If you want a better paint job overall DO NOT get the color plus, and have everything site painted after install. This is usually more expensive. If you have the option of getting the color plus material at the same price as primed then go for it! I cant imagine why this would be unless they will not be painting it after the install which is normally the only way it can be cost competitive. Having the color plus installed (if its really is the same price)could mean less work for the painter. Fewer coats equals less cost. Iam sure what your builder means is that you can have color plus without further on site painting or primed with site painting. On-site painted will produce better results as long as you have competent painters.

Would love to hear from anyone who used a white from the Hardie “dream collection”…I’m renovating a colonial and want a true white. The arctic white is very popular where I live and it definitely appears gray, especially next to white Azek trim and it’s not the e look I’m going for.

Was not suggesting you clad the brick at all -- just paint it, which is relatively cheap. My other suggestion was to eliminate one of the siding choices on the front (Thereby saving some $). In so much as I can see the right colors better on my monitor and it appears that you like blue, my opinion was that w/the absence of the yellow brick you the darker of the blues would work w/the stone. My comment about the timber ark was related to the question you asked of me earlier when on my iPad it looked as though you had posted brown (timberbark), white, and gray -- thus illustrating the point I attempted to make earlier about the distortion of color in this medium. Again, good luck.

Thank you groveraxle, these are really helfpul! Do you think it looks weird with only some shutters? I do but that's because it is just different to me. JudyG, I LOVE the white. Husband hates it. It's the one color he says absolutely not to. :( Not sure if it's worth pushing him on it. I will show him the pictures, because I think white looks the best. PPF - No I do not want trendy, I want something that will stand the test of time. I had not considered getting primed siding and painting it ourselves mostly because I think that would add significant cost and I think the pre-painted colors are supposed to hold up better. But it would certainly be easier to find a color I like.