On This Page:
- Average Cost of Metal Siding
- Pros and Cons of Steel Siding
- What's the Difference Between Aluminum and Steel Siding?
- Aluminum Siding
- Conclusion
Metal has long been a favored material for protection, whether from the blows of combat or the onslaught of the elements. It’s no surprise that it sees use as siding for homes. Rigid and durable with low maintenance requirements, metal siding can withstand conditions that would buckle, warp, and crack other materials.
Corrugated steel siding is incredibly strong and sees the most use on industrial buildings. Most homeowners opt for the more lightweight aluminum siding. Though both are metal, they have different characteristics to think about, which we’ll discuss further below.
Average Cost of Metal Siding
Aluminum siding costs about $3.00 to $6.00 per square foot installed. Steel siding costs about $4.00 to $8.00 installed. Insulated version of these increase the cost by about $1.00 per foot.
Both are normally sold in panels or slats. The panels measure about 3’ x 10’ while slats measure 8” x 12’ on average. Panels cost about $15.00 each while slats cost about $13.00 to $21.00 each depending on the dimensions.
Cost Factors
Factors that will affect the cost of your project include:
- Removing existing siding, about $1.00 to $2.00 per square foot
- Dumpster rental for debris disposal, about $150.00 to $300.00
- Labor, about $40.00 to $50.00 an hour (some siding companies offer installation, but the rate is higher, about $80.00 to $200.00 an hour or so)
- Any additional supports for a heavier material
- Flashing, about $1.10 per foot
- Trim, about $10.00 per 12’ length
- Door jamb trim, about $11.00
- J Channels (to finish off ends), about $6.99 each
- Corner caps, about $13.50 each
- Soffits, $8.00 to $20.00 per linear foot installed
- Gutters, about $5.00 per linear foot, DIY
(Soffits and gutters are normally considered part of a roofing project, but when you replace your siding you might discover issues with these components. In fact, failure at these points often leads to siding trouble, so they’re worth mentioning.)
Metal and Steel Prices
These are common commodities. A commodity is a raw material or agricultural product that can be bought and sold. Coffee, for example, is a commodity, as is petroleum, wood, and aluminum. It is essentially the material something is made from before it’s made into something. Steel is actually a manufactured product made of other raw materials, mostly iron and carbon. However, its grade is uniform no matter who makes it, so it is considered a commodity.
Prices fluctuate wildly. Construction makes up 20% of the steel market, which is no small amount. It’s used in girders, pipes, frames, nuts, bolts, and so many other components of construction. However, this means that periods of economic growth drives steel up while economic downturns drop the price. China, for example, is undertaking many large building projects, which sends the price up. However, if they become independent and provide their own material, they won’t spend as much in the global market, which will send prices down. Steel is often priced by the metric ton and the price can be very volatile. Over a 6-month period it dropped in price from around $170.00 per metric ton to around $50.00 per metric ton.
Aluminum is the second most used metal in construction. The market is normally more volatile than for steel. This means it fluctuates on a frequent basis. Most metal commodities do fluctuate, but some do so more than others. At one point, prices were so volatile that prices quoted at 1 o’clock could not be guaranteed by 2 o’clock! Over a 6-month period, aluminum has sold for as low as 65 cents per pound to as high as 76 cents per pound.
One important thing to remember about commodity prices is that the market price doesn’t necessarily reflect the price you will pay for the material at the hardware store. When a merchant buys the material to make it available to you, it’s already gone through mark-ups and other cost increases before it hits the shelves. Price fluctuations in the market are delayed at the store. Steel bought at a high price 6 months ago will not necessarily drop because of lower market prices today. A merchant must still recoup his or her costs!
Cost for Your House
What a merchant charges is not a function of the raw market. After it’s been processed from raw material into siding and then coated, colored, and delivered, the cost can change considerably. For example, one square foot is about a quarter inch thick weighs just under 3.6 pounds. This should put the cost at about $2.52 a square foot. After processing for the retail market, the cost increases to about $3.50 to $4.75 per square foot. Steel siding costs a bit more than aluminum, depending on the market. On average, however, it costs about $4.00 to $5.00 per square foot.
