Fiber cement cladding system

A cladding shingle configured to replicate the appearance of a natural wood shingle, the cladding shingle comprising a fiber cement substrate and further comprising:

• a textured surface, the textured surface comprising a wood grain pattern having a depth of relief ranging from 0.045″ to 0.085″;
• and
• a coating system disposed on the textured surface, the coating system comprising:
• a sealing agent, the sealing agent comprising a two-part waterborne epoxy sealer;
• a basecoat disposed on a portion of the sealing agent, the basecoat comprising:
• a Dry Film Thickness (DFT) between 1 to 3 mils;
• and
• a first CIELAB color value comprising a first L value, a first a value, and a first b value;
• and
• a topcoat disposed on a portion of the basecoat, the topcoat comprising:
• a Dry Film Thickness (DFT) between 0.5 to 1.5 mils, wherein the DFT of the topcoat is smaller than the DFT of the basecoat;
• a second CIELAB color value comprising a second L value, a second a value, and a second b value;
• a UV absorber;
• and
• a Hindered Amine Light Stabilizer (HALS);
• wherein the first CIELAB color value of the basecoat and the second CIELAB color value of the topcoat differ by a difference dE, and wherein the first L value of the basecoat is greater than the second L value of the topcoat.

A building article having an appearance of wood, the building article comprising a fiber cement substrate having a textured surface and a coating system disposed on the textured surface, wherein the textured surface comprises a depth of relief, the depth of relief ranging from 0.010″ (0.254 mm) to 0.300″ (7.62 mm), and wherein the coating system comprises:

• a basecoat, the basecoat comprising:
• a first Dry Film Thickness (DFT) between 1 to 3 mils;
• and
• a first CIELAB color value comprising a first L value, a first a value, and a first b value;
• a topcoat, the topcoat comprising:
• a second Dry Film Thickness (DFT) between 0.5 to 1.5 mils, wherein the second DFT of the topcoat is smaller than the first DFT of the basecoat;
• a second CIELAB color value comprising a second L value, a second a value, and a second b value;
• wherein the first CIELAB color value of the basecoat and the second CIELAB color value of the topcoat differ by a difference dE, and wherein the first L value of the basecoat is greater than the second L value of the topcoat.