House Siding Archives – Page 2 of 3

LP SmartSide Siding Cost vs. HardiePlank Fiber Cement Siding in 2022

April 30, 2022

The top two engineered lap siding brands are the defending champion HardiePlank fiber cement and the up-and-coming contender LP SmartSide engineered wood siding.

via Upside to SmartSide

This guide covers both products from all angles that matter to a homeowner – Looks, durability, cost of materials and installation, and pros and cons of each option. Let’s get started!

Cost and Return on Investment

Both LP SmartSide and HardiePlank are comparably priced materials, so unless you’re watching pennies very closely, this probably won’t be the deciding factor.

Return on investment or ROI, refers to the percentage of the total cost recouped at resale. This doesn’t take into account the enjoyment factor or energy savings.

For example, if the expected ROI on siding were 75% for a project that originally cost $10,000, then the installation of new siding would increase the home’s sale price by about $7,500.

HardiePlank cost: $2.50 to $5.00 per square foot for siding and all trim accessories
HardiePlank installation: $6.50 to $12.50 per square foot
HardiePlank total cost installed: $8.50 to $17.50 per square foot
HardiePlank / fiber cement siding ROI: 83% to 86%

Cost Comparison:

LP SmartSide cost: $2.50 to $4.50 per square foot for siding and all trim accessories
LP SmartSide installation: $5.50 to $12.00 per square foot
LP SmartSide total cost: $8.00 – 16.50 per square foot
LP SmartSide ROI: 82% to 87%

Fiber Cement Siding Cost 2022: HardiePlank Installation Cost per Sq.Ft.

February 19, 2022February 19, 2022

In recent years, fiber cement siding has emerged as a viable and a highly attractive alternative to the less costly and far more common vinyl siding.

Hardieplank fiber cement lap siding on a house

In this guide, we’ll explore the costs and pros and cons of fiber cement siding for residential retrofits in the US.

Cost Installed

On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $9.50 to $16.50 per square foot or $950 to $1,650 per square to install fiber cement siding on a typical house. A square is equal to 100 square feet.

The cost of professional installation will include all the necessary materials, labor, permitting, debris removal and disposal, and workmanship warranty.

To put the above figures in perspective, a typical 2,000 sq. ft. HardiePlank or Allura lap fiber cement siding installation will cost between $19,000 and $33,000 to complete. This gives you a National Average cost of $26,000 to install approximately 2,000 sq.ft. of fiber cement siding on a typical single-family house in the US.

The actual price for the job will vary with the size of the house, overall level of job difficulty, accessibility, and your home’s location. All things being equal, booming metro areas will be much pricier than remote rural areas.

Natural Stone Siding Cost Vs. Stucco, Brick Veneer, and Metal Siding

January 16, 2022December 11, 2020

The primary purpose of any siding material is to add a layer of protection and insulation to your home’s building envelope designed to shield the structure from weather elements.
With the above in mind, here are other important factors determining the best approach to a house siding project:

Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional
Total upfront cost of the siding job
Unique house styles and the importance of curb appeal

Let’s get started with the general breakdown of costs you can expect for the somewhat less well-known siding materials we cover in detail below:

Siding Type:	Material:	Labor:	Total Cost per sq.ft.
Stucco	$5.00 – $6.50	$3.50 – $8.50	$8.50 – $14.50
Brick & Brick Veneer	$6.00 – $15.00	$6.50 – $10.00	$12.50 – $25.00
Natural Stone	$17.50 – $33.00	$7.50 – $12.00	$25.00 – $45.00
Alum, Zinc, Steel, Copper	$4.50 – $16.50	$5.50 – $8.50	$10.00 – $25.00

House Siding Materials You Probably Never Heard of!

Stucco

Some think of stucco as popular in certain regions like Southern California, without realizing there are likely stucco homes in their own neighborhood.

Image source: View-Master Home Inspections

Our view is that stucco is a viable, long-lasting and architecturally attractive material that complements other house siding options.

Made from sand, cement, lime and water, the material is usually applied to a galvanized steel screen, along with a waterproof underlayment glued to a wood frame.

The stucco material itself isn’t all that versatile and instead is rather quite rigid, requiring special care during the installation to avoid cracks. But given that it is a hard material, it will last for the lifetime of a home, or at least 50+ years.

Costs: for stucco siding can range from $8.50 to $14.50 per sq. ft. installed, depending on the quality of materials, who’s doing the work and location of the property.

An average-sized home with 2,000 sq.ft. of siding will cost between $17,000 and $28,000 for the installation of new traditional stucco siding, including the cost of materials, professional installation, and workmanship warranty.

Pros: Very durable, low maintenance, great insulator, colors go through mix so repainting not necessary, resistant to fire and insects

Cons: Fairly expensive, takes skill to install, brittle material prone to cracking especially due to settling of a house, a sinking foundation, or even a mild earthquake. Not a good option for wet climates, tends to last less time in climates with lots of rain.

If the stucco material becomes saturated with water due to constant dampness or gutter leaks, then its insulation properties will be compromised and structural damage to the house may ensue.