A method for making a coating composition by mixing one or more latex polymers and an aliphatic epoxy resin system having an epoxy equivalent weight less than 1000 and being distinct from the one or more latex polymers to provide an aqueous first component, and providing a second component having reactive groups that can react with the one or more epoxy resins. A mixture of the first and second components provides a film-forming curable coating composition that may be used on substrates including cement, cement fiberboard, wood, metal, plastic, ceramic, glass and composites.