Megan Winterland | posted 11:55 AM, May 28, 2021

A far cry from the shiny pastel-colored plastic strips, vinyl siding design has come a long way since its inception—most of today's vinyl siding is difficult to distinguish from other exterior treatments. It will not fade, so the color can remain unchanged for decades, and only occasional washing can remove algae and mold. Is it the right choice for your home? The answer to this question will depend on the wide range of costs that reflect changes in the market, home style and aesthetic preferences. Doing some research on the cost and available options of vinyl siding will help you make the best choice and save money.

According to data from HomeAdvisor, the typical cost of vinyl house siding ranges from US$6,074 to US$16,369, with a national average of US$11,109. This range represents many variables, some of which you can choose, while others are less flexible. If you are sacrificing the quality of materials or labor, cheaper is not always better. Nonetheless, a realistic understanding of cost factors will make it easier for you to plan an accurate budget and prevent you from making hasty decisions that cost more than expected.

Generally, the labor cost for installing vinyl siding is estimated to be between $2.15 and $5.25 per square foot. This will vary greatly depending on where you live and the season. During the busiest season (usually in the warmer months), labor is more expensive, so if you can sign a contract in early spring or late fall, the project may take more time to complete, but overall the cost is lower.

The larger your house, the higher the cost of siding, because of the need for additional materials and related labor costs. In addition, houses with more complex cuts and applications will be more expensive. The second floor means that installers need ladders and safety belts, while eaves, gables and corners increase material costs and additional labor time.

The thickness, profile, and other elements of the vinyl siding will affect the cost of the material. There are many grades of siding, from thin building grades to super thick grades. Higher quality and thicker vinyl will be more expensive. Insulating vinyl or special shaped vinyl is molded to look like wooden shakers, round Victorian scallops, bricks, stone sceneries or logs.

Although it is a sturdy product and the most popular exterior cladding for new homes across the country, vinyl siding is not ideal everywhere. It is very suitable for thermal and refrigeration cycles in the Northeast and Midwest, but the high temperatures in the southern and western United States can cause vinyl to warp and crack, so it is not used frequently and may be more costly to obtain and install in these areas. In hotter climates, it is also more likely to require maintenance and repairs, which increases its overall cost and may reduce the resale value of your home.

If your old wooden siding is in good condition, you can install vinyl siding on top. However, if your old siding is also vinyl, or your existing wooden siding is in poor condition, you must pay $1,000 to $3,000 to remove and dispose of the previous material.

Once you have selected the basic materials and budgeted for preparation, siding, and labor costs, you still need to make some decisions. Various products exist to coordinate with the siding and customize the overall appearance of the house. These additional elements will increase the total price of the project.

The additional insulation material improves the energy efficiency of the home. The insulating siding already has a foam insulation backing, or the installer can place rigid foam board insulation in the home and then place the siding on it. The increase in the price of insulating panels will increase your material cost by about $5 per square foot, while the cost of insulating vinyl is about $8 per square foot. Either choice will significantly increase the R value (insulation measures) of the house and keep the house cool in summer and warm in winter.

If the siding manufacturer does not provide the color you want, you can paint the siding with an adhesive primer. This process can also be used to refresh old or damaged siding. Either way, the cost of painting siding is approximately US$3,000 to US$5,000.

Although it may not be in your plan, it is usually a good idea to replace the gutter at the same time as the siding. Regardless of whether you choose to replace the gutter, you will need to remove and reinstall the gutter, so if you have to pay for this labor anyway, you might consider adding approximately $1,058 to replace the old gutter with a new gutter. They can be made of vinyl to complement new siding, or they can be made of luxurious metals such as aluminum, steel or copper.

The thickness of vinyl siding ranges from 0.04 inches to 0.05 inches. This may not seem like a huge difference, but it may cause prices to rise substantially. The builder-grade economical siding is 0.04 inches thick. It is repairable and work can be done, and is usually used in commercial applications or complex facilities that are expected to be replaced in a relatively short period of time. The thickness of thin-walled houses is 0.042 inches, and many homeowners choose this type of siding to strike a good balance between cost and quality. The thick residential vinyl has a thickness of 0.046 inches and can withstand slightly higher fading or warping than the standard. The thickness of the extra-thick wall panel is 0.05 inches. Thicker grades have more texture, so if you are looking for customized shapes, you may want to stick to these options. Each upgrade increases costs, so comparing these increases with your needs will help you choose the right grade for your family and budget.

Carefully selected decorations and shapes can completely change the appearance of a home. These decorations add a budget of 3 to 6 dollars per linear foot. The fascia and soffit add depth and shape at a price of $20 to $25 per linear foot. Blinds can help define the style of the home and increase costs, depending on whether they are wood or vinyl.

Vinyl siding used to have a style: clapboard bars. The range of options is much wider now, and each option has its own cost considerations.

As one of the oldest types of exterior siding in the United States, slats and slatted siding were originally made of wooden boards that were connected vertically to the columns of the house, and then the cracks between the boards were covered by thin wooden slats called slats. This style of vinyl siding is made of panels with slats in place, ensuring no external leakage and eliminating the possibility of slats being cut off. The average cost of planks and slats is between $2.50 and $8 per foot.

