonnie wasn’t expecting company, and when she opened the door, Cari and Don were standing there with some balloons and a cake. After a brief moment of confusion, she was told she had won the contest. She couldn’t believe it: “I’m finally going to get my house transformed!”
The Transformation
“During the process, Cam and his crew were amazing” Bonnie recalls, “They were very professional and put up with all my questions”. Every now and then, her dog would come get some attention from the workers, and they were more than happy to comply: a little scratch on the ears or a little pat on the head and back to work… Now that’s a dream job! “When it was finished, there was nothing left behind,” she says, “everything was cleaned up and taken with them”. Bonnie loved the transformation: “The end result was more than I had hoped for,” and she wasn’t the only one: “I have received so many compliments on the revamp and the colour choice!”
Spray-Net, as seen by Bonnie
“I would totally recommend Spray-Net to anyone interested in transforming their home. I must add that Cari and Don are the reason I went with Spray-Net. The company already had my interest, but they were the true selling point. They are an amazing couple and go far beyond to make sure the customer is well informed and confident, with absolutely no pressure to sign.”
A last word? “Thank you, Spray-Net, for the beautiful transformation!”
When’s the next contest?
We’ve recently reached 20,000 fans on Facebook and thus have decided to create a contest to thank you all. There are three Home Depot gift cards to win ($200, $100 and $50 respectively)! Click here to enter!
And there is our referral program. Whenever someone you referred to us books a consultation, you get a $25 gift card to Amazon! Learn more about it now!
Your siding is starting to fade, but there is no need to panic: it is a normal consequence of time. Wear and tear occurs, especially in places with extreme weather conditions. You have carefully examined your options and decided to paint, rather than replace your siding. You want to save on an otherwise very costly project, but you want to do it in style. So here you are, looking at your house, trying to picture which color would work best for your siding. Trying to match it to your roof is a daunting task, indeed. There are many things to take into consideration before picking the perfect color, but we are here to guide you through the process.
1. Identify the Permanent Features of Your Home
First things first, before you start looking at paint colors, you need to be aware of the elements that cannot be changed. The permanent features of your home include the roof, the surrounding landscape, and the neighborhood. Yup, even the things that are not part of your house need to be taken into consideration.
The Roof: Your exterior siding is starting to fade, but your roof is in an amazing shape? So you won’t replace it. Your roof is, therefore, the number one feature you need to take into consideration when picking an exterior siding color.
The Surrounding Landscape: Harmony is key. Your home might have a front lawn, and a backyard; it might be located in the woods, or on a cliff. These elements need to be evaluated before picking the right color for your home. Paint your house green, and Mother Nature could make it disappear. But if your goal is camouflage, then why not.
The Neighborhood: Whether you like it or not, your neighborhood is another quasi-permanent feature of your home. Consequently, and while you want to remain creative, you also need to respect your neighbors. Visually, your house needs to integrate nicely with the ones around it. Want to stand out? Think about accents and architectural details. You can also paint your house in fuchsia pink but it’s at your own risk!
2. Identify the Style of Your Home
Second, it is essential for you to understand the type of house you own. Different eras mean different architectural trends. Different locations mean different materials. Once you’ve identified when and how your house was built, you’ve moved one step closer to matching your roof and siding colors.
Location: You know when your house was built. That’s good, but not quite sufficient. The architecture trends in British Columbia are different from the ones in a colder province such as Saskatchewan and remember that weather has a huge influence on the type of siding you will find in a region.
Come to a Conclusion: You got the when, you got the where, you should now have the what. To make it simple, there are really 4 main types of houses out there:
Historical
Country
Classic
Modern
3. Understand Basic Design Rules
Third and final step in the process of matching roof and siding colors to completely rejuvenate your home is understanding the power of colors. Of course, you need to pick a color that speaks to you, but you also need to be aware of the implications that your decision will have. Do you really want to rush such an important process? No, you don’t.
Color & Space: Your house is not particularly big but you love dark colors? You should probably know that painting your siding like that will make your home look even smaller. And, you guessed it, the opposite is true too. Pick a light color, and your house will look much bigger!
