Did you know that siding are not only decorative, but they also protect your home and help keep it warm and cozy?
If you don’t have any siding installed yet in your home, think about it the next time you go to Home Depot or Menards. Siding will not only add to the appeal of your home but will also increase its value, which is especially helpful if you plan to eventually sell it.
Maybe you ended up here because you already plan to get them but have no idea about the basics, or your siding are already in poor shape. But either way, we got you covered.
On this page:
- Factors Affecting the Cost of Siding Installation Quotes
- Siding Materials
- Cost of Services Offered by Siding Contractors
- Getting Quotes from Competing Contractors
You will know about the siding materials available on the market, various related services offered by contractors, and the major cost factors. This will be very helpful to you if you want to keep your expenses to a minimum.
And if you are at a loss wondering where you can find a siding contractor, don’t worry. We also have a free service that allows you to get up to four competitive siding installation or repair quotes from qualified pros in your area.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Siding Installation Quotes
Getting accurate quotes for a siding installation can be challenging because of the various factors involved. Awareness of these factors will be an advantage to you, since these can help you strategize to cut costs for your project.
Keep these factors in mind whenever you have a siding installation project:
Siding Material
Siding materials have different costs per square foot, and your choice of material takes up a large bulk of your budget. You will get to know different materials available and their average prices in a later section.
Siding Style
Siding come in different styles, namely:
- Dutch lap
- Shake
- Shingle
- Clapboard
- Log
- Beaded
- Board & Batten
- Vertical
Note that these styles also come with varying price tags.
Siding Grade
In siding speak, grades are indicative of the quality, thickness, or appearance of a siding material. This is common to wood and vinyl siding, although other siding materials may also have their own set of grades.
It goes without saying that the better the grade, the higher the price tag. Do note that different manufacturers have different grading systems. Some manufacturers also offer custom grading for your chosen siding material at higher cost.
Size of Your Home
The larger your home is, the more expensive your siding installation will be. This is a general rule, especially if you are installing the siding on all exterior walls. Bigger homes mean more square footage and more time needed for a contractor to work on the project, which both mean higher labor costs.
Number of Stories Present
It is easier for a contractor to install siding on a single-story home than one with multiple stories. Multi-level homes will require additional materials and labor but also the use of special equipment for a contractor to reach the higher levels. Expect to add as much as 35% more for labor for every additional floor of your home.
Location
Just like other home improvement projects, it costs more if you get your siding installed in a city or urban area where there is greater demand, than in a rural neighborhood. Places with higher costs of living can increase labor charges by as much as 40%.
Also, it is often cheapest to hire a contractor in your area than one located off-state. Same goes with purchasing materials; delivery costs will depend on the distance between the store or warehouse to your home.
Accessories
You also need to consider the accessories and components required when installing siding. These include soffits, trims, vents, corners, j-channels, and other materials.
Installation Method
Installing replacement siding is bound to be a lot more expensive than first time installations, since it means additional labor. You may get the existing siding removed first before installing the new one, which is more expensive, or possibly get the new siding installed on top of the old one.
Removal of Existing Siding
Siding removal will not only involve removing your old siding but also its proper disposal. This involves transporting the debris to the proper facilities for it, as regular garbage collection services will likely reject it.
And if you have a home built in sometime between the early 20th century to the 1970s, you may be dealing with asbestos. If this is the case, expect its removal to cost a lot more. Asbestos siding removal is not as easy as removing other siding materials, and it is also unsafe to do. Contractors will have to use specialized equipment and safety gears, hence the higher cost.
Number of Windows and Doors Present
Doors and windows present in your home will complicate siding installations. Not only will your contractor have to cut each piece of siding to fit around those openings, they also need to take extra measures to seal it up and prevent water from entering through those spaces.
Manufacturer and Quality
Siding materials manufactured by well-known brands are normally more expensive than those made by relatively unknown manufacturers. That is why a siding made by Everlast is pricier than those offered by unknown brands, even if description alone says that they are basically the same.
The phrase “you get what you pay for” also applies to siding materials, as expensive ones tend to have better quality and come with longer warranty coverages.
