Labor

No matter what type of siding you have, most siding contractors charge from $40-$50 for installation, replacement, or repair of all siding. The damaged siding must be removed and discarded. Many contractors will lay an insulation or vapor barrier ⁶ prior to hanging the new siding.

Typically, a contractor will include labor in the price per square foot. However, a small repair job is usually determined simply using the amount of time that it will take to repair the damage. To repair a single piece of damaged vinyl siding usually takes a contractor one hour to remove the damaged piece, lay any underlayment ⁷, and replace it with a new piece. Siding contractors charge $40-$50 per hour plus the cost of the siding which averages $40. The total amount to replace a damaged section of vinyl siding averages $80-$90.

Repair vs replacement

Most vinyl siding can easily be repaired by replacing a small section of siding. A single section of vinyl siding that measures 12' to 12-1/2' long averages $40 per piece and takes a siding repairman only an hour to repair at a cost of $40-$50 per hour. However, colored aluminum siding is often difficult to match so many siding repair companies will recommend that you replace the entire wall to effectively match the color of the siding. The cost to replace 170 sq.ft. of damaged aluminum siding averages $755-$1,207 for labor and supplies. Bricks, stone, and stucco can all easily be repaired and not require replacement. A masonry expert will fill in any cracks using stucco or mortar for a cost of $8-$10 per square foot. Fiber cement ⁸ is more difficult to repair and often requires that a single sheet of the siding be replaced to effectively repair the damage. The cost of a sheet of fiber cement that measures 48-in. x 96-in averages $36 and the cost of labor is $40-$50 per hour. Any time a section of siding can be repaired it is much cheaper than complete replacement.

Enhancement and improvement costs

Siding painting

A new coat of paint can add life to any siding. The average cost to paint 1,500 sq.ft. of siding is $1,850-$2,500.

Additional considerations and costs

• Asbestos. Older homes built prior to 1960 often feature asbestos ⁹ siding. Asbestos is dangerous if the fibers or dust become airborne, so there is always a certain amount of risk involved in repairing the siding. You can no longer purchase asbestos siding, but you can often find a suitable replacement for the damaged area, such as fiber cement, which looks very similar to asbestos siding and can be painted to match. A specialized asbestos removal company charges $200-$700 per hour to remove and dispose of the asbestos. Many contractors who specialize in asbestos removal will charge a fixed base fee of $1,500-$3,000 per job regardless of how small the job is.
• DIY. Many people opt to undertake siding repair themselves. Stucco, stone, and brick are fairly easy to repair using caulk ². Vinyl and fiber cement can be replaced in the area of damage. Aluminum siding that is colored is often difficult to match and if you cannot match the damaged area then you might want to consider painting the siding when you are done repairing the damage so everything matches.
• Additional charges. Nowadays, many contractors want to install a housewrap (often called Tyvek) between your home’s exterior walls and the siding to optimize waterproofing. A 9 ft. x 150 ft. roll of housewrap averages $165 per roll. However, this is an additional cost and rarely included in the price. You should always take the time to make sure that the cost of the building paper is included if you have decided to have it installed.
• Replacing siding. If your home sustains siding damage and the damaged siding is no longer viable, then you could use siding panels from an area of your home that is less visible to replace the damaged area. Then you can try your best to replace the siding you borrowed from the obscure area of your home with a somewhat similar style or color.