Exterior Remodeling Costs

Top 10 Siding Materials: Costs, Pros & Cons and ROI

Today, you have more attractive house siding options than ever before. This buying guide details the top 10 siding materials to help you decide which type will give your home the look and durability you want, while staying within your budget.

1. Vinyl Siding
2. Fiber Cement Siding
3. Aluminum Siding
4. Natural Wood Siding
5. Engineered Wood Siding
6. Brick Siding
7. Brick Veneer Siding
8. Genuine Stone Siding
9. Stone Veneer Siding
10. Stucco Siding

Did you know? Most other online estimates of house siding costs are unrealistically low. Many other resources take the cost of the basic material and add the “base” installation costs to reach their total. — This approach fails to consider accessories like trim, supplies and fasteners that can add $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot.

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is made from polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, a plastic. It is blended with pigment to give the siding color. Acrylics are added for strength and fade protection.

The material is extruded into panels. Most panels are textured like rough-hewn wood siding, but smooth panels are produced too.

What we like:

Vinyl siding is known for its relatively low cost and durability. — That combination produces good value. The material can easily last 30 to 40 years, depending on the quality and thickness of panels.

Vinyl offers excellent styles and color options:

Horizontal vinyl siding is made to look like wood boards from 3” to 8” wide in Dutch lap, beaded and clapboard styles.

Vertical panels are produced in board & batten and flat styles.

Architectural panels are formed like wood shingle and shake siding. Most products are offered in colors from white to deep browns and dark grays.

Vinyl siding is light and easy to install. — This helps cut down costs when hiring a professional and makes a DIY option more viable for handy homeowners.

Maintenance is minimal: Lightly power wash it to remove dust and dirt.

What we don’t like:

Vinyl lacks the authenticity of wood: In neighborhoods where homes are sided with natural wood, stone and brick veneer, vinyl often looks inferior.

Vinyl isn’t as eco-friendly as metal: While vinyl siding can be recycled, most of it ends up in landfills.

Warping, cracking and water penetration are frequent problems with bad installation.

Cost:

The installed cost of basic vinyl siding is $5.50 to $8.50 per square foot when horizontal and vertical panels are used.

Architectural vinyl siding panels with a layer of insulation will cost $2.00 to $4.00 more per square foot, depending the profile, with the total installed cost of $7.50 to $12.50 per sq.ft.

Cost factors are the quality of the siding material, insulation and trim details, and the complexity of the house on which it is being installed.

ROI (Value Recouped at Resale):

Vinyl siding has a recouped value of about 78% to 80% at resale. The ROI is the percentage of the cost homeowners recoup when selling their home while the siding looks new and is in good condition.

What ROI doesn’t necessarily capture are the intangibles such as the enjoyment value, improved energy efficiency with insulated siding panels, and the additional level of protection for your home from elements such as wind driven rain.

Did you know? Vinyl siding is the most common house siding in the US and Canada. It accounts for nearly 30% of all siding jobs. However, vinyl’s market share is slipping as other siding materials, such as fiber cement and wood composite gain popularity with homeowners wanting a finer and better value siding options.


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GAF vs. CertainTeed Roofing Shingles: Cost, ROI – Definitive Guide

GAF and CertainTeed combine for a huge piece of the roofing shingle market. This comparison hits all the important factors in deciding – Quality, cost, styles, pros and cons of each option, warranties and more. Our guide also addresses the return on investment and explains when either GAF or CertainTeed shingles are a better choice for a homeowner.

Let’s put the comparison into perspective right from the start:

CertainTeed, by every measure, is the premier manufacturer of exterior building materials and a winner of the Professional Remodelers Best in Class award.

CertainTeed Landmark series Shingles Roof in Weathered Wood

While most of its lines are upmarket, CertainTeed has begun making less expensive lines like the Landmark Series to compete with the value-priced asphalt shingle brands.

GAF, the largest manufacturer of residential roofing materials, makes mostly good-quality shingles with a few premium lines like Camelot II Shingles that are exceptional.

GAF Premium Asphalt Shingles: Camelot Williamsburg Slate

CertainTeed did not appear worried about the cost a decade ago, and it still dominates the “best” category of roofing shingles, though competition is certainly increasing.