Permits
Getting your siding installed may or may not require permits, as local authorities may consider it as a major renovation or construction project. You may choose to have your contractor get the necessary permits for you at an extra cost, or you can get them yourself and only pay for the permit itself.
Shape of Your Home
Homes that involve a lot of angles mean more work for a contractor, not to mention using additional materials to make sure that each corner is covered and completely sealed to prevent water damage.
And if your home has sections with curves instead of sharp corners, installing siding on those curves will be a bit more challenging. So, don’t be surprised if your contractor charges higher for those sections.
Insulation or House Wrapping Needed
Unless you are getting insulated siding installed, adding a layer of insulation or housewrap is highly recommended. They prevent water from penetrating the structure and will minimize heat loss, which can help lower your electricity bills. This extra layer will also help make the installation of your siding a lot easier, because it provides a smoother base for it.
Any Structural Repairs Necessary
Before your siding can be installed, your contractor must check the condition of the walls where they will be installed, as well as the other nearby components, like gutters. If they see any kind of damage, they must be addressed first before installing your siding.
Leaks, wood rot, and other structural damage present will cause even more damage to your home if you get your siding installed without fixing these issues first.
Time or Season of Installation
Most construction and home improvement projects have peak and off-peak seasons, and siding installations are no exception. If you want to save, schedule your siding installation in advance and get it done between the fall and early winter seasons when there is less demand.
Other Standalone Structures
It will look weird if your garage and other outdoor spaces do not match the appearance of your home, so keep in mind that you also need to install matching siding to them.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Siding Repair Quotes
Siding are durable, but it does not mean they are completely immune to damage.
Just like in its installations, the cost of repairing siding is also affected by various factors, such as:
Extent of Damage
Because siding are generally thin, you can immediately notice any issues or damage hiding underneath your siding and on its surface.
This thinness means that the extent of the damage in a siding is generally limited to how large it is, not its depth. This means the larger the damage, the more it will cost to get repaired.
Note that severe damage can also affect the layers or surface underneath your siding; you will end up repairing not just your siding but also the wall and components underneath.
Type of Siding Material Used
Your chosen siding material will also affect the cost of getting them repaired, as some materials are easier to repair than others, and quick and easy fixes mean less repair costs.
Location of the Damaged Siding
Accessibility is not just determined by the level where the damaged siding is located, which may require the use of special equipment, but also obstructions present that can affect the work of a siding contractor.
A home with clear surroundings is easier to work on than a house that is surrounded by shrubs and other plants. Your contractor will have to move extra carefully to avoid damaging them, or you may need to call a landscaper afterwards.
Proper Disposal
Like in installation, any debris from a siding repair job must be disposed of properly. You or your contractor can do this, but either way, disposal facilities usually require payment necessary fees before they will accept it.
Availability of Siding Material
In some cases, replacing damaged siding can be a challenge if the siding material you have has been discontinued. This is a common issue for hard to match pieces, like wood or stone siding.
To get an exact match, you may have to get it custom-made by the manufacturer. Or, you can look for something similar and get your contractor to match its appearance with your existing siding.
Siding Materials
When it comes to siding, vinyl is the likely material that comes to anyone’s mind. After all, this is the one most widely used in homes. But if you want to consider other options, here is a list of various siding materials for you to choose from, as well as their average costs (covering both materials and labor):
Vinyl
What makes vinyl such a popular siding material is its durability for a very low price. Vinyl siding is known to be weatherproof, free from pest infestations, and resistant to fading. It is also a low maintenance siding that comes in various colors and designs, even imitating the appearance of wood and stone.
Note that insulated siding falls under this type of material, as it consists of a vinyl siding with an EPS or expanded polystyrene foam attached on its back part.
Unfortunately, vinyl still tends to have that plasticky appearance, even if made to look like other materials. While durable, it is vulnerable to extreme temperatures and strong winds, and is not completely waterproof, especially when installed poorly. Also, it is not a biodegradable material.
Vinyl siding costs $4 to $8.50 per square foot and lasts for an average of 20 to 30 years.
