Siding |

Are you looking to have siding installed or repaired on your home? This guide will walk you through how much you can expect a siding repair or installation to cost. It’ll also go through some key points you want to address when choosing a siding contractor. Finally, it’ll give you some frequently asked questions with answers. We hope you find this information useful in your search for a siding company. If you need assistance with a siding project, feel free to give Roofing Roger a call at (910) 302-5262.

Price of siding

Cost of siding with installation

siding

The average cost of installing siding in the US is $8,235 with a 25th and 75th percentile at $4,834 and $12,368, respectively. This means that you have a 50% chance of having your siding installation cost be between$4,834 and $12,368. If it is below this price, it might mean a few things: 1.) your home’s surface area is small 2.) you’re receiving a really low bid and, maybe, even too low to be realistic 3.) you got a really good deal on vinyl siding. If your price quotes are above this amount, it might mean a few things: 1.) your house is really large, 75% larger than other homes 2.) you chose more expensive siding 3.) the quote’s too high 4.) your house requires a more detailed installation. This number comes from a sample of 3,880+ siding projects.

The average cost of siding in North Carolina is $7,506, around $700 less than the national average. Possible causes for this are the fact that steel siding, which is typically more expensive than vinyl, is not installed on costal areas. The 25th and 75th percentiles were $4,990 and $10,368. This suggests that more expensive siding, metal and wood, are not as popular in North Carolina as it is in other parts of the country.

Cost of a siding repair

The average cost for siding repair in the US was $574. The 25th and 75th percentiles were $250 and $899 respectively. The cost of siding repair depends upon many factors such as extent of siding damage, structural damage, and siding material. This figure comes from a sample size of over 7,700 siding repair projects.

The average cost for North Carolina is $487, $87 less than the national average. The middle 50% is between $218 and $779. In total, the deviance between North Carolina’s siding repair costs and the US average siding cost is not much.

Cost of Siding by Type

Vinyl – anywhere from $2 to $7 per square foot for material and installation.
Aluminum – $5 to $7 per square foot installed.
Steel – $5 to $7 per square foot installed.
Fiber cement – $5 to $9 per square foot installed.
Wood shingles – $6 to $9 per square foot installed.
Insulated siding – $4 to $7 per square foot installed.

How to hire a siding contractor

When you’re looking for a siding contractor, you’ll want to know the following things:

Are they experienced in installing your type of siding? Vinyl siding is easy to install but cement fiber, hardiplank, wood, and metal require more skill and time. If a contractor is unexperienced with that type of siding, it might result in improper installation which can lead to damages to the siding or home. Some contractors will suggest that you choose a certain type of siding just because they’re more comfortable installing it (and maybe more profitable when installing it) than other types. Do your due diligence before hand as certain types of siding have its own pros and cons. You don’t want to choose a siding material that will not work well with your taste and preferences.
Does the contractor have workman’s compensation insurance? This is to prevent the rare chance that a worker is injured on your property and, for they are uninsured, you are to pay for the injured worker.
What is their guarantee/warranty? Most contractors will guarantee their craftsmanship. Make sure to get the company’s address and a written copy of the guarantee. Be weary of out-of-town contractors as it’ll be hard to get a hold of them.
How are their references? Get 5 phone numbers of past homes that they’ve done, call them, and see how satisfied they are with the company. You only want to work with a reputable company and there’s nothing better than testimonials.

Siding manufacturers do offer certifications but know that this is nothing more than passing an open book test. References are much more important.

FAQ

What type of siding should you buy?

There are many siding options to choose from. Which one you should get really depends on a lot of factors such as the climate, your taste, and budget. Steel siding should be avoided for costal areas as it rusts easily. Individuals who hate the sound of rain drops should avoid metal siding, steel and aluminum, all together. Vinyl, the default choice for decades, is simple to install and cheap but lacks a lot of visual appeal. Synthetic brick and other brick options have a good appeal but a slightly higher price. Insulated vinyl, which is vinyl siding with an insulated foam layer, improves one’s home’s energy efficiency while having a higher life spam than regular vinyl (the foam protects the vinyl from damage during hail storms) but costs a little more. Wood siding should be avoided as it is high maintenance (you’ll need to stain it or paint it every few years), high cost (materials cost higher as well as is harder to install), and does not last as long as vinyl. Only choose wood if you are ready to maintain it.

What are alternatives to vinyl siding?

Wood siding, brick siding, metal siding, and cement fiber siding are good and popular alternatives. As discussed above, wood should be avoided unless you really want the look. Cement fiber, such as Hardiplank, are a good alternative to wood siding. Note: Hardiplan has a few lawsuits against them, read about it below.

Brick siding lasts a long time, has a great look, and is very durable. This option has a lot of curb appeal and is very resistant to hail, storms, or other environmental factors.

How long does siding last?

Aluminum siding – 25 to 40 years according to InterNACHI.
Brick veneer – 100+ according to NAHB and InterNACHI.
Fiber cement siding – “lifetime” according to manufacturers.
Natural stone – 100+ by NAHB and InterNACHI.
Stucco – 50+.
Vinyl siding – 60+ years but it’ll fade with time and sag. Some homeowners replace it before selling a house to increase appeal.
Engineered wood – “lifetime”.

What is asbestos siding?

Asbestos siding is a composite siding that contains asbestos. Don’t worry though, as long as the siding is in good shape, there is no need to remove or replace the siding. Asbestos is safe as long as it is encapsulated. The health problems with asbestos only arise if you release it into the air by doing things such as drilling into the siding. Depending on state laws in your area, you can remove the siding yourself if you wish, saving thousands in removal cost. The process requires plastic suits, hard work, proper disposal bags, and a hose to water down the siding.

There is an advantage to asbestos siding: paint lasts a lot longer on it than real wood siding as it does not expand or contract that much.

Given that, you can keep asbestos siding on your house until it no longer serves its purpose. There is no health reason to remove it.

What colors are siding available in?

Basically, any color you want. Vinyl siding come in a wide variety of colors but will fade after time. If you’re looking to replace some damaged vinyl siding, it’ll be best to find some extra panels in your garage if you have them. Even then, the colors won’t match perfectly. You can’t paint vinyl siding.

Metal, wood, and cement fiber siding can be painted, which gives them a very wide color option.

Brick siding shouldn’t be painted.

Do you need to paint siding?

Only if you want to. Wood siding, however, will need to be painted to prevent insects from eating it.

What siding is best for costal areas?

Anything besides steel. Aluminum is a good choice as the salt water will form aluminum oxide, which create a tough barrier that protects the siding.

What siding is best for extreme cold?

Brick or insulated vinyl. It’ll reduce your heating costs. Metal is OK as it lasts a long time but does not have the energy efficiency of brick or insulated vinyl.

How good are Hardiplank siding?

There’s a raging debate among contractors and homeowners if Hardiplan siding is any good. James Hardie has had several lawsuits against him for Hardiplan claims. You can read them here, here, here, and here. Some contractors will push for Hardiplan siding. Some homeowners enjoy their Hardiplan siding. Than again, some contractors and some homeowners recommend others to avoid them. You’ll have to make your own conclusion based upon your own research. The main issue with Hardiplan is that it has to be installed *perfectly* to last as claimed.

LP Smartside, another alternative to wood siding, does not have the same problem. Its a good alternative if you want a wood look without the maintenance of wood or the potential faults of Hardiboard.

NOTE: Hardiboard is not the only siding company to have been sued. Here’s a list of others, just to be fair.

Siding