Don’t Overmatch: A rule of thumb for you: your siding should not exactly match your roofing color. Rather, it should complement it. In other words, stay in the same color scheme but pick a different color. A last tip: keep in mind that your roof should generally be darker than your siding.
Research the Trends: It’s no secret, dark sidings are trendy. However, not all trends – even the ones you love – are worth following for your house. You need to maximize the potential of your most-prized possession, and your gut instinct might not have your best interests at heart!
4. Pick a Color
Finally, you are ready to pick a color for your siding that will match your roof. To recap, here are the steps you need to follow in order to make an educated decision:
Identify the permanent features of your home: the roof, the surrounding landscape, and the neighbors’ houses.
Understand the style of your home: the era it was built in, and the location to understand what it is made of. Not all sidings can be painted in any color!
Design etiquette matters: the color you pick will have a visual effect on your home. Know what your end goal and start harnessing the full potential of your house!
Want to learn how to paint a door? Follow our guide!
If you are looking for a way to learn how to paint a door, you’ve come to the right place. From a technical standpoint, many things can go wrong. The secret to a good painting job is in the preparation.
Step 1 – Preparation
Start by removing the lock and door handle. If it is a Baldwin handle, do not remove. Keep all the pieces together so none are lost during the process
Remove the hinges by placing a screwdriver at the bottom of the hinge and hit it with a hammer to move the pin out of place.
Once that is done, use a 9 in 1 tool to finish the job. Have someone hold the door as you repeat the process for the other two pins. Have them keep the door level with their foot.
Once all pins are out, you can remove the door. If you don’t feel comfortable moving the door alone, please ask for help.
Place two stands in a « V » formation before taking the door out. This will allow the stands to not stick out and will make it easier to tape and sand the door. Place the door on the stands and make sure it is secure and in place.
Begin the preparation of the door by removing the weather strip.
Step 2 – Sanding the Door
Begin by sanding the door with 320-grade sandpaper to ensure the door is smooth to the touch. Scotch bright all the hard to reach areas thoroughly.
Step 3 – Removing the Dust
After blowing off the dust with your HVLP compressor, pass a tack cloth to remove any fine particles that may remain on the door.
Step 4 – Cleaning with Acetone
Use a clean rag with acetone to finish the preparation of the door.
Do not pour acetone into the rag on a driveway or on grass, use a bucket or cover to protect the surface you are on.
Always close the cap of the acetone bottle to keep the acetone from evaporating quickly due to the heat.
Keep acetone always out of direct sunlight or anything hot.
When using acetone, always use a filtered mask and gloves.
Always use clean parts of the rag when acetoning the door.
Once one wipe of the rag is done, use another clean section of the rag for the next wipe or else you will be spreading around the dust on the surface of the door.
Step 5 – Removing the Dents
Spot the dents and circle them with a pencil.
Step 6 – Preparing your Putty
Make sure the putty plate is flat and smooth. If it is not, sand it down with a strong grade sand paper such as 120.
Add about 5 to 10 percent hardener to the putty and mix thoroughly cutting into the mixture. Continue for about 15 seconds until the mixture has changed colour.
Mix the putty only right before you are ready to apply as it dries quite rapidly.
Apply a decent amount of putty to the dent making sure the hole is completely covered and then smooth it out using a spatula. Wait for the putty to dry for about 5-10 minutes, and sand with a 220-grade sand paper. Remember to keep the sander flat to evenly sand the surface.
Continue to sand but with a 400-grade sandpaper to smooth out the edges. Blow off the dust again with the HVLP compressor and use a tack cloth to clean the rest of the surface. Use high build primer, shake the can until the beads stop making a sound.
Apply a thin tack coat onto the areas that are exposed by bare aluminum or onto the putty which has been applied. Wait 5 minutes and apply a second coat. Then wait an additional 10 minutes for the primer to completely cure.