Wood
Did you know that wood was the most popular siding material before vinyl siding was developed?
This is due to its unparalleled beauty suitable to all kinds of homes. It also offers easy customization, as it can be cut into different shapes and sizes, and then painted or stained in whatever color you like. Common types of wood siding are cedar shake, redwood shingles, and clapboard.
Because it is completely natural, it can succumb to issues that wood is known for, such as rot, pest infestations, and warping due to moisture. It also requires regular maintenance, repairs, and touch-ups to maintain its appearance.
Wood siding costs $4 to $14 per square foot, but this does not include the cost of painting or staining. It lasts for an average of 50 to 100 years.
Engineered Wood
Those who prefer the look of wood but find wood siding too pricey can settle for engineered wood. It is more natural looking than vinyl siding imitating wood, since it consists of bonded composite materials, particularly wood fibers. It is also easier to maintain and a lot more durable than wood siding, due to its resistance to pests, extreme temperatures, and moisture.
While you can customize engineered wood siding to your preference, you can only do it once because it cannot be repainted or re-stained. It also features a uniform grain, which may not appeal to some who are after a natural look.
Engineered wood siding costs $4 to $8 per square foot and lasts for an average of 50 years.
Natural Stone
In use for centuries, stone also has a timeless appeal that suits all homes. Slate, limestone, and granite are commonly used for a stone siding, but other natural stones may be used. It is completely weatherproof and extremely durable, requiring minimal maintenance. Stone siding also offers a more textured look because each piece is unique.
Stone is quite heavy, so your home will require reinforcements to handle all the weight if you use it as siding. Its weight also adds difficulty to its installation, so it is the norm for siding contractors to charge higher for stone siding installations.
Stone siding costs $35 to $50 per square foot and lasts for more than 75 years on average.
Stone Veneer
Mimics the appearance of stone minus the expensive price tag, stone veneer is the best alternative if you want to achieve the look of a stone siding. This cultured stone is made by combining Portland cement, pigments of iron-oxide, and various lightweight aggregates. Its lighter weight makes it easier to install than natural stone siding.
While it looks the same as natural stone, stone veneer is less durable and can be affected by extreme temperatures and moisture.
Stone veneer siding costs $10 to $23 per square foot and lasts for an average of 30 to 50 years.
Brick
Another classic siding material, brick siding are favored by many because of its eye-catching appearance that comes in different colors. Aside from its beauty that increases over time, pest and weather-resistance, and durability, it also offers excellent cooling capabilities to your home. It also requires minimal maintenance, which is limited to the occasional power washing.
Brick siding share the same drawbacks with natural stone siding; a solid clay brick is also a heavy material, which means it costs more to install. It cannot be repainted, so you are stuck with the original color you choose.
Brick siding costs $14 to $30 per square foot and can last for more than a century.
Brick Veneer
Brick siding also have a cheaper alternative in the form of brick veneer. Consists of thin layers of brick, it is lighter and offers most of the benefits as that of a brick wall in terms of resistance to weather and damage. It is also a low maintenance siding material.
Since it is not solid brick, it is less durable and can be damaged by water.
Brick veneer siding costs $10 to $17 per square foot and lasts for an average of 75 years.
Fiber Cement
Just like vinyl, fiber cement is a synthetic material but is primarily manufactured to imitate the appearance of other materials, especially wood and stucco. Its components, consisting of Portland cement, water, fly ash, and wood pulp, make it a very durable siding material that can be painted with different colors. It can resist moisture, extreme temperatures, hits, and pest infestations well.
But while durable, fiber cement still has a limited lifespan and requires refinishing. It is also a heavy material, which means increased installation costs for you.
Fiber cement siding, including the popular HardiPlank siding, costs $6 to $12 per square foot and lasts an average of 35 to 50 years.
Stucco
Considered as the best in terms of efficiency, stucco is known for its insulating properties and fire resistance. It is also known for its durability, as its components include cement, lime, and sand. Stucco can also be painted over with any color and requires minimal maintenance.
