The Homeowner's Guide to Replacement Siding

Replacing old siding typically costs between $11,679 and $21,250, though exact costs depend on material and location. Sturdy and attractive siding is one of the most essential elements of your home’s exterior. Like shingles, siding protects a home’s structure and interior from rain, snow, and wind while presenting an inviting facade. Without robust and well-maintained siding—also called cladding—your home can soon fall into disrepair and lose its curb appeal.

This makes it essential to replace your siding when it begins to deteriorate, though you don’t always have to replace all of it at once. You can patch up or swap the damaged siding if the damage is minimal. If you want to give your home a makeover, you can replace all of your siding whenever possible, even if the old siding still has some life.

Keep reading, and we’ll help you find professional siding installers and discuss the various materials you can choose from.

How much does replacement siding cost

The average homeowner pays about $16,221 to replace all of their house’s siding, though we’ve seen it cost as little as $5,000 and as much as $89,000. Costs are most often somewhere within a $11,679 to $21,250 price range, though. The price of a siding replacement project depends on various factors, including the type of siding used and how large the home is. 

Check out our siding cost guide to learn more about typical siding replacement and installation prices. 

When to replace your home’s siding

Siding replacement timelines greatly depend on the material your siding is made from and how well you care for it. For example, vinyl siding sometimes needs to be replaced after only 10 years, but if you perform all the necessary upkeep, it can last as long as 30 years. Meanwhile, fiber cement siding can often last up to 50 years. 

There’s no guarantee your siding will last as long as it’s supposed to, though, so it’s important to watch for these signs that your siding requires replacement:

• Discoloration
• Mold, fungus, and other types of rot
• Large gaps between panels
• Warping, buckling, or cracking panels
• Loose panels
• Blistering from heat

Any of these signs may indicate it’s time to replace your siding. If the damage isn’t widespread, you can sometimes get individual sections repaired or replaced instead of replacing all of your home’s siding at once. 

Is replacing your home’s siding worth it?

While it’s pretty expensive, replacing your home’s siding has considerable financial benefits. For one thing, new siding can increase your home’s value, though probably not enough to cover the project’s costs completely. New siding generally only increases a home’s resale value enough to recoup about 90% of its installation cost. 

Because of this, replacing your siding when you’re trying to sell your home isn't worth your time or money. Instead, undertake this project when you’ve lived in your home for a few more years so you can reap the other benefits. These benefits include increased energy efficiency and greater longevity for your home’s exterior walls. 

With new siding to provide extra insulation, your home will retain heated and cooled air better, meaning you won’t have to spend as much on your utilities. Depending on what your new siding is made from, it can drastically lower your monthly costs, thereby helping you recover more of the money you initially spent to install it.

Properly protecting your home with durable siding can safeguard against painfully expensive disasters like mildew, moisture damage, and termites in your exterior walls. 

Why you should hire professional siding contractors

To the untrained eye, siding replacement can seem simpler than other home improvement projects. However, this job is deceptively complex and difficult, especially if you don’t have experience working with the necessary tools or the material your siding is made from. For this reason, we strongly recommend hiring professional contractors instead of taking this project into your own hands.  

Pulling permits and planning your project to meet local building codes are the first hurdles you’ll have to overcome during a DIY siding replacement. While DIYers successfully overcome both of these challenges all the time, they can be hard to navigate if you’ve never done it before. Professionals take care of these steps for you. 

Then, there’s the job itself. Doing it wrong at any stage can result in additional costs to fix the damage you might accidentally do during installation. If you mangle a significant portion of your siding material while learning how to cut it down to size, you’ll have to order replacement materials. Additionally, improper installation might result in damage that isn’t noticeable for years. If pieces aren’t installed or sealed correctly, siding can leak, allowing water, air, and insects to wreak havoc on your home’s frame unseen until the walls deteriorate.

That said, some siding materials are better suited for DIYers than others. Vinyl Dutch lap siding, for example, is relatively easy to install since it comes in panels manufactured to slide easily together. You can also often cut vinyl siding with a utility knife. On the other hand, other materials like brick and stone are more complicated to install since you need special saws to cut them, and you have to seal gaps between pieces with much heavier mortar.

Speaking of weight, siding replacement usually requires climbing tall ladders with heavy materials. This makes DIY siding installation dangerous as well as difficult.

So, while replacing your home’s siding with your own two hands can save you some money, it does come with considerable physical and financial risks. All things considered, it’s a job best left to professional contractors, especially if you want to replace your siding with high-end materials like stone, brick, or steel.