Step 7 – Painting the Door
Sand the primer lightly with 400-grade sandpaper. Use a tack cloth to remove any dust particles that may remain on the surface. For doors with bare plastic surfaces, apply plastic primer.
Shake the can and apply thin coats to ensure the entire surface has been covered. Place the door into the mobile spray booth and plug in the spray booth. Always double check the taping before you start to spray, and then start by spraying the edges and the hard-to-reach areas of the door. Apply multiple tack coats.
Once done, check for missing paint and make sure the surface is smooth.
Apply caulking around the door frame and reinstall the door.
Reassemble the door handle and test the mechanism to make sure everything is in working order.
Frederic Lantin lives in Châteauguay with his daughter, Rosalie. This single dad has what most kids would call a dream job: he works at La Ronde, the famous amusement park in Montreal.
Having recently settled in the new family home – they moved in April -, Frederic quickly realized that despite some obvious potential, the house needed a few touch-ups to truly reach its anticipated impact. He wanted something that looked like him, something more masculine.
He started off with the interior. His priority? The fireplace. Frederic thought it would be an easy and quick project, something even an amateur could do. It ended up taking him 12 hours. He enjoyed the transformation very much, a lot more than the complexity and length of the job itself. He figured it was time to take the renovation of his home to the next level, that is to say to take care of the exterior… But this time, he wouldn’t do it himself! And so he went on Google and started doing some research. That’s how he learned about the Spray-Net services. After reading several articles and watching a few videos on the company’s YouTube channel, he decided to book an estimate.
Patrick – the local sales rep – addressed Frederic’s concerns and reassured him. The single dad thus decided to carry on and transform his home. He admits it, “the increase in property value was a good sales argument.” Furthermore, he was impressed with the efficiency of the team and its quickness to apply the coatings on the various surfaces needed to complete the project – whether it was brick, windows or aluminum siding -. Another positive point? The project was completed in just one day. It would have taken him days, if not weeks, to do it on his own.
Frederic enjoyed the energy and the precision of the Spray-Net team. Dedicated and hard-working, they were all eager to explain to him the different steps of the project. All they wanted was to surpass their client’s expectations.
Since then, the father of one has not stopped receiving compliments: “Wow, what a change in just one day”, “The windows look brand new”, “Both the colours and the application are flawless” or even “This completely changes a house.” The house has without a doubt become of the main attractions in the neighbourhood!
A little advice, maybe? Frederic had a recommendation for Spray-Net, “it would be great if the sales rep could offer a photo edition service in order for the client to get a preview of what his house would look like after the transformation”. We agreed with him, so we’ve decided to launch that service. From now on, it is possible to get access to a professional Photoshop service upon request, after having booked a free estimate.
One last word? “Thank you again. It was a pleasure to host Spray-Net!”
Exterior painting is a lot more than just maintenance. Applying a quality paint job on a house does more than simply improve its overall aesthetic. A quality paint job will protect a home from the elements thus increasing overall longevity and decreasing the need for repairs. Plus, if your house is for sale, it will also signal to prospective buyers that the home is well taken care of on the outside – which is usually synonymous with care on the inside. That’s curb appeal for you.
It is easy to assume that all paints are relatively similar to one another in this aspect, but experience shows that opting to go with cheaper alternatives usually increases the maintenance needed over time on top of increasing the need to reapply paints in the near future. Going with the cheaper and shorter lifespan paints is a double-cost burden undertaken in order to save money in the short term.
When you are taking the lifespan of a home and its repairs, decades typically, these burdens stack upon one another. A good well-applied paint job utilizing high-quality paints will save you countless dollars and hours of effort down the road.
Paint as a Maintenance Tool
Exterior paint on a home works a bit like your skin. It isn’t the toughest material, and it won’t stand up to direct damage well – but it helps shield the wall from the regular day to day damage of weathering, temperature changes, and sunlight. For example, without a good paint job, stucco is in danger of water seepage, a common cause of significant structural damage.