Stucco is done in multiple layers, so the labor cost is pricey. Also, it can be easily damaged by repeated hits because it is brittle. It is also not immune to moisture-related issues.
Stucco siding costs $7 to $13 per square foot and lasts an average of 50 to 100 years.
Metal
Often made of aluminum but also comes in copper, zinc, and steel alloys, a metal siding is one of the most durable siding materials around. Not only is it resistant to fire, warping, and mold and pest infestations, it can also help keep your home cool during particularly hot days. Metal can be painted over multiple times, and the paint not easily fade.
While water-resistant, some metal siding, especially those made of steel alloys, can develop rust and corrosion due to poor maintenance. Aluminum metal siding are vulnerable when hit, even by hailstones, while sateel siding can also be a challenge for pros to install because of its weight.
Metal siding costs $5 to $11 per square foot and lasts an average of 30 to 50 years.
Asbestos
While you may still see siding made of asbestos in older homes, new installation are no longer done by contractors due to its hazardous nature.
Cost of Services Offered by Siding Contractors
While services provided by siding contractors are generally limited to installations and repairs, their estimated quotes will vary because of the materials involved and the kind of labor needed.
Here is a guide to help you estimate how much the siding service you want to avail of will cost:
Siding Repairs
There is a wide range of cost when it comes to doing repairs on siding, as it can go for as low as $100 to as high as $22,000. But on average, expect a repair to cost between $290 to $1,060, regardless of material.
Siding contractors normally charge between $40 to $50 per hour when doing repairs.
Fiber Cement Siding Repair
Issues involving fiber cement siding are mostly cosmetic:
- Flaking or chipping paint – repainting costs $2 per square foot, with an average cost of $1,700 to $3,700
- Loose boards – repair is done via pinback nailing or securing the butt joints of the board to the surface using nails, and this costs $100 to $200 on average.
- Buckled boards – repairs may either be by nailing it back in place or cutting away excess parts to make it fit the space better. This type of repair has an average cost of $200 to $350.
Wood Siding Repair
Damaged wood siding can either be repaired or replaced. Common issues are:
- Holes present – applying putty often fixes it, and this repair has an average cost of $100 to $200.
- Warped boards – can be repaired by forcing it to lie flat using additional screws or by shortening the board. Either method costs $300 to $400 on average.
- Damage boards – replacement costs can go beyond $1000
Stucco Repair
Cracks and holes can appear on stucco siding over time, and these must be addressed asap to prevent structural damage to your home.
Contractors can charge you either hourly or per square foot of work done, which ranges from $60 to $80 per square foot, but the cost of materials will vary in terms of what kind of stucco you will use:
- Traditional stucco – $10 to $50 per bag weighing 80 to 90 lbs., or $0.05 to $0.10 per square foot
- Synthetic stucco – $40 to $50 for every bucket weighing 5 gallons, or $0.25 to $0.50 per square foot
- Finishing materials – $40 to $50
Note that you may also need to get it repainted, which costs an additional $300 to $500.
Asbestos Siding Encapsulation and Removal
If you have an old home and believe that the siding is made of asbestos, which is a known toxic material, it is vital that you get it removed. If you cannot afford it yet, you can choose to get it repaired; by repair, we mean encapsulate it to stop the release of harmful asbestos fibers.
Asbestos siding removal involves removing each shingle piece by piece, instead of the usual removal by panel. Contractors charge either by square footage or per hour of work for this task; its average rates are $8 per square foot and $200 per hour, while the average cost of asbestos siding removal and its disposal ranges from $650 to $9,720.
Aside from its removal, you also need to include in your budget the replacement siding and the labor cost of installing the new one. For the entire project, from asbestos siding removal to its replacement, you can expect to spend as much as $11,000 to $20,000.
A cheaper alternative is through encapsulation, which involves painting over the asbestos siding with both latex masonry primer and latex paint of high quality to prevent the release of dangerous asbestos fibers in the air. Contractors charge around $2 to $6 per square foot for this kind of task.
