If your home's siding has seen better days, you might be considering installing vinyl siding. Vinyl siding has been the most popular siding material for decades, with over thirty percent of US homes using this material. For the sake of staying within a budget, you'll certainly want to know the costs associated with any siding job, which can get pricey. If you select vinyl, how much can you expect to pay for the job to be done? We've checked with vinyl siding professionals to bring you the answer.
It will cost between $7,000 and $15,000 to side your home with vinyl. This price range is based on a 2,000 square-foot home.
You probably have other questions related to vinyl siding installation. In this post, we'll break down the costs of vinyl siding, so that you will have a better idea for your budget. We'll also discuss whether or not you would be able to install vinyl siding by yourself, what the most cost-effective type of vinyl siding is, and if new vinyl siding will add value to your home. To see what we've discovered, keep reading.
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Breaking Down The Costs Of Siding Your Home With Vinyl
We revealed earlier in this post that the cost of installing new vinyl siding to your 2,000 square foot home ranges from $7,000 to $15,000. You might be wondering why the range is so great for the same sized home. In this section of the post, we'll discuss the factors that will cause vinyl siding prices to fluctuate.
The cost of the material is the single largest factor in why there is such a broad range in price for vinyl siding. The labor cost will remain constant from brand to brand, as most of the labor is spent on measuring, cutting, and hanging. Let's look at the material types so you'll have a better idea of overall costs.
Economy-Grade
This grade of vinyl siding is the thinnest. It's often made of reground PVC. Economy-grade vinyl siding fades more quickly and is more prone to buckle if it's not installed correctly.
This grade of vinyl is mostly used on outbuildings and detached garages. It's also popular among landlords that have inexpensive rental properties.
The cost per square foot (installed) is by far the least expensive. You can expect this to run an estimated $3.50 per square foot, making your total cost $7,000.
Builder's-Grade
A step up from economy grade is the builder's-grade vinyl siding. Materials in this grade are thicker, less resistant to color fades, and buckle less from poor or improper installation.
As its name implies, this grade is the most popular among new home construction. Its cost per square foot is an estimated $5.40, bringing the total cost to $10,800.
Premium
The best quality vinyl siding on the market are the premium brands. We'll discuss the attributes of this quality material later in the post. The abbreviated benefits of these brands are the level of thickness and the additive titanium chloride. This additive makes the vinyl siding fade much slower than vinyl without it.
Premium vinyl siding is used in higher priced subdivisions, and by those who want a long-lasting, cost-effective type of siding for their home. You'll pay up to $7.50 per square foot for premium vinyl siding, including the installation. This will make siding a 2,000 square foot home cost $15,000.
Can You Install Vinyl Siding By Yourself?
While having a second person on hand to help you with the installation is ideal, you can certainly tackle this job alone if you so choose. Keep in mind that most of the time you'll spend is performing the measuring and cutting. Having a work partner assist with these tasks will save you a considerable amount of time, but it's not completely necessary.
If you do decide to go at it alone, it's important that you use a ladder and scaffolding that is rated for your weight. While scaffolding isn't always necessary, you'll certainly need it if you are working alone.
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What Is The Most Cost-Effective Vinyl Siding?
To get the best quality vinyl siding, it's important to know what separates lower grade materials from the premium ones. While even the lowest grade vinyl siding will last twenty years or beyond, your dollar will go a lot further with a better made product. In this section of the post, we'll review what factors differentiate between low quality and top tier vinyl siding.
Thickness
How thick the vinyl siding is will help determine its durability. The thickness of vinyl siding is measured in thousandths of an inch. The thinner this measurement, the less resistant it will be to the elements. Thinner materials also have their colors fade faster, as the thicker materials will have absorbed more color.
Expect the lower quality vinyl material to have a thickness of .038" to .04". A premium brand will have a thickness of .046" to .048".
Material Composition
Vinyl is made from polyvinyl chloride resins, which are combined with additives, colors, and filler material. There are multiple grades of vinyl composition used in vinyl siding, which is important to understand when selecting the most cost-effective type.
For vinyl siding that will last, avoid brands that are made with "regrind." This grade of vinyl is made from a combination of new and melted down plastics. This produces a lower quality product, as it will be thinner and not as durable.
For the best quality, select a brand that uses virgin PVC. This will ensure that you're getting a high-quality vinyl that will last for decades on your home.
Fading
No matter the quality of your vinyl siding, fading is inevitable. Eventually, the sun's harmful ultra-violet rays will take their toll and take away your siding's fresh look. Some types of vinyl siding are much more fade-resistant, which will add a lot of value to your purchase.
To get the most color life out of your vinyl siding, select a brand that contains titanium dioxide. This will substantially slow the fading.
Getting the most value out of your vinyl siding will require you to weigh out the above factors and choose accordingly. For the best value, you'll want a thicker material that is made from virgin PVC. This vinyl should also have titanium oxide as an additive. While you'll pay more upfront for the materials, the labor costs will be the same. And getting quality vinyl siding is the difference between your home's siding lasting twenty years or forty years.
How Long Does Vinyl Siding Last On A Home?
If you're considering vinyl siding, you're probably wanting to know how long you can expect this material to last on your home. While this siding type is less expensive than wood or steel, you don't want to use a siding that you'll have to continually replace.
Thankfully, vinyl siding will last you anywhere from 20 to 40 years. The amount of useful life of vinyl siding depends on several factors. The quality of the material used is significant; some are engineered better than others and may last well past forty years. Other brands that are cheaply made will fade their colors much faster and might not make it the entire twenty years.
The installation is also critical in determining how long your vinyl siding will last. Improper nailing or screwing of the vinyl into the studs of your home's frame can be a disaster over time. Vinyl expands and contracts a great deal during temperature changes, and the pieces need to be secured in a way that they are able to properly do so. Nailing or screwing the pieces of siding too tightly will restrict the pieces from moving, which will warp the vinyl and cause buckling.
As with any siding material, how you treat and maintain it is also important. To keep your vinyl siding looking fresh and new, routinely inspect and clean it. It's recommended to give your vinyl siding a thorough wash once or twice a year. This will remove any dirt, pollen, insects, and mildew from your siding.
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Does Vinyl Siding Increase Or Decrease Resale Value?
In most cases, new siding will increase the value of your home. Replacing cracked and faded vinyl siding not only adds to your home's curb appeal, but it makes for one less major exterior project a potential buyer has to consider.
Real estate experts estimate that replacing existing vinyl siding with newer vinyl material adds up to seventy-five percent of the total project's value to your home. In other words, if the siding project costs you $5,000 to complete, your home will have an increase in value of up to $3,750.
In Closing
We carefully broke down all of the costs associated with siding your home with vinyl. Vinyl is the most popular siding style on the market, due mostly to its lower costs, durability, and low maintenance. To get the best vinyl siding for your money, be sure you select a product that is thicker and made from virgin PVC. Having vinyl that contains titanium oxide will make the colors last far longer, as this additive will prevent the colors from fading.
Vinyl siding will last between twenty and forty years, with the best quality material lasting beyond that. How it's installed and maintained will also greatly determine how long your vinyl siding will look appealing. This popular material also adds value to your home, though you won't recoup the entire cost of re-siding it.
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