How Much Does it Cost to Side a House?
Typical Range:
$5,431 - $16,561
Typical Range:
$5,431 - $16,561
Cost data is based on actual project costs as reported by 9,245 HomeAdvisor members. Embed this data
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Updated November 23, 2021
Reviewed by Robert Tschudi, Expert Home Building and Remodeling Contributor.2021 Notice: Material Prices are Surging
Demand for siding has grown over the past year. And, as a result, manufacturers are increasing materials prices. Prices have gone up 5% to 10% this year, and many parts of the country are experiencing long delivery times. If you're planning a siding project, we recommend starting as early as possible in the season, preparing for potential price fluctuations, and allowing extra time to order materials.
“Some contractors will not schedule a boxing and siding project until the materials are delivered to the job site or to their warehouse,” says Bob Tschudi, home remodeling expert and general contractor. “It’s just too costly to have a crew show up only to find out that not all the materials are at hand.”
It costs an average of $10,879 to side a house, with most homeowners spending between $5,431 and $16,561. Costs depend on the type, but you can typically expect to pay around $3 to $30 per square foot depending on the material you choose.
Let's calculate cost data for you. Where are you located?
Where are you located?
National Average | $10,879 |
Typical Range | $5,431 - $16,561 |
Low End - High End | $350 - $39,000 |
Cost data is based on actual project costs as reported by 9,245 HomeAdvisor members.
Residing a home runs an average of $6,000 to $23,000 depending on the materials you choose. You’ll spend anywhere from $2 to $16 per square foot for materials and all labor.
Materials: $1-$12 per square foot, including 10% for waste and fasteners
Labor: $1-$4 per square foot depending on your location and the difficulty of the installation
Difficult Installations: Add up to 20% for second stories, unique layouts with multiple corners and hard to access areas.
Type of Siding | Cost Per Square Foot |
---|---|
Vinyl | $3 - $12 |
Wood | $3 - $10 |
Engineered | $1.50 - $7 |
Aluminum | $3 - $6 |
Corrugated Steel | $5 - $8 |
Fiber Cement | $5 - $14 |
Engineered Brick | $9 - $15 |
Real Brick | $10 - $20 |
Stone | $7 - $30 |
It’ll cost $1,000 to $3,000 or $0.25 to $0.75 per square foot to remove old siding. This price includes the labor and dumping fees of $50 to $250.
Always remove the old siding from your home to inspect the cladding before installing anything new. However, it’s not uncommon to find some homes with vinyl or metal placed over old wood siding.
Replacing both siding and windows at the same time runs anywhere from $8,000 to $40,000. While many siding contractors do other work, it’s often best to hire a window replacement specialist.
If you decide to hire a separate contractor, it’s helpful to break the prices down:
Siding runs $5,000-$15,000 total.
Window replacement costs $300-$2,100 per window.
Trim installation costs $1,000-$3,200.
Although combining the projects won’t save you any money, there are two instances where it’s a smart idea:
Increasing resale value and curb appeal. Updating the entire exterior, including the roof, makes the entire exterior look new.
Increasing insulation value. When updating to an insulated vinyl siding, it helps to update to energy efficient windows.
Replacing siding and your roof costs $10,000 to $40,000. Both siding and roofs often get damaged during extreme weather, such as hail. Homeowners insurance almost always covers weather damage. Some contractors deal with insurance for you.
Because different contractors tend to specialize in each project, you’ll need to know the individual factors and pricing.
Roof replacement costs $5,600-$11,500.
Replacing fascia boards and soffits costs $600-$6,000.
Replacing gutters costs $600-$1,550. You can often combine this with fascia board installs to reduce your budget.
"As siding wears out, the maintenance cycle shortens. The ongoing time and effort to repair and maintain old siding can make a re-side more attractive. Also, the tendency to skip maintenance and just 'let it go' can cause damage to the integrity of the underlying wood structure. When maintenance (or lack of it) starts to be a factor, it’s another sign that re-siding is advisable."
Peter Ziminski, Technical Sales Manager. James Hardie.
Estimating your siding replacement budget within the average $5,000 to $15,000 range isn’t easy. You’ll need to understand a few factors that affect pricing, including:
Material type: Vinyl runs on the lower end, followed by metals and engineered or composite wood in the middle, and wood typically at the highest price range.
Accessibility: Expect to add at least 20% to your bill for 2-story homes. You’ll also pay more for hard to reach walls, such as bushes or a pool blocking access for scaffolding or ladders.
Regional differences: Expect the cost of repairs to reflect your local cost of living index. For areas with higher home values, expect to pay up to 50% more than cheaper areas.
Measure the perimeter of your home.
Multiply the perimeter times the height to find the square feet of the exterior of the home.
Subtract any windows, doors or other excluded areas like a chimney.
Add gabled areas.
Multiply that figure by the cost ranges for different siding materials.
Add 20% if you have more than a one-story home.
Siding on new construction costs $2 to $15 per square foot. Typically, it’s slightly less than residing in an existing home. There are no accessibility issues and no time spent removing existing materials. Your general contractor will usually find a subcontractor for this work and include this in the total.
