Discussion

Why is Replacing Siding so Expensive?

We're looking to replace the siding on a square, two-story house that's about 25 years old. The current siding has been poorly maintained. We've received bids that vary widely, and even the lowest one still feels expensive. The project involves installing Hardie board siding, covering approximately 2,500 square feet of surface area. What should this project actually cost?

There are a few questionable companies out there using high-pressure tactics and charging outrageously inflated prices. For instance, we received a quote for $65k about five years ago, while the other three quotes ranged from $25k to $30k.

I just re-sided my two-story home in the phoenix area, and it cost around $35k. We were really happy with the price and quality we got. Some of the companies we spoke to seemed like they mainly worked with flippers or rental properties, and the quality just didn’t meet our standards. We felt confident going with the company we chose because they had great reviews, a solid reputation, and were local to the area.

We re-sided approximately 1,600 sq. ft. (surface area) with Hardie and paint about a month ago, and the quoted cost was $27K. They haven't finished painting yet, so I don't have the final cost, but it should be around that amount. Re-siding is expensive due to the labor and raw materials involved. If your siding is rotten, as indicated by fungus growth, you should prepare for more problems once the siding is removed. Unfortunately, this could be really expensive, even if raw material costs weren’t up 300%-400%. You’re doing the right thing by getting multiple quotes, but it still sounds like a big job.