(metal, plywood or vinyl siding and retrofit)
(wood, stone or brick siding and wood trim)
Cost to install siding varies greatly by region (and even by zip code).
Get free estimates from siding contractors in your city.
The average cost of installing siding is $8,000 - $12,000.
Siding is the protective material that is attached to the exterior of a home. Similar to the way a roof acts to protect your home from moisture and maintain heat and comfort, siding serves many of the same roles for the rest of the structure of the home. Aside from being important to the value and curb appeal of any residence, siding does much more. It acts as a protective barrier from moisture, keeps bugs outside where they belong, and also protects from UV rays, wind, and other weather conditions.
A project to install siding for a 1,500 sq.ft. home will cost on average $8,000-$12,000. This price includes all labor fees and materials needed by a professional.
Proper surface preparation is an important part of your siding installation. There are some steps that need to be taken to prepare your home for a good siding installation job. These are illustrated below:
When installing siding, you will need to decide on the type of siding that you would prefer. There are many options of siding listed in the chart below, each of which vary in uses and cost.
Type | Features | Cost |
---|---|---|
Board siding | Mimics many other siding materials | $3.00-$5.00/sq.ft. |
Non-insulated siding | Added to the exterior of the home for the purpose of appearance as it doesn’t give many performance benefits | $3.00-$5.00/sq.ft. |
Board and batten siding | Exterior paneling that alternates boards and narrow wood strips called battens | $3.50-$6.00/sq.ft. |
Horizontal siding | Siding boards run parallel to the ground | $3.95-$7.20/sq.ft. |
Vertical siding | Siding boards run perpendicular to the ground. Can be used to emphasize height on low walls | $3.95-$7.20/sq.ft. |
Shingles/shakes | Siding is made of small, thin, tapered pieces of material, similar to shingles 3 in roofing | $4.00-$7.00/sq.ft. |
Clapboard/lap siding | Long, thin boards used to cover the walls and roofs of buildings. | $6.00-$8.00/sq.ft. |
Insulated siding | Added to the exterior of the home to provide protection to the home from impact damage as well as weather conditions | $6.00-$12.00/sq.ft. |
There are a variety of material options for siding installation that can help to create the perfect touch to the exterior of your home. While aesthetics are always important, you should also consider each material and the differences in durability, ease of installation, water resistance, and versatility. The chart below lists some of the most common siding materials along with their pros, cons, and costs.
Type | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Metal - aluminum ($3.50-$4.75/sq.ft.) | Energy-efficient Durable No painting required Corrosion-resistant Many styles | Could crack or dent Not insulating Might fade over time |
Metal - steel ($3.50-$5.55/sq.ft.) | Energy-efficient Durable Many styles Corrosion-resistant | Might fade over time Easily dented |
Plywood ($3.88-$5.65/sq.ft.) | Low cost Good appearance | Surface maintenance required |
Vinyl ($5.01/sq.ft.) | No painting required Good appearance | Could melt or crack |
Fiber cement ($4.00/sq.ft.) | Durable Low maintenance | Expensive |
Fiber cement - insulated ($6.00-$8.00/sq.ft.) | Durable Low maintenance | More expensive |
Wood ($7.00-10.00/sq.ft.) | Holds well in extreme temperatures, humidity, and moisture Durable | Costly Needs regular treatment and will eventually need to be replaced |
Granite stone ($9.00-$17.00/sq.ft.) | Stylish Durable | Long and difficult installation process Very expensive |
Stone or brick ($11.00-15.00/sq.ft.) | Authentic-looking Sustainable building materials | Expensive Longer installation process |
Some points about siding materials:
Cedar shakes 4 and fiber cement 5 are both great options for siding for the traditional look of clapboard or shingle siding. There are often many questions about the differences between the two and these differences are highlighted in the chart below.
Differences | Cedar Shakes | Fiber Cement |
---|---|---|
Materials | Made from white or red cedar Can be in the form of horizontal panels or traditional shakes/shingles Can be painted/stained/untreated | Man-made from a composite of sand, cement,and fibres Can be pressed together to form planks or shingles Comes primed and can be painted |
Aesthetics | Comes in lap siding, cedar shakes or shingles, or beveled Can have a modern look with tongue-and-groove panels or rural look with board-and-batten | Comes in lap or clapboard, shingles, board-and-batten Comes in wood grain, smooth finish, or rustic finish Replicates painted wood |
Durability & Maintenance | Can last many years with proper maintenance Vulnerable to woodpeckers and pests Maintenance includes minimizing exposure to moisture | Very durable due to its cement content Not damaged by pests or woodpeckers Can last many years Extremely low maintenance |
Cost | $5-$7/sq.ft. | $4-$8/sq.ft. |
The siding installation process is completed by a professional siding contractor. Typically the process involves preparation and planning, preparing the outside of the home (removing old siding, make sure walls are able to receive the siding), siding the soffit 6 and fascia area (nailing in j-channel pieces and measuring/cutting the soffit pieces), then the siding is applied (siding is installed from bottom to top, nailed to plywood 7 sheathing through a building paper).