Different siding options

In addition to the differences in how you install them, the various siding options have unique benefits and drawbacks. Understanding these differences is essential for choosing the best siding material for your home, so use this breakdown of common siding options to help you decide.

Wood siding

• Average whole home cost: $9,766–$17,768
• Lifespan: 20–40 years
• Highlights: Attractive, easy to paint and stain
• Downsides: High-maintenance, highly susceptible to damage

Natural wood siding generally costs between $7 and $12 per square foot, with exact prices varying depending on the type of wood the siding is made from. Wood is a versatile siding material since it can be stained and painted easily, and natural wood grain can have an appealing rustic look. Be warned that wood requires routine maintenance to prevent water damage and pest infestations.

Plywood siding is a cheaper wood option, generally costing between $4 and $7 per square foot, but it’s also much lower quality and doesn’t last as long as all-natural wood.

Engineered wood siding costs between $5 and $9 per square foot, so it’s cheaper than some natural wood options and more expensive than others. Additionally, engineered wood is typically more low-maintenance than natural wood and can last longer while providing the same charm. 

Vinyl siding

• Average whole home cost: $6,753–$12,287
• Lifespan: 20+ years
• Highlights: Affordable, low maintenance, diverse color options
• Downsides: Vulnerable to heat, not eco-friendly

Vinyl siding usually costs between $5 and $8 per square foot. Some vinyl pieces are hollow and lightweight, making them easy to work with for beginners, while others come with insulation to provide extra durability and energy efficiency. Since vinyl is plastic, it’s less eco-friendly than natural options like wood, metal, or stone.

Vinyl siding colors are plentiful, and vinyl can also be made to imitate the texture of wood, stone, and brick. This means you can almost always find vinyl cladding that will match whatever style you’re going for with your home’s exterior. If not, painting vinyl siding is always an option!

Metal siding

• Average whole home cost: $8,374–$22,942
• Lifespan: 30–50 years
• Highlights: Durable, flame-resistant
• Downsides: Varied maintenance difficulty

Metal siding costs between $7 and $15 per square foot. It’s a little rarer than wood or vinyl, but it does provide a few benefits they don’t. Metal siding is much more flame-resistant than the other two materials, for example, and it isn’t vulnerable to insects like wood is.

Aluminum and steel are the two most common metals used for cladding. Aluminum siding can be more affordable but requires routine paint jobs to maintain its good looks. On the other hand, steel siding doesn’t need to be painted, so it’s much more low-maintenance than aluminum.

Other metals like tin, zinc, and copper can also be used to side a building, though they aren’t commonly installed on houses. 

Stucco siding

• Average whole home cost: $10,255–$18,659
• Lifespan: 50+ years
• Highlights: Energy efficient, low maintenance
• Downsides: Vulnerable to moisture

Stucco siding generally costs between $7 and $12 per square foot. Unlike other siding options that come in pieces that need to be placed individually, Stucco is installed like cement. To install Stucco siding, mix a bag of the material with water, then apply a trowel to a wet wall with water-proof paper and casing beads.

Stucco is a durable siding material that can last up to 100 years. However, excessive moisture can cause Stucco to crack, warp, and become discolored, so it doesn’t last as long in humid or rainy climates as in arid regions.

Fiber cement siding

• Average whole home cost: $4,972–$9,047
• Lifespan: 50 years
• Highlights: Durable, affordable, fire-resistant
• Downsides: Vulnerable to moisture, relatively high-maintenance

For fiber cement siding, you should expect to pay between $3 and $6 per square foot. Like vinyl, this siding option is typically made in a mold, so it can be crafted to imitate the texture of other siding options like wood and stone. Fiber cement can last longer than vinyl if properly cared for, though, and it’s much more fire-resistant. 

Brick siding

• Average whole home cost: $23,798–$43,299
• Lifespan: 100 years
• Highlights: Attractive, energy efficient, durable
• Downsides: Expensive

Brick siding typically costs somewhere between $16 and $29 per square foot. Brick is another low-maintenance siding material that can last for 100 years or longer, and it doesn’t come with many of the problems other siding options pose. It doesn’t warp when exposed to moisture, swell or contract depending on the temperature, or rot when it ages.

Also, because brick is an ancient building material, it gives a home a quaint, traditional look that never goes out of style.

If you want your home to have that authentic brick look for a fraction of the price, opt for brick veneer siding instead. Brick veneers are much thinner than full brick siding, so they aren’t as energy-efficient or durable, but they offer many of the same benefits, and they only cost $6 to $9 per square foot. 

