Category Archives: Vinyl Siding

Vinyl Siding Cost vs. Fiber Cement & LP SmartSide 2019

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You have just spotted the first telltale signs of peeling paint from your house’s wood siding. It won’t be long now until the dreaded house painting becomes a must-do. Unless, 2019 is the year you finally re-skin the house in vinyl siding.

Vinyl siding – actually polyvinyl chloride plastic resin that is heated and extruded into sheets – has only been around for about 50 years and was developed as a cheaper alternative to metal siding back in the 1950s.

Vinyl’s reputation for “cheap” was honestly earned as plasticized siding was susceptible to cracking and sagging. Colors were limited and those colors faded. Even well-cared for vinyl siding looked like… well… vinyl siding.

But in recent years, the two most important components of vinyl siding – the quality of materials and the expertise of installation — have made giant leaps forward.

Today about one-third of new American homes are built with maintenance-free (almost) vinyl installed as cladding.

Vinyl has been rated in various surveys to last anywhere from 60 to 100 years so this will likely be the last investment you make in your house’s siding.

What to Expect in Terms of Costs?

So how much will it cost to cast those paint brushes aside and put new vinyl siding on your house?

The short answer is anywhere from $3.50 to $7.50 per square foot installed, or around $350 to $750 per square (100 square feet) installed, on average. This can translate to a total cost of $7,000 to $15,000 for an average two-story house.

vinyl siding on a cape style home Vinyl Siding on a Cape Cod style home installed by Siding & Windows Group

In a remodeling contractor survey done by Hanley Wood, the mid-range vinyl siding cost for a typical home (1,250 sq. ft. of siding installed) in the US was about $16,000 according to the Hanley Wood Remodeling Costs report for 2019.

The survey also reports an average cost-to-value return (average percentage of cost recouped at the time of resale) of about 76% for a new vinyl siding job.

That being said, your total cost for a new vinyl siding job will depend on a couple of factors; primarily the grade of materials (low-end, mid-range, or high-end), the quality of installation, and of course your home’s geographic location, accessibility, level of difficulty, etc. Let’s explore this further:

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Best Types of House Siding: Top Brands, Costs, Pros & Cons

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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.

Board and batten vinyl siding via Alside

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
  • Recyclable – but few locations accept it

Top Brands:

CertaintTeed, Georgia Pacific (GP), Alside / ABTCO, Kaycan, Mastic, Mitten, Timbercrest

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