Key takeaways
- Hardie siding with a factory-painted color does not need to be painted after installation. Only primed Hardie siding requires paint.
- There are three ways to get your color: primed siding painted on site, Hardie’s custom palette of 800 colors, or one of Hardie’s standard colors.
- Most homeowners choose from Hardie’s 18 standard siding colors and five trim and soffit colors because they offer the best value.
- Hardie’s factory-baked paint carries a 15-year warranty, though every exterior finish fades in the sun over time.
- Plan on choosing to repaint somewhere between 15 and 25 years. Dark colors like Deep Ocean or Iron Gray show fading the most.
Hardie siding does not need to be painted unless you buy primed boards. Factory-painted Hardie boards arrive fully finished, with baked-on paint and a 15-year warranty. Your choice of finish shapes both your upfront cost and your home’s long-term upkeep.
The real decision is how you get your color. You have three paths, and each one affects your cost, paint durability, and how soon you will likely choose to repaint your siding.
Three Ways to Choose a Hardie Siding Color
Before any Hardie siding installation begins, our team at Fairway Exteriors walks homeowners through three ways to land on a color.
Option 1: Primed Hardie Siding Painted on Site
With this route, you buy primed Hardie siding. We install it and flash everything properly. Then either our exterior painting team or another painter comes in to paint it.
This option gives you total freedom, since you can choose any color you want. It is also the most expensive of the three options and the least durable.
Option 2: Hardie’s Custom Color Palette
Hardie also offers a custom palette of 800 colors, painted at the factory. You get a very durable paint that stands the test of time and performs well against the sun.
You pay a large premium for that choice, so the value isn’t always there. Custom colors can also be hard to coordinate. Aluminum coil, caulking, gutters, and other accessories don’t come in all 800 colors, which makes matching your trim and finishing details tricky.
| Color Option | Cost | Paint Durability | Color Choices | What To Know |
| Primed Hardie, painted on site | Most expensive | Least durable | Any color you want | Requires a painter after installation |
| Hardie custom palette | Premium over standard colors | Very durable factory finish | 800 colors | Accessories don’t come in all 800 colors |
| Hardie standard colors | Most cost-effective | Extremely durable factory finish | 18 siding colors plus 5 trim and soffit colors | The most popular choice among homeowners |
Pro Tip: If you have your heart set on a custom color, ask your contractor to confirm how your gutters, caulking, and aluminum trim will match before you commit.
Why Standard Hardie Colors Offer the Best Value
The third option is far and away the most cost-effective. You pick one of Hardie’s 18 standard siding colors and pair it with one of its five trim and soffit colors. Most homeowners go this route.
Timeless Colors Chosen by a Color Expert
The woman who selected Hardie’s standard palette previously worked for Pottery Barn and Crayola. The colors are timeless, and Hardie rarely changes them because they simply work. They have held up as reliable choices for the last 10 years.
With a standard color, you get a durable factory finish without paying the premium attached to custom mixes.
Why Hardie Limits Its Color Options
Many homeowners are surprised by how siding color affects price. When you walk into a Sherwin-Williams store, one side of the room doesn’t cost $10,000 or $15,000 more than the other. Paint colors there are priced about the same.
Siding works more like buying a car. Dealerships don’t offer unlimited color options, and Hardie takes a similar approach. As a manufacturer, Hardie wants to help make housing more affordable and compete with products like vinyl and LP siding.
A focused color lineup keeps the product:
- Extremely durable
- More cost-effective
- Timeless in style
That’s why standard colors remain the most popular choice. You can browse the current lineup on the James Hardie website.
Need expert help choosing your Hardie siding color? Contact Fairway Exteriors for a free consultation, and we’ll walk you through the standard palette and your other options.
Does Hardie Siding Need to Be Painted After Installation?
No. When you buy Hardie siding with paint baked on at the factory, it’s finished and ready once we install it. You only need to paint Hardie siding if you start with primed boards.
What the 15-Year Factory Paint Warranty Covers
Factory-painted Hardie siding comes with a 15-year paint warranty. The paint won’t fail during that time, and it doesn’t suddenly break down once year 15 arrives.
What the paint will do over time is fade. Every exterior finish fades eventually, because the sun is undefeated.
Why Dark Colors Show Fading More
Fading shows up most on the side of your home that takes the biggest beating from the sun. Ten or 15 years down the road, that wall may look a little lighter than the rest of the house.
Dark colors make fading more noticeable. If you choose a deep shade such as Deep Ocean or Iron Gray, expect it to fade a bit. You still won’t have to repaint. The color may simply look less bold than it did on day one.
Key Takeaway: Hardie’s factory paint is built to last and won’t fail. Fading is normal, and it’s most visible on dark colors and sun-facing walls.
When to Repaint Your Hardie Siding
Factory paint fades gradually, so repainting is usually a choice you make on your own timeline.
The 10-Year Repaint Habit
Paint industry research, including figures from Sherwin-Williams and Hardie, suggests the average homeowner repaints around the 10-year mark, whether the house needs it or not. Often, they see three or four neighbors painting. They want to make sure everything is caulked properly and well maintained, so they start collecting paint quotes.
You don’t have to repaint Hardie siding at 10 years. Several homeowners we know have Hardie siding that is 20 years old, and it still looks fantastic.
When Your Hardie Siding Needs to be Painted Again
A realistic expectation is that you’ll choose to repaint somewhere between 15 and 25 years after installation. Common reasons include:
- You want to change the color.
- You sold your home, and the new owner wants a different color.
- You want to freshen up your exterior.
- You chose a bold, dark color, and it no longer looks as bold or dark as it once did.
Pro Tip: If you love dark siding colors, factor a future refresh into your long-term budget. Deep shades lose some of their boldness in the sun over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do Primed Hardie Boards Require Paint?
Yes. Primed Hardie siding must be painted after installation, either by Fairway Exteriors or another painter. It lets you choose any color you want, but it is the most expensive and least durable of the three color options.
2. How Many Colors Does Hardie Offer?
Hardie offers 18 standard siding colors plus five trim and soffit colors. Its custom palette includes 800 colors, which come at a significant premium.
3. How Long Is The Warranty On Hardie’s Factory Paint?
Hardie’s factory-baked paint carries a 15-year warranty. The paint won’t fail, though it will fade gradually with sun exposure.
4. Why Do Most Homeowners Choose Hardie’s Standard Colors?
Most homeowners choose standard colors because they are the most cost-effective option. They are extremely durable and timeless, and a color expert with a background at Pottery Barn and Crayola selected them.
5. How Often Should I Repaint Hardie Siding?
You don’t have to repaint at the 10-year mark, even though that’s when the average homeowner does. Plan on choosing to repaint between 15 and 25 years, and know that some Hardie siding still looks fantastic at 20 years.
Get the Right Hardie Finish from the Start
Our Recommendation
Hardie siding doesn’t need paint after installation unless you start with primed boards. Factory-painted Hardie siding can go 15 to 25 years before you choose to repaint. For most homes, one of Hardie’s 18 standard colors paired with a trim and soffit color delivers the best mix of durability, cost, and timeless curb appeal.
Plan Your Hardie Siding Project with Fairway Exteriors
At Fairway Exteriors, we install Hardie siding with careful flashing and close attention to detail. We’ll help you choose the color option that fits your budget and style. Schedule your free siding consultation today, and let us help you pick a finish that lasts, so you won’t have to wonder whether your Hardie siding needs to be painted anytime soon.
