Overview: Siding Contractors
Siding is the skin on your walls, and it has one job: keep weather out of the structure behind it. Companies in this category re-side whole houses, replace storm-damaged or woodpecker-holed sections, wrap trim in aluminum, and put up the house wrap that does the real waterproofing. Vinyl is the common choice. Fiber cement, engineered wood, cedar and brick veneer each cost more and each behave differently once the sun and the rain get to work on them.
What sits behind the panels matters more than the panels. A proper job puts a water-resistive barrier over the sheathing, laps it like shingles so water runs down and out, seals around window and door openings, and leaves the wall a way to dry. Vinyl also has to hang loose. Nailed tight it buckles in July and cracks in January.
Expect a conversation about what turns up when the old material comes off. Soft sheathing and rot around openings are common and are priced as discovery, not guesswork. Ask what the fade warranty covers, and whether the crew doing the work belongs to the company you signed with.
Use the state and city lists below to find siding companies serving your area.
Cost of Siding Installation
Measure the exterior wall area, not the home floor area. Compare the same siding, trim and weather-barrier scope; the installation ranges below assume sound prepared walls, with old-siding removal shown separately.
| Service or scope | Planning range | What this covers |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl panels installation | $4–$12per sq ft of net exterior wall area | Install specified vinyl panels on sound prepared exterior walls; measure actual siding area.Confirm material grade, finish, house wrap, flashing and trim allowances. Removal and concealed repairs are separate unless included in writing.Included scope and possible extrasScope used for this estimate: Specified siding; Routine installation labor; Quoted standard fastening and trim Outside this estimate: Old siding removal unless included; Concealed sheathing or rot repairs; Extra insulation; Premium trim or unquoted coating |
| Fiber-cement lap siding installation | $6–$16per sq ft of net exterior wall area | Install specified fiber-cement lap siding on sound prepared exterior walls; measure actual siding area.Confirm material grade, finish, house wrap, flashing and trim allowances. Removal and concealed repairs are separate unless included in writing.Included scope and possible extrasScope used for this estimate: Specified siding; Routine installation labor; Quoted standard fastening and trim Outside this estimate: Old siding removal unless included; Concealed sheathing or rot repairs; Extra insulation; Premium trim or unquoted coating |
| Engineered-wood siding installation | $7–$15per sq ft of net exterior wall area | Install specified engineered-wood siding on sound prepared exterior walls; measure actual siding area.Confirm material grade, finish, house wrap, flashing and trim allowances. Removal and concealed repairs are separate unless included in writing.Included scope and possible extrasScope used for this estimate: Specified siding; Routine installation labor; Quoted standard fastening and trim Outside this estimate: Old siding removal unless included; Concealed sheathing or rot repairs; Extra insulation; Premium trim or unquoted coating |
| Wood lap siding installation | $5–$18per sq ft of net exterior wall area | Install specified wood lap siding on sound prepared exterior walls; measure actual siding area.Confirm material grade, finish, house wrap, flashing and trim allowances. Removal and concealed repairs are separate unless included in writing.Included scope and possible extrasScope used for this estimate: Specified siding; Routine installation labor; Quoted standard fastening and trim Outside this estimate: Old siding removal unless included; Concealed sheathing or rot repairs; Extra insulation; Premium trim or unquoted coating |
| Remove existing siding | $0.75–$2per sq. ft. of siding removed, additional | Remove one ordinary layer of existing siding so the underlying wall can be assessed; quote hauling and disposal explicitly.Add removal only if the installation quote excludes it. Ask for a disposal total and a unit price for concealed sheathing repairs.Included scope and possible extrasScope used for this estimate: Ordinary tear-off labor Outside this estimate: New siding; Hazardous-material handling; Rot or framing repairs; Unlisted hauling and disposal fees |
What changes the price
- Material profile, finish and actual wall area
- Height, architectural details and trim quantity
- Old layers, weather barrier and concealed sheathing damage
Ask before you book
- What wall area, openings and trim quantities are included?A floor-area shortcut does not describe the siding scope.
- Are tear-off, weather barrier, flashing and finishing included in the installed price?A complete wall assembly involves more than visible cladding.
- How will concealed rot or damaged sheathing be priced and approved?Defines the process for changes after removal.
Check the scope
Compare installed wall systems, not panel-only prices. The lowest square-foot quote may omit tear-off, trim, finishing or concealed repairs.
Compare quotes wisely
Compare material and finish alternatives with identical preparation and flashing requirements; ask whether several damaged areas can share one mobilization.
How to read these estimates
These ranges combine published U.S. prices and cost guidance for the stated work. They are budgeting estimates, not offers from listed companies or a statistical national average. Confirm the total, included work and additional charges in writing.
U.S. planning estimates. Local quotes vary by location and the scope of work.
Frequently asked questions
Which wall material is the right choice?
Vinyl is cheapest to buy and fit, needs no painting and looks like vinyl. Fiber cement holds paint for years, resists fire and insects, and is heavy and slow to hang, which shows in the labor. Engineered wood splits the difference. Cedar looks superb and asks for stain every few years. Pick on how much upkeep you actually want, then on looks, then on price.
What goes on the wall before the cladding does?
A water-resistive barrier, usually a synthetic house wrap, over the sheathing. It is lapped from the bottom up so any water that gets past the panels runs down and out, taped at the seams, and carefully integrated around windows and doors. Some jobs add furring strips to create a drainage gap behind the cladding. If a quote does not mention the barrier at all, ask.
What if there is rot behind the old material?
Assume some. Water gets in around windows and at the bottom course, and the damage shows only once the old panels are off. A good contract says what the hourly or per-sheet rate is for replacing sheathing and framing, so the surprise has a price agreed before anyone finds it. Ask to see the open wall and photographs before it gets covered again.
Does the finish fade, and is that covered?
Everything fades on a south wall. Vinyl fades toward its own base tone, and dark colors show it soonest. Manufacturer warranties often name a fade limit, but the wording is technical and the remedy is usually prorated material with no labor. Get the actual warranty document, not the brochure, and keep a couple of spare panels so any future patch matches what is on the house.
Can I repaint instead of replacing everything?
Often, yes. Wood and fiber cement take paint well and a repaint costs a fraction of a re-side. Vinyl can be painted with the right acrylic products, but going darker than the original traps heat and warps the panels. Replacement wins when panels are cracked, the wall behind is wet, or you are chasing the same repair year after year.