This vinyl siding has the appearance of a wood or cedar milkshake, and can be used continuously or split by hand. Cedar rows are usually two to three shingles high, each shingle is 5 or 7 inches wide, and has an embossed wood grain. The Hand-split milkshake is manufactured as a single shingles with an irregularly shaped and sized bottom for a more rustic appearance. Depending on the grade, these two styles average $3 to $10 per square foot, and may incur additional labor costs because they require more time and effort to be applied separately.

From a distance, the clapboard siding looks like a basic plank siding, but this particular style requires planks that are wider at the bottom than at the top-almost wedge-shaped. This gives the siding a deeper profile, creates more shadows and depth, and makes the house look richer overall. As one of the most popular vinyl siding styles, partitions are available in a variety of colors and embossed patterns, with prices ranging from $1.30 to $6 per square foot, depending on the grade and insulation material.

If you don't want to use rigid foam insulation board under the siding, the insulation material of the insulation siding is directly connected to the vinyl. This gives the siding a stronger structure and a flat back, making installation easier and giving the siding more weight. Most siding styles have insulation, and the style will determine how much you should pay for insulated siding between $4 and $12 per square foot.

Vertical vinyl siding, where the board goes from top to bottom instead of side to side, was once the main material for vinyl siding, and is now often used as an accent to emphasize architecture or create a contemporary look. Its average cost is $5.50 per square foot.

If you like the appearance of a log house but are not interested in cost or maintenance, vinyl log siding may be an answer. This is a hollow-style vinyl with a 12-inch round wood grain texture panel that extends longitudinally and imitates the appearance of a log-built house. It can be installed on any house, adding rustic charm at a cost of $3 to $5 per square foot.

Wood, bricks, and plaster are traditional materials used to protect and seal houses; in recent years, fiber cement, aluminum, composite materials, and vinyl have been added to the list. Each type has its own style and maintenance requirements, and these functions are balanced with cost. In many cases, vinyl siding appears at the top of this equation.

Insects will not infest vinyl siding, hail will not dent it, and the sun will not fade it. The color is inherent to the material, so there will be no scratches or wear. It can last for decades, depending on climate, quality and maintenance. Unlike other types of siding, there is no need to worry about it being crumbling and aging, so the investment will continue.

Only the cost per square foot of aluminum siding is lower than that of vinyl siding. In some cases, aluminum may be a good choice, but it tends to dent and warp, while vinyl is not. In addition to the initial expenditure, vinyl also has lower maintenance costs over time, so the total life cycle cost can be significantly lower than any other type of siding.

A hose and some soapy water, after a particularly humid season, there may be an electric washing machine-this is what is used for maintenance. In extreme cases, vinyl siding may need to be reset after an impact or storm. Wood and bricks are traditional cladding, but years of insect and weather damage can lead to expensive repair and restoration costs. There is no need to use vinyl for regular scratching and painting, repainting, recoating or insect treatment.

Before the material is formed into the panel, the color of the wall panel is present in the material. The color will remain the same, so you don't need to repair the paint or maintain it. However, this does not mean that you will be bothered by the color you choose. If you are tired of this color before the siding starts to wear, or you have bought a house with siding that you don't like, you can paint it.

In theory, installing vinyl siding is simple. But in practice? If you have really researched professional houses, you will notice more high-quality installation components than you might realize. Do you know the installation sequence of decorative strips and soffits? Or how to stagger overlapping lines in the panel? What if the panels are from different color batches? These are things that people who know how to install vinyl siding can do without thinking. In addition, professionals will know exactly how many sidings you need, so you don’t need to use a siding calculator or calculate equations yourself.

Compared with other types of siding, the siding itself is not expensive, but if you try to do it yourself and end up with unsatisfactory results, the money will be wasted. Even if installed improperly, it will last a long time, so you will get stuck by it. Experienced installers will provide you with exquisite and professional decoration in a shorter time, while protecting your investment.

When budgeting for vinyl siding, many different decisions need to be made. These choices affect costs; although vinyl is one of the cheapest siding options, there are still ways to save a few dollars.

As with any professional you hire, make sure that the contractor and everyone they work with is licensed and insured (including liability and workers' compensation). Ask for a copy of their license and insurance before signing the contract. In addition, seek advice from friends and neighbors, or check online home professional recommendation services. Once you have selected a few contractors to ask for a quote, you need to answer a few questions before deciding which contractor to hire. Ask:

The process of installing or replacing siding in your home is surprisingly fast-usually in much less time than you make decisions about design choices and contractors. Nevertheless, there are many options. The following are some of the frequently asked questions at the beginning of the process.

There are many good choices: traditional brick and wood siding, logs, stucco, vinyl siding, aluminum, and fiber cement. The answer to this question depends on several factors: the location of your home, your preferred appearance, the amount of maintenance you are willing to perform, and your budget. The vinyl siding outlines some of the boxes. There are many colors and finishes, low cost and low maintenance cost. If you live in an extremely hot area, you should talk to a local contractor or contact the manufacturer to see if it is suitable for your home.

To add vinyl siding to a 20-foot x 20-foot garage, it is estimated that you will need to pay between $1,500 and $9,500. The cost of the attached garage will be reduced by approximately 25% (because one of the four sides of the garage is the inner wall). Depending on whether you place the garage and other parts of the house at the same time, this fee may also vary; if the contractor is already next to your house, the cost per square foot may be slightly less.

Vinyl siding is designed to install the seams from top to bottom instead of side to side, and costs about $3 to $8 per square foot, depending on the grade selected.

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