Siding Installation
On average, the cost of installing siding ranges from $5,080 to $14,530. And just like in siding repairs, contractors have an hourly rate that costs between $40 to $50 for siding installations. And if your installation requires removal of an existing siding, expect to add $1,000 to $3,000 more for it.
Vinyl Siding Installation
The second cheapest to install next to metal siding, expect to spend between $5,730 to $14,600 for vinyl siding installations, but it can also cost as low as $2,000 to as high as $24,000. Note that thicker or higher vinyl grades cost more to install.
Fiber Cement Siding Installation
It costs an average of $5,540 to $17,690 to have fiber cement siding installed, but don’t be surprised to spend as little as $1,500 or up to $31,000 for the entire project. While there are many other manufacturers of this siding material, Hardiplank is synonymous to fiber cement siding, that is why they cost a little more than the others.
Stucco Siding Installation
The average cost of installing stucco siding ranges from $1,860 to $6,860, although others also report spending somewhere between $800 to $15,000 for it. The material used, whether traditional or synthetic stucco, often costs a fraction of the price of labor.
Labor for stucco siding installation is expensive because a contractor must apply it three times: the first coat acts as the base or “scratch coat” for easy adherence of the second coat above it, referred to as the “levelling coat” or “brown coat,” which is then topped up by the third coat or “finishing coat” responsible for the siding’s texture.
Steel or Metal Siding Installation
Cheapest to install in terms of labor, this type of siding has an average installation cost of $4,050 to $13,620, but it can also be as cheap as $520 or as expensive as $25,000. The total cost can be challenging to determine, as metal and steel are known to have volatile prices. But in general, an aluminum siding is cheaper to install, and even repair, than a steel one.
Sheet Metal Repair and Fabrication
Siding contractors may also offer sheet metal repairs and fabrication services, depending on the type of damage present. Regardless of the type of work needed, expect to spend between $580 to $2,370 for these tasks.
Liquid Vinyl Siding Application
While not considered a siding material, liquid vinyl siding is used to improve the appearance of older siding that are starting to show wear and tear without being intrusive. It is more expensive than repainting siding, as it only costs $3 to $5 per square foot or $4,400 on average. It can also be as low as $1,500 to as high as $5,000, with the total cost covering the necessary prep work and the application of multiple coats of liquid vinyl to get the desired effect.
Trim Installation and Repair
Trims are commonly installed alongside siding, both for functional and decorative purposes. While its installation normally costs between $620 to $1,870, the type of trim used can lower or raise the total cost of installation.
Trims come in different types and with varying costs per linear foot:
- Casing – $0.60 to $1.20
- Baseboard – $0.60 to $1.20, with wood baseboards costing more
- Picture Rail – $1 to $2
- Chair Rail – $1 to $2
- Crown Molding – $2 to $3, while custom-made ones cost around $8 to $10
- Wall Frame Molding – premade squares cost between $8 to $25
Over time, trims will require repair when they start looking worn out, gaps start appearing, or get badly damaged due to rot and other issues. Necessary repairs have an average cost of $290 to $1,030.
Getting Quotes from Competing Contractors
Siding work is a task that is best left to experts, since any mistake will not only affect the siding but even your home’s structure itself, which is very expensive to undo.
At this point, you already know how difficult it is to estimate how much a siding-related project will cost due to the numerous factors involved. So, the best way to find out how much your budget should be is to get quotes from siding contractors who are familiar with the ins-and-outs of such projects.
If you are wondering where you can find a contractor asap, not only to get quotes but also work on your siding project, the answer to that lies in our form above.
By filling it out, you inform contractors in your area that you have a project they should check out. Siding contractors who are interested in working on it will give you their best quotes in hopes of beating the competition, and all you need to do is choose which one to hire for your project even without leaving your home.
But in case none of their quotes appeal to you, it is perfectly fine; we will never require you to hire one from those who expressed interest in your project.
You hardly need to exert effort to find a qualified contractor, since we made our form as simple as possible for you to spend only a minute or two to fill out. Like we mentioned in the start, expect to get as much as four competitive quotes from them when you use our free service.
So, what are you waiting for? Try our service now and leave the hunt for a qualified contractor to us!