Alright, so you're thinking about James Hardie siding for your home. Smart move, truly. It's tough stuff, built to last, and looks fantastic. But once you decide on Hardie, you hit another fork in the road: do you go with the pre-finished ColorPlus siding, or do you install the primed boards and have them painted on-site? It's a question I get a lot, especially from folks around the Taylorsville area, and it's worth taking a good, hard look at both options.
Why James Hardie ColorPlus (Pre-Finished) Makes Sense
Let's start with ColorPlus. This is the James Hardie product that comes out of the factory already painted. And I mean *painted*. It's not just a quick coat, no. They apply multiple layers of a proprietary finish in a super controlled environment, then bake it on. Think of it like the paint job on your car – done in a factory, not in your driveway, you know?
The biggest upside here is the finish itself. It's incredibly durable. You get a consistent color, top to bottom, on every single board. Because it's baked on, it resists chipping, peeling, and cracking way better than anything we can do with a brush and roller out in the Utah sun. And speaking of the sun, ColorPlus has excellent UV resistance, meaning your color is going to stay vibrant longer, even with our intense summer rays beating down on homes in neighborhoods like Bennion or over by the Redwood Road corridor.
Cost-wise, the material itself is usually a bit more expensive upfront. But you're saving on labor because you're not paying a crew to paint your whole house after the siding is up. Plus, the warranty on the finish is fantastic – usually 15 years against chipping, peeling, and cracking. That's a pretty good deal.
On-Site Painted James Hardie Siding: What You Need to Know
Now, let's talk about installing primed Hardie boards and then painting them on-site. This is the traditional way of doing things. We put up the gray, primed boards, and then a painting crew comes in and paints your entire house.
The main advantage here is color flexibility. If you've got a very specific color in mind that isn't part of the ColorPlus palette, or you want to match an existing trim color perfectly, on-site painting gives you that freedom. You can pick literally any color you want from any paint manufacturer. This is great for custom homes or if you're trying to replicate a historic look, for example.
However, there are some trade-offs. First, the durability of the paint job depends entirely on the quality of the paint used and the skill of the painters. You're relying on exterior house paint, which, while good, generally won't match the factory-baked finish of ColorPlus for long-term resistance to fading and weathering. Our climate here in Taylorsville, with its hot summers and cold, snowy winters, can be tough on exterior paint. You'll likely need to repaint sooner than if you went with ColorPlus, maybe every 7-10 years, depending on exposure and paint quality.
Cost can be tricky to compare directly. The primed Hardie boards are cheaper, but then you have the added expense of a separate painting crew and the cost of the paint itself. Sometimes it ends up being a wash, sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more than ColorPlus, depending on paint choices and labor rates. You're also adding another step to the project timeline, meaning your home will be a construction zone for a bit longer.
My Recommendation for Taylorsville Homeowners
Look, both options will get you a beautiful, durable James Hardie exterior. But if you ask me, and most of my crew at Majestic Siding Solutions would agree, for the vast majority of homeowners in Taylorsville, the James Hardie ColorPlus pre-finished siding is the way to go.
Here's why:
- Better Durability: Our Utah weather is no joke. The baked-on finish of ColorPlus simply holds up better against the intense UV, the freeze-thaw cycles, and even the occasional hail we get. You'll spend less time worrying about your paint job and more time enjoying your home.
- Color Lasts Longer: Fading is a real issue with any exterior paint. ColorPlus resists it much better, keeping your home looking sharp for years longer.
- Less Hassle: No messy painting crew on your property after installation. No worrying about weather delays for painting. The job gets done quicker and cleaner.
- Stronger Warranty: That 15-year finish warranty is hard to beat. You just don't get that kind of protection with an on-site paint job.
Now, if you absolutely, positively need a specific, custom color that isn't in the ColorPlus line, then on-site painting is your only choice. And that's fine; we can make it look great. But understand you're trading some long-term durability and lower maintenance for that custom shade. You'll need to be prepared for more frequent repainting down the road.
For most of us, though, the ColorPlus palette is extensive enough, and the benefits of that factory finish far outweigh the slight premium. It's a smarter long-term investment for a home here in the Salt Lake Valley, don't you think?