[2020] Average Cost to Reside a House

When most homeowners think about maintaining the exterior of their home, three things usually come to mind — roofing, windows, and, most importantly, siding. If you’re a homeowner, how much do you know about your home’s siding and how to maintain it?

As with any aspect of home repair and maintenance, knowledge is power. Without the right knowledge, you may jeopardize the integrity of not just your home’s siding, but also that of your roofing and windows. The types of siding also play a big role in the cost of re-siding of your home. For instance, improperly sealed wood or cedar siding can lead to mold and mildew. Certain vinyl materials can wear quicker than the next when not properly installed.

Coupled with the ever-increasing need to increase your home’s property value and protect its interior is driving an increased interest in siding. But just how much is the average cost to re-side a house in Seattle, Washington? Whether you’re looking for low maintenance siding options or to overall the look of your exterior, we’ll cover siding costs by material, factors that go into the cost, and a few ways to calculate your siding cost estimates.

Costs by Siding Material Type

There is a wide range of siding options to choose from, each appealing to various price ranges and ultimately what you want to achieve with the exterior of your home. Whether it be the maintenance of your home or overall look, the following are the common materials that are used to make siding and the average cost of installing each one of them based on a home size of 2,000 sq-ft.

Low to Moderate Cost Low Maintenance Siding Options:

• Vinyl: Vinyl siding costs lie between $2 and $7 per Sq. Ft. The average installation for a 2000 square foot surface ranges from $ 4,000 to $14,000.
• Aluminum: Aluminum siding costs lie between $3.50 and $16.50 per Sq. Ft. The average siding cost is slightly higher, starting from $7,000 to $33,000.
• Fiber cement: Fiber cement siding/James Hardie costs $1.00 to $6.25 per sq.ft Its average installation cost starts from $2,000 and goes up to $12,500.
• Engineered Wood: Engineered wood siding is low cost in comparison to wood siding. It cost between $11 and $28 per sq.ft Its average installation cost ranges from $22,000-$56,000.

Moderate to Higher Cost Siding Options:

• Wood: Wood siding cost per square feet lies between $3.25 and $15.75. Though, there are lower-cost options such as clapboard or bevel siding. Total cost average starts from $6,500 to $31,500.
• Brick: Brick siding has a cost from $6 to $10 per sq.ft, giving it an average price of between $12,000 and $20,000.
• Stucco: Stucco siding costs $6 to $9 per sq.ft Its average cost is lower, ranging from $12,000 to $18,000.
• Steel: Metal siding prices at $3 to $5 per sq.ft and has an average of between $6,000 and $10,000.
• Stone: Stone siding prices between $20 and $50 per sq.ft. It averages $40,000 to $100,000.

Since there are many materials to choose from, your choice will mostly depend on your budget, among various other factors. If you’re looking to add to the exterior appeal of your home, likely you’re considering siding materials such as wood, fiber cement, stone siding, etc. These may be at a higher price point but add to the overall look and resale value of your home, especially when installed correctly.

Siding Material Cost Factors

If you are considering installing new siding for your home, you should have a clear picture of what to expect in terms of the cost. Several factors will determine the amount you will spend to install new siding, which includes:

• The size of your house: The bigger your house, the higher the siding costs, and vice versa. On the low-cost end of the spectrum, you can spend between $1,400 and $9,500 to re-side a 2,000 square foot home, or depending on the material you choose, siding costs start at 10K+.
• Current siding and outside walls condition: If the exterior walls are in a deplorable condition such that they have to be removed first before installing new siding, then you should expect to spend more. Old siding removal costs $1,100 to $3000. Damage to walls by rot and termite infestation brings up the repair and replacement costs.
• Product choices: Different siding materials come at different prices, with some materials being costlier than others. For instance, wood siding costs at least $3.25 per square foot, while stone siding costs significantly higher.
• Labor cost: Labor rates vary as per your zip code. Labor costs per square foot vary with the type of material. For instance, you can expect to pay from $3-$7 for wood siding, $3-$5 for fiber cement siding, $6.67-$13.30 for stone siding.

How to Estimate Your Siding Costs

So how do you calculate your siding costs? There are a few ways to get started with cost estimates. First, you’ll want to determine the siding material you plan to use in combination with calculating your home’s square footage. To make your calculations easier, you can use an online calculator to estimate the siding costs. To calculate your siding costs without an online calculate, following the cost guide below:

1. Divide your walls into mathematical shapes like rectangles and triangles. Use a tape measure to ascertain the dimensions of the figures.
2. Calculate the area of the figures.
3. Add all areas to calculate the total square footage and multiply your total by the cost of the siding material per sq.ft. The answer is the siding material cost.

Don’t forget the additional costs! To truly estimate the cost of replacing your house siding, make sure to factor in the following additional costs:

• Wastage costs
• Taxes
• Labor cost
• Removal or repair of damaged walls and sidings
• Permit and inspection cost

There are of course, online cost calculators that can be helpful to give you ballpark range. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider seeking a Siding Contractor in your area — it always helps to have a professional guiding you through the entire residing process. They’ll likely have recommendations for best siding materials to use as well as provide a rough cost estimate based on your home’s square footage.

Siding Permits & Inspections

Whether it is a DIY project or you’re working with a siding contractor, always check local laws regarding your siding needs. Small roofing and home improvement projects may go on without a building permit, but larger DIY projects require an examination.

The Water Resistant Barrier pre-installation inspection is a common practice in many states. Other checks include flashing and after-work inspections. Also, siding installation contractors must be licensed.

What should be considered during an inspection? Signs of termites or other insects/rodent infestations, signs of mold and, or, mildew, improperly installed siding/windows, etc. Likely, the inspector will have a checklist of items but if you suspect any of the above, make sure to point these out during the inspection!

How Types of Siding Add Value to Your Property

National averages indicate that nine out of the top ten high-return projects are exterior replacement projects. While fiber cement and vinyl siding are popular choices for siding, you should consider the resale value of your home as well as protection. Yes, vinyl siding IS affordable, but not necessarily recommended for homes in the Pacific Northwest where the moisture levels must be taken into consideration. As such, you should ensure the siding materials used for your home are constructed specifically to protect against the harsh elements of this region.

Whether you are thinking of building a new house or are just thinking about remodeling your old one, you should prioritize your siding, among other exterior projects. Siding will not only add curb appeal to your home, but it will also increase its value when the time to refinance or sell comes.

Are you motivated to increase your home’s resale value? Start your siding project today.