Siding Costs
There are various ways to calculate the cost of siding materials. You can consider the cost of the life of the siding. You can look at the initial investment in the siding. You can take into account its eventual maintenance cost. You can consider the impact a specific material will have on the resale value of your home. Each point of view has a certain value; and all deserve consideration when choosing siding for your home.
For example, cedar siding might likely turn out to be a very expensive choice for your homes siding. Its life expectancy is less than that of aluminum and vinyl siding, and brick or stone will outlast cedar by many years. So, even though the initial expense of cedar siding might look great when compared to the price of vinyl, the upkeep it requires over its shorter life span will make it more expensive in the long run. On the other hand, cedar siding is a better insulator than vinyl or aluminum and will keep your utility bills down in the summer and winter months. As you can see, there’s more to “cost” than meets the eye.
While siding costs vary widely from product to product, including grades of product (high end to low end) below you’ll find a rough price comparison on siding material costs. Besides the initial material costs there may be other items that could increase or decrease the amount your siding will ultimately cost you; removing previous siding, repairing water damage beyond the siding layer, and damp proofing your home are among the top 3 related additional costs.
Siding Material Cost Comparison
Vinyl
Of all the siding available in today’s market, vinyl leads the way; installed, it remains the least expensive siding material. Warranties are another key point; most vinyl manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty that can also be transferred to the next owner, thus creating a great value and a great investment. Estimate costs run from $2 to $3 per square foot.
Fiber Cement
Competitively priced, generally costing slightly more than vinyl siding. Estimate costs run $3 to $4 per square foot.
Hardwood siding
Cedar runs between $3.5 to 6.5 per square foot.
Plywood siding
Paint grade wood siding can run between $1 to $2 less per square foot than hardwood siding.
Aluminum siding
Aluminum siding runs between $3 to $5 per foot.
Brick and Stone Veneer
Brick and stone veneer siding will run between $11 to $15 per square foot.
Brick
Real brick runs between $6 to $12 per square foot however; replacing brick is much more expensive and runs around $18 + per square foot.
Stone siding
Natural stone is priced between $15 to $30 per square foot.
Stucco siding
Stucco pricing falls between $4 to $9 per square foot. Sand and cement stucco is less expensive, latex stucco is more expensive.
Wood Shingles and shake siding
Pricing for shingles and shake siding run between $5.12 and $7.40 per square foot.
Slate Shingles
Slate shingles have a long life span of 75+ years, they defy extreme heat and cold, and the material is fireproof. Slate shingles measure 12" to 20" wide; 3/16" to 1" thick.
Prices start at $5 a square foot.
Cypress siding
Cypress beadboard paneling is 1" x 6" and runs around $2 per linear foot. 1" x 4" paneling runs around $1.33 per linear foot.
Clapboard siding
Red Cedar Lap Siding is 6" deep x 1/2" thick and runs around $1.75 per square foot; $2.05 per square foot with one side planed smooth.
Siding comparisons chart
| Material | Durability | Appearance | Maintenance | Cost of Materials |
| Wood board | High | Excellent | High | High |
| Shingle | High | Excellent | High | High |
| Vinyl | High | Fair | Low | Low |
| Fiber Cement | High | Excellent | Moderate | High |
| Steel | Good | Fair | Low | Moderate |
| Stucco (EIFS) | Good | Excellent | Moderate | Moderate |
| Brick | High | Excellent | Moderate | High |
| Stone | High | Good | Low | Moderate |
| Synthetic stone | High | Good | Low | Moderate |