Most GAF shingles are cost-conscious products that compete with Owens-Corning, IKO, Tamko, Atlas, Malarkey and similar brands for “basic and better” ranges — niches it ranks first in.

  • CertainTeed: Mainly high-end, high-cost products with some affordable lines.
  • GAF: Mainly affordable shingle lines with some high-end products.

Here are some important qualitative and quantitative details to consider within the larger scope of CertainTeed vs. GAF shingles debate:

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Average Cost to Replace a Roof on a 1,600 Square Foot House

A 1,600 square foot roof is typically found on a single-story home with a rectangular or square floor plan. However, the exact size and shape of the roof will depend on the design of the house. For example, a 1,600 square foot ranch-style home with a simple gable roof may have a roof with an 1,800 square foot area. On the other hand, a two-story home with a more complex roof design may have a smaller roof with a 1,200 to 1,600 square foot area, but one that will cost more to replace due to the complexity of a roof design.

IKO Nordic shingles roof
IKO Nordic shingles roof

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When it comes to the cost of roof replacement, the type of house and roof design can have a significant impact. For instance, a house with a flat or low-slope roof may require a different type of roofing material, such as a single-ply membrane or rubber roofing system, which can be more expensive than traditional shingles. Additionally, the pitch or slope of the roof can affect the installation process, with steeper roofs requiring additional safety measures and potentially driving up labor and installation costs.

Here are some examples of how different types of houses and roof types can impact the cost of a roof replacement:

  • Ranch-style home with a gable roof: A simple gable roof on a ranch-style home with a 1,600 square foot area may cost between $7,000 and $12,000 to replace with asphalt shingles, depending on factors such as location, number of existing layers of shingles, and roof slope.
  • Two-story colonial with a hip roof: A two-story colonial with a hip roof, which has four sloping sides, may cost between $10,000 and $15,000 to replace with traditional shingles, depending on the size and complexity of the roof.
  • Modern-style home with a flat roof: A modern-style home with a flat roof may require a more expensive roofing material, such as a PVC or TPO membrane or EPDM rubber roofing system, which can increase the cost of a roof replacement to between $12,000 and $20,000. depending upon the condition of the roof and your home’s location.
  • Victorian-style home with a steep, intricate roof: A Victorian-style home with a steep, intricate roof design may require additional labor and materials, such as copper flashing or slate tiles, which can drive up the cost of a roof replacement to between $25,000 and $40,000 or more.

Average Roof Replacement Cost:

Low End

$7,500

Mid-Range

$10,500

High End

$14,500

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It’s important to note that these are just examples, and the cost of a roof replacement will depend on many factors specific to each home and roof. Homeowners should always obtain several quotes from reputable roofing contractors to get a better idea of the cost for their specific situation.

  • Three-tab shingles: Typically cost between $4.00 to $5.50 per square foot to install, depending on the condition of the roof and your home’s location. For a 1,600 square foot roof, this would cost between $6,400 and $8,800. These shingles are a good option for homeowners who are looking for an affordable, basic option that still provides adequate protection for their roof. They have a flat, uniform appearance and come in a range of colors.
  • Architectural shingles: Generally cost between $4.50 to $7.50 per square foot to install, depending on project scope and location. For a 1,600 square foot roof, this would cost between $7,200 and $12,000. These shingles are a step up from three-tab shingles in terms of quality and durability. They have a three-dimensional appearance and are available in a wider range of styles and colors. They are a good choice for homeowners who want a more attractive roof without breaking the bank.
  • Premium shingles: Usually cost between $6.50 to $11.00 per square foot to install. For a 1,600 square foot roof, this would cost between $10,400 and $17,600. These shingles are the highest quality and offer the best durability and performance. They come in a wide range of styles and colors, and may even be designed to mimic the appearance of other materials like slate or wood. Premium shingles are a good choice for homeowners who want to achieve a distinctive curb appeal and are willing to invest in a long-lasting, high-quality roofing system.

*Note the above examples are for a 1,600 square foot roof, while a 1,600 square foot home can have a roof with an area between 1,000 and 1,900 square feet. Roof design and number of stories determine the overall difficulty of the roof, and its size. The cost is more a factor of difficulty and roof complexity rather than the square footage of the roof alone.

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