Vinyl siding is almost always the least expensive way to side your home. You can even find vinyl siding for as cheap as $2 per square foot. Of course, you're going to be looking at your home's siding for many years to come, so it's important to balance the cost with what material you like looking at.
Vinyl siding is best avoided if you can afford any other choice. Both vinyl and metal siding have their pros and cons. But if your metal siding isn't coated with vinyl, it has the added benefit of being recyclable at its end of life.
While prices of materials will vary depending on where you're building, the least expensive types of siding for exterior walls tend to be vinyl and composite. Vinyl is synthetic, low-maintenance, and comes in all different types to match aesthetic desires.
Vinyl siding is almost always the least expensive way to side your home. You can even find vinyl siding for as cheap as $2 per square foot. Of course, you're going to be looking at your home's siding for many years to come, so it's important to balance the cost with what material you like looking at.
It costs about $3.50 to $5.50 per square foot, which is about $7,000 to $11,700 when it comes to the vinyl siding cost for 2000 sq ft homes. With proper vinyl siding maintenance, you can make this material last long, making it even more cost-efficient.
Benefits include its affordability, ease of maintenance, and wide variety of colors and styles. Drawbacks include its tendency to fade, crack, and break. Buy extra vinyl material to allow for waste during installation and to make future repairs.
Fiber Cement Siding: Durability and Aesthetics
New fiber cement siding is known for its durability and versatility. This material alone can increase your home value over vinyl, and choosing the right color will maximize that boost.
If you're seeking timeless and versatile options for vinyl siding, consider a few classic color schemes. White and cream exude a clean and timeless appeal, while shades of green or blue evoke a sense of tranquility.
Vinyl is widely known as one of the cheapest and easiest siding materials to install on a home's exterior. It's easy to cut and apply and doesn't need to be painted. But while the actual application is simple, preparing your home for vinyl siding is a lot more work.
If you're looking for a siding option that screams modernity, consider fiber cement siding. Known for its sleek and clean lines, fiber cement has become a go-to choice for contemporary homes in 2024. Its durability, resistance to pests, and fire-resistant properties make it a practical and stylish option.
Because it's molded, if not properly installed you can see the areas where it bends or overlaps the next board pretty clearly, which can detract from the curb appeal of the home. Worst still, it's not as low-maintenance as it seems, and over time can develop cracks and holes that will make the property look rundown.
For decades, vinyl siding has been known as the siding that requires the smallest amount of care. As far as coloring, it can go straight through the vinyl product, and the color does not chip away – yet it will fade over time.
Neutral Colors Have the Best Resale Value
Similarly, a study by Opendoor stated the most popular exterior siding colors in 2022 were: Gray - 30% Wood (Stained) - 27% Beige - 26%
The price of a successful project can always be negotiated with your contractor before you sign a contract. Talk to your siding contractor about your budget. Make sure you have a written agreement for any unexpected project expenses.
Home exterior remodel costs often range from $5,000 to $30,000, with an average of $10,500. Choosing high-end materials can significantly increase the project's budget. A home exterior remodel costs anywhere from $1,800 on the low end to upwards of $100,000.
Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement board is gaining the attention of homeowners as the material is more durable and weather resistant than vinyl siding. Fiber cement siding also has many advantages over other types of sidings. It is durable and fire resistant, resistant to insects and rot, and can be painted or stained.
Vinyl siding can last between 30 to 40 years depending on your climate and how well you maintain it. In some cases, homeowners living in mild climates who immaculately maintain their vinyl siding could allow it to last upwards of 40 years.
Items like steel wool, wire brushes and paint scarper can leave permanent scratches, discoloration and even puncture wounds in your vinyl siding and should be avoided when trying to clean a home's exterior.
Depending on where you live, labor costs could vary, but the average labor cost to install vinyl siding is $3.70 per square foot, with the general range being from $2 to $5 per square foot. So, if your home is 1,000 sq. ft. then you can expect to pay $2,150 or $5,250 in labor costs alone.
Vinyl siding is around $2 per square foot cheaper than fiber cement siding, which can really add up once you've factored in the total square footage of your home's siding. For the price, vinyl siding is an economical material.