Good quality paint will also help reduce the risk of rot, mold and mildews on wood. Most exterior surfaces will last longer and look better when properly treated with paint. This ensures your building retains its value longer with less cost and may even help you avoid significant structural damage entirely.
Paint as a Curb Appeal Booster
Paint not only helps strengthen the resilience of your home, but it also improves its overall curb appeal. Though this may seem straightforward, it can actually get quite complicated. As any artist will tell you, color and style choices can have a significant effect on the viewer’s perception.
Many studies have been done, evaluating how color affects people’s perception. In a study called the Impact of Color in Marketing, up to 90% of first impressions made about products are based on color alone. The response to a color is dependent on the viewer’s relation to that very color. However, there is no denying that it has a dramatic effect on one’s initial impression of what they are looking at. Your house is no different.
A clean, bright and lively color will likely impress upon viewers those same feelings – making a home seem both more alive and welcoming.
Painting your house is one of the most suggested methods for a quick price boost by appraisers. Paying for a pro paint job can often return exponential returns on investment when putting a home on the market.
Choosing the Right Paint Color
Look at it in the Right Light
This is a relatively common mistake, even amongst professional designers. Your exterior paint will, of course, be on the outside of your home. If you are looking at swatches in indoor lighting rather than sunlight, you are likely looking at it with a skewed perception. You should make sure to examine and evaluate your colors in the same light as it will be viewed when applied – in this case in sunlight.
Pick the Right Color Scheme (Hint: Contrasting Colors Work)
Contrasting your primary color with the doors, windows, and trim will make those features pop. This method provides a good starting point when choosing a color scheme. It has been shown that better defining architectural features in this way typically leads to a bump in valuation.
Be Aware of the Permanent Features
Look at the environment your home is in. The features on it that won’t be painted, the landscape, etc. Make sure the colors you pick match with the surrounding area. If you want them to clash, you have to do so in a stylish way. Do you want something that really stands out, without looking garish? It may be best to get a professional consultant or maybe do a little test Photoshopping. Luckily, we do both of these things.
Before working on fixing your stucco cracks, let’s start with a little history lesson. Stucco as a building material has been around since before the days of Plato and Alexander the Great. This is not only a testament to the simplicity of the design, but also to its practicality and capabilities.
There is a reason humans have utilized it as a material as far back as we can recall. It works, and it works well. It is durable, attractive, and weather resistant. Typically, stucco is placed over a wooden, masonry or brick surface and provides insulation, visual appeal and longevity to the building frame.
Stucco is composed of an aggregate, a binder – traditionally lime & sand – and water with decorative elements added to the finishing layer such as stones or pebbles. Plaster and stucco were interchangeable (one was interior, the latter, exterior) until the 19th century when Portland Cement was developed as a strengthening agent for stucco. That’s when they diverged in their evolution.
Today, Stucco is best described as a cement plaster exterior wall covering. There are some proprietary blends that include additives in order to increase durability and elasticity. Stucco’s durability, aesthetic quality, and its low maintenance needs have ensured its ongoing popularity.
Why Stucco Cracks
If you’ve lived with stucco construction for long enough, you will notice cracks appearing eventually. Though it is a very durable material, one of the strongest common building materials used, over time it will start to show wearing. This is a standard part of the stucco’s lifespan and is – relatively – easily fixed. Cracking can occur for many reasons and is especially common around doors, windows, and other edges.
If the cracks appear quickly or are exceptionally bad, a faulty mixture or improper installation are likely to blame. Weak or mishandled stucco will have a much shorter lifespan – though the underlying causes of the cracks are usually the same.
Common Causes for Stucco Cracks:
House Settling: If a home was built on loose soil or is getting there in a few years, it is likely that the ground underneath the foundations has begun to shift and change. This shifting will put heavier strains on different portions of the house as the balance of the structure adjusts. These strains can cause cracking in the stucco as it succumbs to the extra weight.Seismic activity like earthquakes or tremors will have much of the same effect – this in a more dramatic timeframe.
