Steel, aluminum, copper, and zinc are the four primary materials for metal siding. Whether corrugated, ribbed, bevel-style or vertical panels, metal continues to be highly versatile in its application for residential siding and wall cladding.
Cost Basics
The average cost to install metal siding can range from $8.50 to $15.00 per square foot. While that is a rather wide price range, your total cost per sq. ft. installed will depend on the choice of material, difficulty of work, and your home’s location.
The cost of zinc siding can range from $15.00 to $25.00 per sq. ft. installed. Copper siding can cost as much as $20.00 to $35.00 per sq. ft. installed on some high-end residential and commercial applications.
That being said, on average, you can expect to pay between $17,000 and $30,000 for a contractor to install new metal (steel or aluminum) siding on a typical house.
If going with zinc or copper, you can expect the average price to jump to $41,000 for zinc, and up to $70,000 for copper installation.
We’ve put together a comprehensive residential siding guide to assist you in researching your options for replacement and new construction projects.
Kaycan DaVinci Siding
What’s Included: Seven possibilities ranging from affordable to upscale – Vinyl, steel & aluminum, fiber cement & composite, genuine wood, stucco, brick & stone and faux stone.
The information for each siding type includes:
Materials and installation cost
Tables that allow you to compare these materials at a glance in all key areas
An introduction to each material, its construction and options
Pros and cons such as durability/longevity, maintenance and repair requirements and appearance including the home styles that each siding types is best suited to
Final summaries that might help you make your decision
Tips for saving money on a siding project
Cost
Siding Type
Materials
Installation
Total Cost per sq.ft.
Vinyl
$2.55 – $4.50
$1.60 – $4.00
$4.15 – $8.50
Aluminum & Steel
$3.15 – $5.65
$1.95 – $5.00
$5.20 – $10.65
Fiber Cement & Composite
$1.80 – $5.50
$4.00 – $6.50
$5.80 – $12.00
Wood
$2.35 – $7.50
$1.80 – $6.50
$4.15 – $14.00
Stucco
$4.90 – $6.50
$3.00 – $6.00
$7.90 – $12.50
Brick & Stone Veneer
$7.35 – $15.00
$6.30 – $11.00
$14.65 – $26.00
Faux Stone
$6.15 – $20.00
$8.55 – $11.00
$14.70 – $31.00
Breakdown of costs by materials and installation
* The materials column in the table above includes siding, trim and the supplies needed to install it.
* The installation column in the table above reflects the cost of professional labor.
The last column is the total installed cost for comparison.
Note: Each siding type in the table above is normally available in a wide range of quality and style options that affect material costs. Installation ranges from easy to difficult due to onsite factors which affect installation cost. Your project’s geography and local economy will also have a major impact on costs.
Types of Siding Material
This table summarizes the information in this section:
Siding Type
Options
Weatherproof
Durability
Vinyl
Excellent
Good
20-30 years
Aluminum & Steel
Good
Good
30-50 years
Fiber Cement & Composite
Good
Good
35-50 years
Wood
Excellent
Fair
50+
Stucco
Fair
Good
50+
Brick & Stone
Good
Excellent
75+
Faux Stone
Good
Good
30-50 years
The next section provides more details for each siding type, including its options and pros and cons.
Vinyl Siding
This is an extruded plastic material made from PVC resin for durability and resistance to the elements. The material is tinted in the production process, so the color goes all the way through.
There are three appearance options: Horizontal, vertical and shingle/shake panels.
Horizontal siding comes in Dutch lap, smooth and beaded styles. Panels are typically formed into single, double and triple board profiles.
Vertical siding in board & batten, cedar plank, beaded and additional styles are produced in a more limited range of options.
Vinyl shake and shingle panels feature 2 or 3 rows with up to 6 shakes or shingles per row. These panels are used either as the primary siding or accent siding in gables or above brick or stone.
Shake & Shingle Polymer Vinyl Siding Cedar Shake Impressions via CertainTeed
You have a wide array of colors to consider from white and light shades to deep reds, greens, blues and charcoals. Complimentary trim colors allow you to customize the look you want for your home.
Pros and Cons
The appeal of vinyl siding is its relatively affordable cost and low maintenance.
Pluses:
Affordability
Style and color options
DIY-friendly installation
Moisture and insect resistance
Good fire rating, though it will melt in high heat
Reduced fading with new color technology
Very low maintenance
Insulated (R2 to R3) options, though not a good value compared to attaching siding to wall sheathing beneath the siding
Minuses:
Shingle and shake styles cost up to 100% more than panels
Brittleness and cracking with age/impact
Falls short of “genuine wood” look
Potential leaks, buckling and cracking with faulty installation
Warranties of 25 years to “lifetime,” but expected longevity of 18 to 30 years
Ever wonder what Millennial homeowners or home buyers want in terms of exterior and interior home design, living space layout, interior decor and other architectural elements of a house? Knowing this can help inform your remodeling choices and ultimately affect desirability and saleability of your home later on. Read on to learn how to please a millennial with your thoughtful choices of home improvements and remodeling upgrades.
Before we get started – Who are these Millennials anyway?
Millennials – those people born between 1982 and 2004 – are gradually coming of age and becoming the new first-time home buyers these days. It may be hard to believe, but the oldest Millennials are now in their early thirties! Of course, whenever a new generation takes over the mantle of first-time home buyer, the housing industry reacts: building and design trends become driven by that generation’s unique preoccupations and interests. (Remember floral wallpaper?)
Even though there’s been a lot of buzz in the media about Millennials moving back in with their parents due to economic pressure and enormous student loan debt, they still overwhelmingly want to own homes when they can afford to. Perhaps more surprisingly, they also represent a significant portion of the home buying market. How significant? Try 35%!
That’s enough to make home builders and home designers pay attention. After all, even if they are currently buying older, cheaper, and smaller homes than their wealthier elders, those same Millennials will be the second- and third-time home buyers of the future – and they’re going to want to buy homes that make them feel comfortable.
In fact, in a survey conducted by Better Homes & Gardens, 63% of Millennial survey-takers said that having a customized home suited to their tastes was a top priority. Consequently, anyone trying to sell a house in 2017 probably ought to know what qualities Millennials are looking for in a new home.
Zinc House by Jose Garia
