Exterior Painting in Smyrna, GA

Fiber cement siding holds paint well, resists rot and insects, and stays straight for decades, which is why it covers so many houses built or re-sided in recent years. It still needs fresh paint eventually. Exterior painting in Smyrna on a fiber cement house has its own checklist, starting with what kind of finish the boards have now and ending with the wood trim that often surrounds them.

Factory finish, factory primer or already painted?

Fiber cement leaves the plant in one of two states. Some boards are only primed and were painted after installation. Others carry a baked-on factory color. Many houses have been repainted at least once since then, so the surface may now be a site-applied coat over either one.

Each of these can be repainted, but the preparation differs slightly. Factory finishes are smooth and can be harder for new paint to grip once they have weathered, so cleaning and, if the paint maker recommends it, a primer come first. Fiber cement makers generally recommend exterior acrylic paints, which stay flexible and tolerate the alkaline cement surface.

Chalk, fading and careful washing

Walls that face strong sun fade and chalk first. A hand rubbed across the boards shows how much chalk is present; heavy chalk is washed off with a cleaner and a soft brush, and a chalk-binding primer goes on if the surface still rubs off after drying.

Washing is done at low pressure. A narrow, high-pressure spray can etch the face of fiber cement and drive water into joints. Upper walls, gables over roofs and sections above decks are reached from ladders, planks or a lift, and that access is planned before the work starts so cleaning and painting are just as thorough up high.

Cracked boards, cut edges and nail heads

Fiber cement is durable but brittle. Boards nailed too close to an edge or end can crack, and impacts from ladders, hail or lawn equipment can break corners. Small chips can be filled with a patching compound suited to cement products; cracked or broken boards are better replaced. Each one is listed in the repair scope by location.

Cut edges that were never sealed soak up water and can swell slightly or show darker staining. Those edges are primed and painted wherever they are exposed. Nails that were overdriven leave small craters that are filled, and protruding nails are set flush before painting.

The wood trim around the siding

Plenty of fiber cement houses were finished with wood or composite boards around the windows, doors, corners and roofline. The siding may be in great shape while the trim around it is soft at the sills and casing bottoms. That trim is probed during the visit, and decayed sections are cut out and replaced with primed material before painting. Composite trim does not rot the way wood does, but its joints and cut ends still need sealing.

Joints: what is caulked and what is flashed

How butt joints between siding boards were handled depends on the original installation. Some were caulked, while others were installed with flashing behind the joint and left uncaulked. We follow what the siding maker’s instructions call for and do not seal joints that were designed to drain.

Gaps where siding meets trim, around windows and doors, and at penetrations are sealed with a flexible exterior caulk. The horizontal laps between boards stay open, and the clearance between the bottom course and a roof, deck or the ground is not closed off.

Body and trim colors on fiber cement

Fiber cement takes almost any color, including deep tones, since it does not soften in heat the way vinyl can. Very dark colors still show fading sooner on sunny walls. If the house has a factory finish you like, matching it with a site-applied paint is possible using a color chip. The color for body, trim, doors and any accents is confirmed in writing before ordering.

Smyrna permits when repairs go deeper

Smyrna is in Cobb County. When board replacement uncovers damage behind the siding, or electrical or plumbing work is added, ask Smyrna’s Building Division in Community Development if a permit is needed. Indoor walls are covered separately on our Smyrna interior painting page.

Questions about painting fiber cement in Smyrna

Can factory-finished fiber cement siding be painted?

Yes. Once the factory color has faded or chalked, the boards can be cleaned and repainted. Weathered factory finishes can be smooth and chalky, so washing comes first, and a primer is used if the paint maker recommends one for that surface. An exterior acrylic topcoat is the usual choice. Repainting also lets you change the color, which a factory finish does not allow.

Should the butt joints between fiber cement boards be caulked?

It depends on how the siding was installed. Some installations call for caulking butt joints, while others rely on a strip of flashing behind each joint and leave it open. The siding maker’s instructions and what is already on the house guide the decision. Joints designed to drain should stay open; sealing them can trap water behind the boards.

What causes cracks in fiber cement boards, and can they be fixed?

Cracks usually come from nails placed too close to an edge or end, from impacts, or from boards installed under stress. Hairline cracks and small chips can sometimes be filled with a patching product suited to cement siding and painted. Boards with longer cracks or broken pieces are replaced, primed on cut edges and painted with the rest of the wall.

Discuss your fiber cement exterior

Give us a call at 404-409-4448. We will look at the boards, the trim around them and the current finish, then send a written estimate that explains how each part of your house will be prepared and painted.