Extreme Weather: Excessive heat or extreme cold will cause the stucco to both expand and contract – as well as any wood it is supporting or being supported by. Expanding movements and shrinkage can leave stucco weakened and cracking. High winds may push on the wall, and/or reduce the moisture in the wall, thus leading to further shrinkage.
Repairing Stucco Cracks
Luckily Stucco is both resilient and relatively easy to make reparations on. Whether you decide to go with trained professionals or wish to conduct the repairs yourself – the necessary steps will remain the same.
Thoroughly Clean the Area:
All dirt, debris, dust, etc. must go. Usually, this requires a bit of light power-washing. We prefer to use our specially prepared water-based paint prep solution. You should also use a scraper to remove any remaining loose debris.
Damage Repair:
All of the cracks must be filled in. For large areas of damage, the stucco pattern will have to be replicated as it is filled in. We use an elastomeric caulking filler to seal the majority of cracks.
Stucco patching material can be used to fill in larger areas with a rubber float. You will have to remove excess filling material and blend the pattern to the rest of the wall as well. After it dries, remove any remaining dust or debris.
Painting:
Paint the repaired area to match the original color of the wall. This may be an issue if the color of the wall has faded over time. In some cases, this will lead to a whole new paint job. Professionals are usually quite capable of blending the colors on site to avoid unnecessary work. We prefer to spray a flexible, elastomeric coating and then apply new color matching caulking where needed.
Our Elastomeric coating is ten times thicker than regular latex paint and is ideally suited to repairing a stucco wall and ensuring its long-term health. The thick and flexible paint will reinforce the stucco against the weather and possible cracking.
Clean Up and Spot Checking:
Final inspections and job wrap up are just as important as any other stage. Make sure, while you still have all the equipment on hand, that the wall has been fully repaired and cleaned.
Jason and Andrea are your typical young homeowner couple. Newly-married, they’ve just purchased their first home. As one of the first major investments of their life, their budget was naturally limited. That’s why they had to prioritize. They fell in love with the interior of a house in Niagara, ON and figured they would eventually revamp the exterior.
Their exterior siding is sheet metal. Originally, it was white, but a chalky film over it made it look dirty and gray. Andrea and Jason quickly realized that they would have to paint their home sooner rather than later. As a former house painter, he was discouraged knowing how long it would take him to brush and roll his entire siding.
When a friend of his shared a video of Spray-Net on Facebook, he was astonished: “The fact that you can get a house painted in less than 3 days was the reason why I chose Spray-Net” he said, “I figured I would get a quote to see if I could afford it!”
The Secret
But Jason had a plan, he wanted to surprise his wife Andrea with a new home: “I kept it a secret by getting the quote done while she was at work,” the Spray-Net team showed up to the young couple’s house and assured Jason they could complete the project. This was perfect, “I had the project scheduled to be completed while we were on our honeymoon in St. Lucia.” While they were away, Jason’s family took over: “I had them help me get some stuff done around the outside of the house while we were gone so she wouldn’t get suspicious. When the Spray-Net guys showed up on our doorstep, my family was here to let them start their work.”
“Our house was somewhat outdated,” Jason continues, “It was your regular red brick house with white siding. It needed a huge uplift!” The Spray-Net colour consultant helped Jason pick the right palette to give the couple’s home a more modern look: “We had our metal siding and eaves troughs painted a light gray, but the brick was the biggest transformation: we painted it a charcoal gray.”
The Surprise
Jason had his family take pictures of the like-new house: “When he showed me the photos, I didn’t really know what he was showing me” Andrea recalls, “then I realized it was our house! I was just really surprised. I knew Jason was up to something, I just didn’t know what!” And while Andrea’s husband wanted to surprise his wife, it was a gift for the both of them: “I was just as excited as her to see it when we got home!”
“I was just shocked that Jason had planned this project and that all of our family – but me – knew about it!” Andrea says, “It really looks like a new house, and our neighbours still talk about it today. Honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing.” Jason is just as enthusiastic: “I would absolutely recommend Spray-Net to family and friends. No one loves renovations, but if you can get something that totally revamps your house and adds value to it done in less than three days, why wouldn’t you do it?”