Aluminum
- 1,500 sq ft: $5,250.00 to $7,125.00
- 2,000 sq ft: $7,000.00 to $9,500.00
- 2,500 sq ft: $8,750.00 to $11,875.00
Steel
- 1,500 sq ft: $6,000.00 to $7,500.00
- 2,000 sq ft: $8,000.00 to $10,000.00
- 2,500 sq ft: $10,000.00 to $12,500.00
Pros and Cons of Steel Siding
There are many materials to use for siding for your home. Steel is increasing in popularity because of its durability and sustainability. It does have its downsides as well. Here is some information to help you decide if it is right for you:
Pros
- It is fire resistant. While very high temperatures can melt it, these temperatures are almost never reached in a typical fire that would affect a home.
- It can be had in very long sections. This will decrease the number of seams in your siding.
- It is eco-friendly. It can be made from recycled steel and can be recycled once again if you decide to change materials.
- The material has very little in the line of upkeep requirements. Basically, it just needs a little water and soap.
Cons
- It is heavy and is generally not considered a DIY job. A crew of experienced installers will be necessary to get the job done right.
- It is often considered a special-order product. Sometimes it can take as much as two weeks to get your steel siding. Measure carefully and order extra material to make sure you don’t have another wait if you come up short.
- It is an excellent conductor of heat. This means you will need extra insulation during to keep your home comfortable during the summer and to avoid heat loss during the winter.
Corrugated Steel
Corrugated steel has long been used for industrial walls. However, it’s seeing an increase in residential use. It is a steel panel with a rippled shape. It’s most often used as roofing on sheds and other utility outbuildings.
Among the benefits are strength and durability even above standards. The waves make it stronger than many other materials. It has a higher tensile strength and can withstand forces that would buckle other materials. It is also very dent resistant. However, it holds up well under extreme forces such as large hail. In places where such weather is the norm, this is increasing in popularity.
What’s the Difference Between Aluminum and Steel Siding?
Choosing is a matter of cost and preference. Cost-wise raw aluminum trades at $1,535.00 per metric ton. Steel is around $56.00 per metric ton. Note that this is the market price for the raw material, not the cost of what you would pay at the store.
Aluminum is in higher demand because of its flexibility in manufacture and in the availability of the bauxite ore from which it comes. It’s high demand due to its malleability is a good part of what drives the prices up. It is not as flexible and is not in as high demand for construction, though manufacture of things like nuts, bolts, and screws make it still a volatile market.
Aluminum is a natural material that is refined from bauxite ore. It’s the third most abundant element in Earth’s crust and the most abundant of Earth’s metals. By comparison, steel is an alloy of iron, carbon, and other elements. While aluminum is aluminum, steel can be carbon, Eglin, low alloy, high strength alloy, or other variations depending on its intended application. The manufacture is more involved and costly, which is where the end-market price comes so close to one another as opposed to the raw market price.
When it comes to strength and durability, it’s a trade-off. Steel is much stronger, but it’s also much heavier and not as flexible. It is resistant to dents and tears, but if left uncoated it can be very susceptible to corrosion. Aluminum is lighter and generally doesn’t rust, but it dents and tears with relative ease.
Aluminum Siding
Aluminum siding is much lighter than steel, but is only somewhat less expensive. It is more flexible and is found on more homes, though it’s not as strong when it comes to extreme weather. It is, however, easier to install and repair. It offers an energy savings rating similar to vinyl, but unlike vinyl aluminum is completely recyclable. Because of this and the fact that it’s stronger than vinyl, many people opt for aluminum siding for their homes if they don’t want to pay for steel but want something truly durable.
In Conclusion
Metal siding is increasing popularity as recycling processes become more efficient. A long-lasting material such as steel or aluminum can keep your home clad in a protective shell for as long as you live in it.
