The Pros, Cons, and Costs of Aluminum Siding

Aluminum siding was very common between the 1930s and the 1970s, but it steadily decreased in popularity after the introduction of a siding type that costs less, lasts nearly as long, and requires less maintenance: vinyl siding. Aluminum offers many benefits that vinyl doesn’t, though, so there are good reasons homeowners still install aluminum siding.

For one thing, because it’s metal, aluminum siding is flame-resistant, whereas vinyl sometimes melts in strong sunlight, let alone wildfires. Aluminum siding panels are also more resistant to adverse weather conditions like rain and strong winds. Though vinyl is cheaper, prices to install aluminum siding average from $8,374 to $15,236, so it’s still a very affordable option.

Want to learn more? Keep reading, and we’ll explain how much aluminum siding costs, what makes it a great siding material, why it may not be right for your home’s exterior, and which siding materials might be more your speed.

Aluminum siding pros and cons

How much aluminum siding costs

Installing aluminum siding on an average-sized home typically costs between $8,000 and $15,000. This makes installing the material several thousand dollars more expensive than getting alternatives like vinyl and fiber cement, though it’s much cheaper than materials like steel, wood, and stone veneer.

However, costs greatly vary from region to region, and the size of your home will impact your costs, so your installation price could fall outside of this price range. To give you a better idea of what siding your home with aluminum might cost, this table provides installation costs for different home sizes: 

Average prices to install aluminum on different home sizes

The best things about aluminum siding

While aluminum is far from the cheapest siding material, its many benefits make it well worth the investment for many homeowners. For starters, the material can last well over 30 years, and under ideal conditions, it can outlive the structure it’s put on. This is partly due to aluminum’s exceptional resistance to many types of damage that plague other siding materials.

Aluminum is highly resistant to fires

Aluminum is fireproof, so it’s one of the best siding materials for homes in wildfire-prone states like Texas and California. Its high flame resistance can give you more time to escape a raging fire and give the fire department enough time to show up and save most of the home’s structure. Aluminum does eventually buckle under extreme heat, though, so it shouldn’t be relied on as an impermeable flame defense.

Pests can’t hurt aluminum

Pests like termites, squirrels, and birds don’t burrow, scratch, or peck aluminum siding, so you don’t have to worry about outdoor critters when your home is clad with aluminum. 

Aluminum withstands all kinds of weather

Aluminum is waterproof and—unlike steel—corrosion resistant, so it won’t ever rust or rot because of rain or high humidity. Additionally, aluminum can withstand strong winds, so you don’t need to worry about a gale ripping panels away and leaving your home’s structure vulnerable to the elements.

The worst things about aluminum siding

Image source: Reddit

Aside from its slightly high installation costs, there are two key problems with aluminum siding.

The first is that it’s a relatively soft metal, so it’s easy to dent and scratch. In fact, a strong hailstorm can sometimes leave its mark on low-gauge aluminum siding. The worst part is that aluminum is also fairly difficult to restore, so heavily damaged panels usually need to be replaced, which can be expensive.

The other issue is that aluminum rings when struck, so it’s fairly noisy during rain and hailstorms. It can also creak as it expands and contracts due to temperature fluctuations, and all these creepy noises take some getting used to. 

Aluminum vs. other types of siding

Aluminum is a great siding option for many homes, but it’s far from your only option. To help you find the best siding for your needs, here’s a quick breakdown of how aluminum compares to popular alternatives:

How to care for aluminum siding

Aluminum siding isn’t maintenance-free. In fact, it requires a little more upkeep than vinyl simply because it needs to be painted every 5 to 10 years to maintain its color and appearance, whereas vinyl is made from a solid material of its color and doesn’t require painting. You can still paint over vinyl to change its color, though. You just need to use specially formulated paint.

Aside from a handful of necessary paint jobs over the course of its life, though, aluminum doesn’t require any more maintenance than any other type of siding. Compared to the immense amount of maintenance that steel and natural wood siding require, aluminum is among the more low-maintenance siding materials on the market.

Here are a few routine tasks that you should keep up with to ensure siding (of any type) lasts as long as possible:

• Annually hire a professional siding cleaner or follow the cleaning instructions that come with your siding and clean it yourself.
• Keep your gutters clear of debris to prevent clogs and spillage that will result in water damage.
• Check for damage (dents, panels bent out of shape, scratches, etc.) regularly and repair damaged areas as quickly as possible to prevent issues from growing.

Best aluminum siding brands

Ply Gem

Ply Gem is a leading manufacturer of siding, windows, fences, gutters, and trim. It partners with distributors across the country to make its products widely available. The brand’s Variform Premium Aluminum Siding has a faux wood texture, is available in 10 colors, and has several different profiles for customization. 

CertainTeed

CertainTeed produces an immense selection of building materials, such as roofing shingles, aluminum soffits, and trim coils. CertainTeed’s siding materials are made from vinyl, stone, and aluminum. CertainTeed’s vinyl collection is called Urban Reserve™, and it comes in nine different colors and features a 40-year limited warranty. 

Gentek Building Products

Gentek offers an extensive assortment of siding products, including vinyl, steel, and aluminum options. In addition to its siding planks, the brand also manufactures soffits, fascias, and siding shakes, making it a great one-stop shop for renovating homeowners.

The best part is that the brand offers three different aluminum siding collections for you to choose from:

• Deluxe™ Aluminum Siding 
• Woodgrain™ Series 2000 Aluminum Siding
• Cedarwood® Aluminum Siding

How to hire a contractor to install aluminum siding

Now that you know all about aluminum siding’s costs, benefits, and drawbacks, you’re ready to meet with a contractor! Whether you’ve decided to get cladding made from aluminum or some other material, you can fill out our form below to find qualified and licensed siding installers in your region.

Aluminum siding FAQs

Can you install aluminum siding yourself?

No, you shouldn’t attempt to install aluminum siding yourself, even if you’re an experienced DIYer. If you don’t have experience working with the material, you can dent or scratch it during installation. Damage like this looks unsightly and leaves your home vulnerable to the elements. DIY siding installation can also void the manufacturer’s warranty on the material.

Is aluminum siding cheaper than vinyl?

Installing vinyl siding tends to cost somewhere between $6,753 and $12,287, while installing the same amount of aluminum cladding will cost $8,374 to $15,236. This makes vinyl much cheaper than aluminum, though aluminum offers several benefits that vinyl doesn’t. Aluminum tends to be more resistant to fire and adverse weather and can last longer if properly cared for. 

What is the life expectancy of aluminum siding?

Aluminum tends to last somewhere between 30 and 40 years with proper maintenance, and it can sometimes outlive the home it’s installed on. Some aluminum siding options also come with limited lifetime warranties. 

Is aluminum or vinyl siding better?

Vinyl siding tends to be cheaper than aluminum siding and requires less maintenance. However, it’s also a bit less durable. It’s more vulnerable to heat and fire, and—unless you opt for costly insulated vinyl—it also does a worse job insulating a home. These factors make aluminum siding a slightly better option for homeowners who can afford it.