Residing your house and rethinking your budget – what are the primary factors that play a part in the cost of siding?
Residing your house is no small undertaking. Preparing for the cost of an entire, or partial, home reside can be difficult and intimidating but sometimes necessary, or maybe it’s time for a dramatic facelift. Either way, understanding the cost of new siding can take away some of the guesswork.
There are multiple factors to consider to help you build a price. When collecting bids from siding contractors, keep the information below in mind to help you make an informed decision.
Table of Contents
- Square Footage
- Materials
- Labor
- Conclusion
Square Footage
Sometimes bigger is not always better. The bigger the house, the larger the job, the more it’s going to cost. Although this seems like a given, a larger home doesn't only mean more materials and more labor hours, but it can also extend the labor time significantly.
For example, a three-story home may require scaffolding where a one-story home would just require a ladder or two. Additionally, larger homes may require additional safety requirements. If you have a large home on a steep hillside, it can be extremely difficult to access the top story whereas a one story home on a weird slope just requires additional bracing for a ladder.
Another issue you may encounter with a larger home is that it will take longer to acquire materials. Also, requiring more of the materials may take longer to gather from the manufacturer, extending the timeline of the job.
Materials
When it comes to the siding material, it can be fairly simple to calculate the cost. Many websites such as AZEKco.com and jameshardie.com, offer information on pricing per square foot for their siding styles. To calculate the amount of siding you're going to need for your house, simply take a measurement of the height and width to calculate the total square footage of the exterior walls. Using the square footage number, research the materials you're hoping to use and find a price per square foot amount. This is a great way to get a baseline estimate for materials.
Labor
One of the more difficult factors to estimate as a homeowner can be the labor costs. As a homeowner we usually aren't privy to the labor cost ahead of time and it can be hard to find reliable information online.
The type of material you have selected can also greatly affect the amount of labor hours needed to side a house. For example, wood siding may take longer or less time than composite siding based off the type of siding style and materials selected.
When talking to potential contractors about your siding job, be sure to ask how they bill their labor hours and how materials would affect the cost. If you aren't set on the material already, knowing the cost of labor for each material type may help influence the type of siding you select.
Conclusion
Residing your home may be a costly undertaking, but it can greatly improve your home. From the aesthetic appeal to even lowering your energy bill, new siding has great benefits. Partnering with a trusted contractor like Rogall + Co. can ensure that your new siding is everything you envisioned, and more.