On average, you’ll pay $1 to $3 per square foot on labor. In some urban areas with a high cost of living, expect wages to reflect a slightly higher labor cost. With accessibility issues and homes taller than one story, you might pay $4 per square foot or more.
For a typical 20 by 20-foot, two-car detached garage, expect to pay $1,500 to $9,500. You can take up to 25% off for attached garages.
Residing a two-story home costs 15% to 30% more than a single level ranch style home. Accessing a second level often requires extra equipment like scaffolding. This translates into more time spent on labor.
Vinyl siding costs $3 to $12 per square foot and is made of two PVC layers extruded and bonded together to form the planks. Made of PVC, the outer layer is very durable while the inner layer is a less-durable mixture to keep the cost down.
Pros
Resistant to rot and insects
Color is blended into the material. It won’t flake and is very resistant to fading.
Can be made to look like other materials
Low maintenance and only needs spraying off with a garden hose to keep it clean
Easy and inexpensive to repair
Cons
Doesn’t do well in high winds
Extreme weather and temperatures can cause bending and cracking.
Sustained heavy rains can get behind it and cause mold.
Will not increase home value
Wood siding costs $3 to $10 per square foot and offers a lot of character. Installation and repair are easy, and it comes in shingles, clapboards, drop siding, vertical boards, and wooden sheet siding.
Pros
Warm, natural look
Ecologically friendly
Available in many styles and types
Takes staining and color easily
Easy installation and repair
Cons
Requires regular sealing
Susceptible to insects, mold, and rot
Natural wood isn’t as insulating as other materials.
Bob Tschudi says that, “Wood siding is timeless, but there are vinyl and engineered products available that—once painted—give the look of real wood with all the advantages of non-wood material. We used engineered wood for siding on a historic house in 2004 and it still looks like real wood today, with absolutely no rotting or deterioration.”
At $1.50 to $7 per square foot, engineered wood is a strong, lightweight material made of wood products such as sawdust and wood “flakes” held together by a bonding agent.
Pros
Easy to install and repair
Very eco-friendly as it uses some reclaimed wood waste
Low-cost option for the warmth of wood
Rot-resistant
Cons
Requires the same maintenance as natural wood
Prone to moisture issues if not properly installed/sealed
Susceptible to insects and mold
Metal siding is most commonly available in aluminum at about $3 to $6 per square foot installed. Corrugated steel metal siding installation costs $5 to $8 square foot, depending on market rates.
Pros
Immune to many insects
Does very well in extreme climates
Aluminum withstands coastal conditions very well.
Steel has a clean, modern look.
Very low maintenance
Cons
Doesn’t hold paint well
Aluminum dents easily.
Steel is prone to rust.
Fiber cement siding installation costs $5 to $14 per square foot. Fiber cement is a combination of sand, cement and wood/cellulose fibers. The most popular brand is Hardie Board.
Pros
Is likely to last the life of your home
Soffits, trim, and fascia available
Very fire resistant
Cracks can be easily patched.
Easy maintenance
Cons
Requires professional installation
Very heavy, about 2 ½ pounds per square foot
May crack as the building settles if installed on new construction
Stone or brick house siding costs per square foot
Brick: $12-$18
Brick veneer: $10-$20
Engineered Brick Panels: $9-$15
Stone: $7-$30
Pros
Very durable
Naturally insulating
Luxurious appearance
Fire-, rot-, and insect-proof
Virtually maintenance-free
Cons
Very expensive
Very heavy—requires a strong foundation
Can put strain on the joints of your house
Professional installation required
Liquid spray on siding, or liquid vinyl as it’s called, is a spray of high-quality PVC polymers and resin used to coat the exterior of a house. Liquid vinyl siding prices range from $3 to $6 per square foot installed. The material isn’t a siding itself so much as it is a coating for existing siding. It’s suitable for any surface but wood.
Pros
Rich colors that are resistant to fading
Virtually no maintenance required
Excellent insulating properties
Flexible and resistant to cracking
Cons
Can facilitate mold-growth beneath wood surfaces
Still untested for longevity
Requires professional installation
Insulated siding refers to material, usually vinyl, with a polystyrene foam backing. This foam adds to the insulating value of the siding and helps it resist denting and cracking. Including the foam adds 30% to 50% to your total project cost.
Pros
Provides strength and rigidity
Increases insulation qualities
Adds a bit of soundproofing
Cons
Expensive
Professional installation required
The average 1,500 square foot home costs $5,000 to $17,000 to side.
Putting siding on a 16-foot by 80-foot mobile homes costs $3,500 to $8,000.
Painting a home’s exterior siding costs $1,800 to $4,250.
The best siding for your house depends largely on aesthetics, budget and the type of homes in your neighborhood. Talk to a siding installation professional near you for specific ideas. If you live in a HOA, be sure to find out what materials and colors are allowed before starting the project.
You’ll need to use the steps outlined above to find out how much siding you’ll need and what it’ll cost. Overall, measure the perimeter of your home and multiply it by the height.