Stone siding

• Average whole home cost: $48,935–$89,035
• Lifespan: 50–75 years
• Highlights: Attractive, energy efficient, durable
• Downsides: The most expensive option

Natural stone is one of the most expensive siding options, and it usually costs between $33 and $60 per square foot, depending on what type of rock is used. The weight of stone makes it especially difficult to install, so it’s one of the worst materials for DIYers to use for siding. 

However, the benefits of stone siding make it worth the trouble and cost. The material can last hundreds of years, is incredibly energy efficient, and is among the most low-maintenance siding options. Like brick, stone siding also gives a home a timeless look that harkens back to castles and picturesque cottages.

Like brick, stone siding comes in thinner veneer options that offer most of the same benefits and aesthetic appeal for a small portion of the price. Stone veneer siding typically costs between $12 and $22 per square foot. 

Other projects to tackle while you’re replacing your siding

Because siding replacement involves baring your home’s structure, there are a few other projects you may want to consider tackling while the siding is off. Talk to your contractors about these additional projects to learn if they’re necessary for your home:

• Adding insulation to your walls
• Replacing damaged framing or sheathing
• Electrical work (rewiring, grounding outlets, etc.)
• Replacing downspouts or gutters
• Repairing your soffits and fascias

In addition to this list of additional projects, it’s a good idea to ask your contractors if there’s anything else they recommend once they’ve looked inside your walls. Who knows what they may find in there? 

DIY siding replacement

Siding replacement procedures vary depending on what the new and old siding is made from and which company made them. Additionally, each siding option requires different tools, sealants, and fixtures. In general, you should only attempt to replace simple vinyl siding yourself. All other siding options are too complex or heavy for amateurs to work with effectively.

Even vinyl siding installation is best left to professionals. It may seem simple to install, but because of all the technical skills involved, it’s also very easy to install wrong, and the results can be disastrous. To make matters worse, DIY installation will often void your siding’s warranty.

These basic step-by-step instructions can teach you what goes into siding replacement. Still, if you intend to install new siding yourself, you’ll need to carefully study your siding manufacturer’s installation instructions to ensure you get it right.

• Step 1: Gather all the tools and materials you’ll need. At a minimum, you’ll need new siding, house wrap, a hammer, nails, a tape measure, a spirit level, and tin snips. 
• Step 2: Remove the existing siding. Pry the old panels up, decouple the panels from each other, remove all the nails, and then pull the panels away one by one. If you notice any mold, broken studs, or dents in your sheathing once you’ve removed the old siding, hire someone to fix the damage before you install the new material. 
• Step 3: Install your new siding. Start by installing corner posts on every corner of your home. Next, install J-trim around the casing of every window and door. Then, install a starter strip at the bottom edge of each wall. Once these fixtures are in place, you can install your first vinyl panel. Interlock it with the bottom edge of your starter strip, slide it into the groove of the nearest corner post, and then nail it into the wall. Work your way up the wall by interlocking each subsequent panel with the one below. As you go, you’ll need to cut specific panels to match your wall’s length and to fit with your gutters, fixtures, and soffits. Use your measuring tape and tin snips to accomplish this. 

For more detailed instructions, check out our DIY siding installation guide. 

Replacing your home’s siding

Now that you know the costs and benefits of different siding options, you can talk to a local contractor about refreshing your home’s old, worn-out cladding. You can either get the same material—especially if you’re just patching up some damage—or replace it with something more stylish, energy-efficient, or protective.

Siding replacement FAQ

Can you replace individual pieces of siding?

Yes, you can replace individual pieces and sections of damaged siding. Removing individual pieces and successfully swapping in new material can be tricky, though, so this job is best left to professionally trained siding contractors. 

Can you replace siding yourself?

It’s possible for an especially handy homeowner to replace their own vinyl siding. However, the results can look unsightly and leak or warp over time. Additionally, DIY installation may void your siding’s warranty. This means you could spend more to fix poorly installed siding than you saved on labor costs by installing it yourself. For this reason, you should always leave siding installation to a professional contractor. 

What is the cheapest exterior siding option?

The cheapest options are vinyl, fiber cement, and engineered wood siding. Siding prices can depend on local market conditions, though, so if budget is your key concern, you should ask a local contractor which of these options is the cheapest in your area. 

Is it better to repair or replace siding?

If only certain sections of your home’s siding have fallen into disrepair, you may be able to repair the damage instead of replacing all of your home’s cladding. This is only recommended if your siding is relatively new and most of it is still in good condition. If your siding is nearing the end of its projected lifespan anyway, it’s probably better to just replace it all at once.