Custom Exterior Color — Boulder, CO
Custom Exterior Paint for Boulder Homes
Primed James Hardie and LP SmartSide siding finished in the color that fits your home’s personality — installed, painted and planned as one project.
Who does custom exterior painting on new siding in Boulder, CO?
Northern Lights Exteriors installs primed James Hardie and LP SmartSide siding and finishes it in a custom exterior paint color, so a Boulder home can have a look nobody else on the street has, with engineered siding underneath.
We paint as part of the siding, trim and exterior projects we install, following the manufacturers’ finishing rules: 100% acrylic topcoats on primed Hardie, sealed cut edges, and paint applied within 180 days of installation.
Get a Free Boulder Siding & Color Estimate → 📞 (303) 776-5263
Boulder Homes Don’t Come From a Catalog
Walk a few blocks in Boulder and you pass a Victorian on Mapleton Hill, a 1960s tri-level in Table Mesa, a mountain-modern rebuild against the foothills and a bungalow in Newlands. The people who live in them tend to know exactly what they want their house to say — and it is rarely one of a dozen stock colors.
That is why so many of our Boulder siding projects use primed siding finished in a custom paint color. Primed James Hardie or LP SmartSide goes up as a blank, durable canvas, and the finish can be any color you can put on a paint chip: a deep heritage green, a soft modern greige, a bold front-door accent, or trim matched exactly to your new windows. You get the durability of engineered siding with a look that belongs only to your house.
Primed Siding With Custom Paint vs. a Factory Finish
| Primed siding + custom paint | Factory finish (James Hardie ColorPlus®) | |
|---|---|---|
| Color choice | Any exterior color you choose, including custom matches | A set regional palette of factory colors |
| Who finishes it | Painted on site after installation | Baked on at the factory before delivery |
| Finish warranty | Covered by the paint manufacturer’s warranty | James Hardie 15-year finish warranty (prorated) |
| Timing rule | James Hardie and LP primed siding must be painted within 180 days of installation | No painting step; touch-up with matched factory paint |
| Best for | Homeowners who want a one-of-a-kind look, an exact match, or a color outside the palette | Homeowners happy with a palette color who want a factory-applied finish |
Both are good choices, and we install both. If a ColorPlus color is the one you want, it is a great finish; see the James Hardie colors and styles. If it isn’t, primed siding with a custom color gets you the exact look without compromising on the siding underneath.
How We Paint Primed Siding So It Lasts
A custom color is only worth it if it holds up at 5,400 feet, under high-altitude UV, hail and big temperature swings. Our process follows the siding manufacturers’ finishing rules:
- Color and sheen chosen with the exposure in mind. South and west walls take the most sun in Boulder; we walk through color and sheen choices with that in mind before anything is ordered.
- The right paint. James Hardie calls for 100% acrylic topcoats on its primed siding and rules out oil/alkyd paints, stains and powder coats; LP calls for acrylic latex paint designed for engineered wood. We follow the instructions for the product on your house.
- Every cut edge sealed. Field-cut ends and edges are primed and painted so the finish protects the whole board, not just the face.
- Painted on schedule. Primed James Hardie and LP SmartSide siding must be painted within 180 days of installation, so we schedule the paint as part of the siding job, not as an afterthought.
- Trim, soffit, fascia and doors coordinated. The whole exterior is planned as one palette, from the trim to the front door.
Painting as Part of Your Siding or Exterior Project
We paint as part of the work we install: new siding, trim replacement, and full exterior remodels where the siding, trim, windows and doors are being planned together. We also take repaint-only projects on existing siding. On a repaint we look at what is under the old paint first, so you know before you choose whether paint or new siding is the better spend.
Every project is run by one Northern Lights Exteriors Project Manager, with colors, schedules, photos and documents kept in your secure client portal.
Want a Wood Look Instead of Paint?
Some Boulder homes call for the warmth of wood without the upkeep. For those we install wood-look siding finishes — including Rocky Mountain Pre-Stain’s Colorado-named stain colors — and James Hardie wood-look options. See wood-look siding.
Historic Districts and Wildfire Areas
In Boulder’s historic districts, such as Mapleton Hill and Chautauqua, any exterior alteration needs a Landmark Alteration Certificate from the city before work starts, so a re-siding project there is planned around the district’s design guidelines from the first conversation. In mapped wildfire (WUI) areas, siding and trim materials matter as much as the color; fiber cement is noncombustible, and we confirm the requirements for your address before you choose.
Custom Exterior Paint FAQs
Can I choose any paint color for new siding in Boulder?
Yes, with primed siding. Primed James Hardie and LP SmartSide siding can be finished in any exterior color, including a custom match, which is why many Boulder homeowners choose it over a factory palette.
What is the difference between primed siding and James Hardie ColorPlus?
ColorPlus is a factory-applied finish in a set regional palette with a 15-year finish warranty from James Hardie. Primed siding is painted on site in any color you choose, and that paint is covered by the paint manufacturer’s warranty.
How soon does primed siding need to be painted?
James Hardie and LP SmartSide both require their primed siding to be painted within 180 days of installation. We schedule the painting as part of the siding project.
What kind of paint goes on primed fiber cement siding?
James Hardie calls for 100% acrylic topcoats on its primed siding and rules out oil or alkyd paints, stains and powder coats. LP calls for acrylic latex paint designed for engineered wood. We follow the instructions for the product on your house.
Do you paint houses in Boulder without new siding?
Yes. We take repaint-only projects on existing siding, as well as painting the siding, trim and exterior remodel projects we install. On a repaint we check the siding underneath first and tell you honestly whether paint or new siding is the better spend.
Can you match my trim to my new windows and front door?
Yes. We plan the siding, trim, soffit, fascia, windows and doors as one palette so every color on the house works together.
Can I get a wood look instead of a painted finish?
Yes. We install wood-look siding finishes, including Rocky Mountain Pre-Stain’s Colorado-named stain colors and James Hardie wood-look options.
How do I start a custom-color siding project in Boulder?
Call (303) 776-5263, email office@nlexteriors.com, or request an estimate online. We measure on site and give you a written, line-item quote.
