Vinyl Trim, Paint, HardiePlank

[CR500]

About 5 years ago I replaced all the rotted exterior trim around my second floor windows with pressure treated wood covered with HardiPlank. The hardie was run with zero clearance back to the roof shingles (windows extend through Mansard roof).

This weekend I removed all the hardie in prep for the new roof and was surprised at the poor adhesion of the paint. I used two top coats of the top of the line Gliden (Fortis Dulux) on the pre-primed hardie. I'd guess the problem was from the zero clearance and the back of the hardie getting wet.

Before replacing again I was thinking about cutting it back for some roof clearance (I don't have a lot of room at the bottom edge so clearance would be ~ 1/4")repaint all the sides and edges and see what happens. Now I'm having second thoughts because in a few more years I don't think I'll be able to muscle around the scaffolding to fix it again if it doesn't work.

Typically I'm anti-vinyl due to the large expansion / contraction but am now considering it as a replacement. I might change the trim color of the house to white so the vinyl won't have to be painted.

Sooooo here's the question: Which would you use, fully painted hardie with 1/4" clearance or vinyl?

Any tips if I go vinyl and decide to paint?

Thanks!

[scuba_dave]

They actually want 2" of clearance between Hardi & roofing in the North
1-2" clearance in the West & South

Maintain a 2" clearance between James Hardie products and roofs

http://www.jameshardie.com/pdf/install/install_plank_north.pdf

[Wgoodrich]

The manufacturer also requires any cut ends to be resealed with their sealant stick to keep water from getting into the board and freezing then busting the surface.

Wg

[Fischer]

Any and all ends that have an exposed edge facing upwards should be flashed so that water drains to the outside of the Hardieboard unless there is an overlap from the piece above. Take care that water never penetrates to the inside of any trim or siding.

[CR500]

Guess it looks like I'll be going with vinyl.

I did know Hardie recommends the large clearance but have run it less in other areas without problems (1/2" to 1" clearance to roof with flashing behind the hardie). I did not know they recommend sealing the edges. I'll have to get their sealing stick!!

The original construction on this house was all wrong. Its almost like they installed the windows, flashed and installed roof to windows, then installed 6" wide trim around the windows and on top of the roof. I wonder how many times the previous owners replaced all that trim.