Siding Installation

When it comes to protecting your home from the elements, it's essential to have the best siding you can afford. Here's how to choose the perfect siding for your home, and the steps necessary to get it installed.

Preparing for Your Siding Installation

So you've decided to install new siding on your home. Now what?

1. Find a Siding Contractor.

We recommend hiring a professional to complete the job. Get in touch with a few licensed siding contractors to compare rates in your area.

2. Choose a Siding Material.

When it comes to choosing the best siding for your home, it’s important to consider three things: aesthetic appeal, cost, and durability.

The look that you are going for is entirely up to you. Have you always been drawn to traditional home aesthetics? You may want to consider wood, or fiber cement and vinyl, which imitate the look of wood and boost durability.

Next up: what does your budget look like? Many homeowners go for vinyl siding because it’s inexpensive and can last for the lifetime of their home. On the other hand, fiber cement siding has excellent insulating qualities that cut down on utility bills, but will cost a bit more upfront.

3. Select a Siding Color.

Besides choosing a color that you and your family can agree on, it’s important to pay attention to what color works best in your surroundings. Read all about siding colors for more information.

4. Check Manufacturer Warranties.

Not all warranties are created equal, so it’s very important to do your research before making a purchase. Some manufacturers will offer as much as a transferable lifetime warranty against defects in the products—certainly something to look for.

5. Install Your Siding.

Apply for tax credits if available in your state.

Costs

The cost of siding installation depends on the type of siding used, the price of labor, as well as the size of the home. You can get a price quote to learn more.

On average, vinyl siding can be as inexpensive as $2-$7 if installed by a professional. This means that for an exterior of 1,800 square feet, new siding would cost between $3,600 and $12,600.

Aluminum siding is less expensive than vinyl siding, usually priced between $2.50 and $3.50 per square foot if installed by a professional. That would cost from $3,100 to $4,500 for a home with a 1,250-square-foot exterior.

Fiber cement siding is one of the most expensive siding materials, costing on average between $4.50 and $9 per square foot. For a 1,250-square-foot exterior, your total would be from $5,600 to $11,250.

For a complete breakdown of siding costs, visit our Siding Costs Library.

Pictures

• Vinyl Siding
• Log Siding

Durability

Siding durability and maintenance go hand in hand. Vinyl has the best of both worlds; it is extremely durable and requires little to no maintenance. Wood siding, however, requires regular maintenance and can be susceptible to damage from insects and moisture. Fiber cement is extremely durable, but may need paint touch-ups every few years.

Manufacturers

• Wolverine Siding Systems
• Vytec Siding
• Royal Vinyl Siding
• Owens Corning Siding
• Norandex Siding
• Napco Siding
• Nailite Siding
• Modulog Siding
• Mastic Home Exteriors Siding
• James Hardie Siding
• Crane Siding
• CertainTeed Siding
• Alside Vinyl Siding
• Alcoa Siding

References

• Cost Helper
• Service Magic

Articles related to Siding Installation

• Exterior Siding
• Comparing Siding Costs
• Siding Colors

• Siding Installation
• Interior Siding