Things You Will Need
Even if you are simply tired of the old color, you can follow these steps to brightening your home's appearance and increasing its curb appeal.
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Choose your paint carefully. For HardiePlank (also known as dutch lap) siding, 100 percent acrylic paint is recommended. Virtually any color can be mixed to your liking at your local paint store. One gallon of paint typically covers about 400 square feet, so purchase enough paint to finish the job.
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Prep the exterior of your home. Pressure washing is the easiest and most thorough way to accomplish this. You must have a clean surface free of debris for the paint to adhere properly. Alternately, you can use a garden hose with a jet stream nozzle and a wire brush. Be sure to let the surface dry completely before starting to paint.
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Tape off trim boards, windows, and lighting fixtures as necessary using masking or painters tape and newspaper to protect them from over-spray, dripping and splattering. Place drop cloths or plastic over plants, flowers or lawn ornaments near the house to protect them.
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Apply paint using your selected method. Start at the top of the siding and work your way down, a section at a time. Watch for drips and runs, and brush them out immediately. If using a sprayer, back roll or back brush over gaps and cracks to ensure the paint penetrates well.
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Paint your trim once your main color has dried (this normally takes several hours). Use a wet rag to wipe off any trim paint that happens to get on your siding.