Some required tools for the project include the basic level, hammer, pry bar, tool belt, tape measure and utility knife. For a siding project, contractors use a special tool called a “zip tool” that helps to remove interlocked siding panels. Other materials that are needed include aluminum flashing, j-channel, building paper, and the siding itself.
Most contractors include the labor in the price per square foot. If labor is calculated on its own, a professional siding contractor will charge $40-$50 per hour. If it takes more contractors to work on the project, this rate can be much higher.
Many homeowners have difficulty deciding whether to go with siding or cladding for their exterior home surfaces. Siding and cladding typically serve the same three purposes: to provide protection against the weather, to enhance the appearance, and to add extra strength to a home’s surface. Siding is more often used for wood, vinyl, aluminum, or engineered materials that are installed vertically or horizontally. Cladding, on the other hand, is used for brick, stucco 8, or stone. You can expect to pay more for cladding due to the materials used.
Most types of siding require very little maintenance as they are created to withstand impact and weather. Regardless what type of siding you have on your home, however, there are some methods to keep your siding in good shape to ensure it lasts for a long period of time. The chart below illustrates some siding maintenance tips based on material type.
Siding material | Maintenance |
---|---|
Wood | Should be treated every 4-6 years, especially in warmer climates |
Vinyl | Power wash your vinyl siding in the summer Remove spiders and insects |
Metal | Scrape off any rust Use a sealant to avoid rusting If painted, scrape the area and repaint it |
Stone | Hose it down at least twice a year |
Fiber cement | The sealant should be checked annually After a number of years some repainting may be needed |
Unless there is a specific problem with a home’s siding, replacing it may not be a top priority of many homeowners. There are, however, specific things that a homeowner should look for to determine whether a home needs siding replacement. Siding should be replaced if:
Retrofit refers to adding new features to an older existing system. In siding, retrofit can be done so that new siding is applied over old wood siding. Vinyl siding is the most commonly used siding to retrofit existing siding. Siding retrofit averages $2-$7 per sq.ft., installed.
In order to protect your home from the weather, animals, and pests, and provide ventilation and pleasing aesthetics, it is very important to have good soffit boards installed. Soffits are used to enclose the underside of your roof overhang, eaves 9, and ceilings. Soffits are typically composed of vinyl or aluminum. Soffits that are 8’x12’ feet sheets typically cost $2-$10 per linear foot. If the soffits are wider than 12’x16’, the price can increase to $20 per linear foot.
If you are looking to give your home’s exterior a fresh look without spending a lot of money, painting the siding is a great option. A fresh coat of paint can help to repair many issues and imperfections giving the house a brand new look. It is often recommended to hire a professional to do the job and will cost an average of $1,850 for painting the siding of a 1,500 sq.ft. house.
Flashing eliminates the need to worry about water seeping through siding on rainy days. Flashing is a thin sheet or strip of weather-resistant material that is installed around windows and doors, and on top of the foundation walls to direct the water flow away from the home. Installing flashing for an area of 1,500 sq.ft. including windows and door areas would cost from $200-$400.
Exterior trim can deteriorate over time, especially if it is an older home. If you have a new home, then brand new trim will need to be installed. Two of the most popular types of outdoor trim include vinyl trim or wood trim. Exterior vinyl trim averages $2-$3 per linear foot unpainted, depending on the quality. For a home that is 1,500 sq.ft. this would cost from $1,250-$2,100. Exterior wood trim averages $3-$4 per linear foot, depending on the quality. For a home that is 1,500 sq.ft. this would cost an average of $2,500.
A project to put siding on a house can cost anywhere from $4,000-$18,000 depending on the scope of the project.
With the use of vinyl siding hangers or hooks, it makes it possible to hang something on vinyl siding.
The vinyl pieces are first cut and then placed. The bottom row panels are first slid into place hooking the bottom lip of the panel under the starting strip. To join two lengths of sliding, the panels can be overlapped. The siding is secured into place using roofing nails.
A home of 1,500 sq.ft. will cost an average of $1,850 to paint vinyl siding.
Typically a professional siding contractor will charge $40-$50 per hour for labor.
The best type of nails to use for vinyl siding are hot-dipped galvanized roofing nails.
The average cost of replacing a 1,500 sq.ft. roof ranges from $6,750-$40,000.
Typically, a box of vinyl siding contains two “squares” of siding. One square of siding covers 100 square feet and therefore 1 box would cover 200 square feet.
Siding serves a number of different roles to protect the structure of a home. Aside from being important for curb appeal of any residence, siding also acts as a protective barrier from moisture, pests, and also protection from UV rays, wind, and any other weather conditions.
Yes, painting your siding is possible. A fresh coat of paint can help to improve the look and can repair many issues without spending a ton of money on replacing it.
Cost to install siding varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.