Do you want to paint your Hardie board siding? Here is what you should know first.
Hardie board is a brand name for fiber-cement siding that has become all but synonymous with the material it distributes, similar to how the brand name Kleenex has become synonymous with tissues. This can lead to some confusion at the actual nature of fiber-cement siding outside of James Hardie Industries (JHI).
While JHI is still a leading producer of the material – there are other competitors. Some of these other options include MaxiTile, Nichiha, and Allura USA.
Fiber-cement/Hardie board siding is a merging of cellulose fibers and cementitious materials, which is used to cover the exterior of a building. It is often utilized in ways that imitate the visual appeal of wood siding; this is primarily done with overlapping horizontal sheets (though that isn’t always the case). Fiber-cement siding appears in a multitude of styles on millions of buildings across the world. Around 15% of new homes utilize fiber-cement.
Why You Should Use Hardie Board Siding
There is a reason this material is so popular. It provides a number of benefits while still maintaining an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Some of its main advantages include:
Fire Resistant
Although it looks like wood, it doesn’t burn like wood. Though it is not technically flame-resistant like an asbestos material would be, it does not actively feed the flames either.
Resistance to Warping, Shrinkage, and Rot
This is another benefit of not actually being wood. The material is all around more resistant and often comes with warranties for up to 30 years. It is made to last.
Resistant to Termites, Fungus.
This may seem repetitive at this point, but it is not wood. The organics that besiege your home with wood will not be able to do harm to Hardie board siding.
Weather Resistant
Fiber-cement siding can withstand much of what nature can throw at it. Wind, snow, rain, hail, and even the sun will have a hard time causing damage or cracking it.
Eco-Friendly
When compared to the toxins released in the production of vinyl, and the fact fiber-cement is produced mainly from sand, cement, and recycled wood – it becomes evident why it is a more sustainable product to utilize. Since it is such a new material and lasts so long, work is still being done to figure out the best practices for the disposal of it.
Since it is such a new material and since it lasts for so long, work is still being done to figure out the best practices for the disposal of Hardie board.
Fiber-cement also ranks high for energy efficiency. It ranks about the same for wood in heat transfer, and much higher than most other synthetic materials.
It goes without saying at this point, but this material is extremely low maintenance and highly durable. Hence the popularity.
The Downsides of Hardie Board Siding
Expensive
While other materials like vinyl siding may not last as long, they are also only around 30% of the cost of fiber-cement.
Labor Intensive
Much of that expense comes from not only Hardie board itself but the labor costs as well. Installation and labor can be time-consuming and challenging.
Difficult to Manage
It is a hefty product and requires at least two people to carry. This downside also jacks up shipping costs.
Can You Paint Hardie Board Siding
Yes, you can, and you should. Painting Hardie board siding will significantly improve its look and its longevity. Siding finishes generally last for around 15 years, so you need to do it, and do it right.
Painting, when done properly can really bring out the wood feel of the Hardie board. If you clean the surface correctly, and appropriately apply the paint, you could have a beautiful look that will also protect the siding from cracks and wear.
Some useful painting tips
While we spray paint Hardie board siding with our proprietary coatings for an optimal finish, some of you might be interested in the « how-to »:
Remove dirt and mildew (bleach is good for that) as failure to do so will leave the stain looking dirty or muddy. A pressure washer, if applicable, can also be useful for this.
Do not prime (it should come pre-primed)
Seal cracks with a quality acrylic caulk.
Use 100% acrylic paint or acrylic latex paint.
Apply up to two coats of paint.
Use a paintable caulk made to bond to fiber cement and your trim.
Conclusion
Hardie board – or more accurately fiber-cement -siding is a long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing material that will increase the value of your home. It protects a home from all manner of environmental and biological hazards and is relatively easy to paint or stain. Though it will cost more than some other materials, it is money well spent.
It protects houses from all matters of environmental and biological hazards and is relatively easy to paint. Though it will cost more than some other materials, it is money well spent.
