Do I need to prime Hardie siding before painting? James Hardie says no. Their factory primer is made to take paint. We always prime new Hardie board anyway, even though it comes pre-primed. Every time.
We get this question a lot, from homeowners and from other painters too. If you’ve got brand new Hardie going up in Memphis or Nashville and somebody told you it’s “ready for paint,” this one’s for you.
Do I need to prime Hardie siding before painting?
No, not if you go by James Hardie. Their Technical Bulletin S-100, “Finishing James Hardie Primed Siding Products,” says the factory primer is “optimized for superior adhesion to 3rd party topcoats. Additional primer is not needed.” So a painter who goes straight to paint on pre-primed Hardie is doing what the manufacturer says. We just don’t do it that way.
What James Hardie says about painting primed siding
Here’s their list. Use a high quality waterborne 100% acrylic exterior paint. Only paint siding that’s clean and dry, with no dust, dirt or mildew on it.
Prime or paint every field cut edge. Back roll if you spray. Follow the paint maker’s application rates. And no stain, no oil based paint, no powder coating. That’s where we start on every Hardie job.
Why we always prime new Hardie board
Priming new Hardie is our standard. It’s not a Hardie requirement. It’s how we do it, for three reasons.
- Even paint. A primed board takes paint the same all over, so the color goes on even from one end of the wall to the other.
- No flashing. Flashing is when paint dries with an uneven sheen or blotchy spots because parts of the board soak it up different. Priming first stops that. Painters know what I’m talking about.
- A longer lasting paint job. It’s an extra step, but for a paint job that lasts longer, I say prime it.
On this job we used Benjamin Moore Fresh Start acrylic primer. I pick it for its adhesion and sealing. And priming’s not a big job. One coat of primer is all you need, then the color goes on top.
| Approach | What it means | Why a painter picks it | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paint only | Clean, caulk, prime cut edges, then 100% acrylic paint | Follows Hardie’s guidance, fewer steps | No primer under the color across the board |
| Prime, then paint (our way) | Clean, caulk, prime the whole board, then paint (Benjamin Moore Regal Select on this job) | Even paint, no flashing, longer lasting paint job | More labor. We use Benjamin Moore Fresh Start acrylic primer, a 100% acrylic primer, in line with Hardie’s acrylic guidance |
How we prime new Hardie board
We clean it, caulk it, then prime the whole board. That includes the field cut edges at windows, corners and butt joints. Those are raw fiber cement, and Hardie says they get primer or paint no matter what. One coat of primer, then the paint.
Prime before or after caulking?
I caulk first, then prime, then paint. But it doesn’t matter all that much, and painters go back and forth on it. Hardie’s documents in the brief don’t set an order. They do want the siding clean and dry and the cut edges primed, so that happens either way.
What paint goes on Hardie siding?
James Hardie wants a high quality 100% acrylic exterior paint. Their install instructions recommend 100% acrylic primers and topcoats, and they rule out stain, oil based paint and powder coating. On this job our finish paint was Benjamin Moore Regal Select. Every house is different, so ask your painter what they’re putting on and if it’s 100% acrylic.
Hardie on Memphis homes: gables, dormers and brick
Around Memphis, Hardie usually isn’t the whole house. It’s the gables, the dormers, a back addition or a porch wall sitting on top of brick. So you’ve got a lot of joints where siding meets trim and brick. That’s where you’ll see cracked caulk first.
On the job in the video, the board-and-batten siding is Hardie. That’s what you see us priming. The raw wood overhead is the porch ceiling. That’s wood, not Hardie. We prep the same way on our Nashville and Franklin jobs.
Questions to ask your painter
Ask these before anybody opens a can.
- Will you prime the whole board or just the cut edges? Why?
- Is the paint a 100% acrylic exterior paint?
- How will you clean the siding before paint?
- Are the field cut edges primed or painted?
- What gets caulked, and when?
A good painter won’t have to think hard about any of these.
FAQ
Do I need to prime Hardie siding before painting?
No. James Hardie Technical Bulletin S-100 says their factory primer is ready for a topcoat and “additional primer is not needed.” We always prime new Hardie board anyway, even though it comes pre-primed. It gives you even paint, no flashing and a longer lasting paint job. One coat of primer is all you need. It’s our standard, not a Hardie rule, so ask your painter which way they go.
Is Hardie board already primed?
Primed Hardie comes from the factory with a primer coat on it. Hardie’s ColorPlus comes factory finished, and that’s a different product. Not sure which one went up on your house? Ask your builder or installer before you plan paint. The answer changes what your painter has to do to get the siding ready.
Should I prime Hardie siding before or after caulking?
I caulk first, then prime, then paint. But it doesn’t matter all that much. Painters go back and forth on it, so don’t sweat it if yours does it the other way. Hardie’s guidance doesn’t set an order. It does say the siding has to be clean and dry before anything goes on, and every field cut edge needs primer or paint.
What paint is best for Hardie siding?
James Hardie recommends a high quality waterborne 100% acrylic exterior paint, and their install instructions recommend 100% acrylic primers and topcoats. They say no stain, no oil based paint and no powder coating. Follow the paint maker’s application rates, and back roll it if you spray. Paint clean, dry siding, never wet. On this job our finish paint was Benjamin Moore Regal Select.
Is priming pre-primed Hardie worth it?
I think so. That’s why we always do it. Hardie says you don’t have to, and a lot of painters don’t, and that’s okay. Priming gives you even paint, stops flashing and makes for a longer lasting paint job. It does add labor. Ask for it on your estimate so you know what you’re getting.
Ready to talk about your siding?
Got new Hardie going up, or a house that needs repainting? Take a look at our exterior painting in Memphis page and get in touch for an estimate. We’d love to meet you. We’ll walk the house and tell you how we’d prep it. If you’re still wondering, do I need to prime Hardie siding before painting, we’re happy to talk it through.
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Bart Caldwell is a entrepreneur and business owner. With his ambition, tenacity, and dedication to hard work, he has built Caldwell Painting that is respected throughout the industry for their high-quality services and innovative solutions. Bart’s passion for excellence in all service areas has seen him build a solid reputation as a reliable problem solver and leader. His reputation of professionalism, integrity and quality has made him one of the industry’s most sought-after business owners.