It is no secret that home improvement costs can add up. You want to be sure that you have budgeted the right amount for a siding replacement job. Being surprised by the cost of your new vinyl siding can be very unfortunate, especially if you only budgeted for a very specific amount and didn’t save up any extra cash to cover overages or other surprises.
Vinyl siding installation cost can vary significantly based on a variety of factors. Your location, the type of siding that you are purchasing, and possible prep work or repairs that need to be completed before your vinyl siding can be installed can all add up. You need to be sure that you have the right variables in mind when you are budgeting for a siding replacement job so that you aren’t shocked at the actual cost of the work that needs to be done.
Things That People Commonly Forget When Calculating the Cost of Vinyl Siding
1. Overages for Waste
There are going to be mistakes in cutting and other issues that can lead to extra materials being needed during a siding job. This is typically built into your siding cost bid by a company that handles this kind of work. If you are looking at budgeting for this kind of work to be done on your home, you should budget for 10-15% more material than the square footage necessary to cover your home. This is the overage that is necessary to handle issues that can sometimes crop up during the installation process.
2. Removal and Disposal
Lots of people only budget for the cost of the new siding that they are having applied to their home without thinking about the cost of removing the old siding and disposing of it. This can be quite time-intensive and expensive. You should be sure that you ask about these costs when you are getting bids from siding companies. Not every company will charge the same amount for this part of the work that needs to be done, so this can be a great area to save some money if you need to keep costs under control.
3. Accessories and Trim
J-channels, things like corner posts, window trim, and soffits are all part of the costs of having your siding replaced. You might be sure what the items will cost. You should ask for this information to be called out specifically in any bids that you receive. You can compare and contrast this part of the cost of having your home resided when you have this information on hand. This is a cost that is a lot like the overage that you need to build into your cost analysis. You cannot avoid using these items, so you need to keep this portion of your budget in mind as you are figuring out how much to save.
4. Underlayment and Preparation
There are going to be things that will need to be done to prepare your home for its new siding layer. There might be dry rot or other issues in the plywood sheathing of your home that need to be addressed. There is also a layer of wrap that is applied under the new siding that might need to be replaced if it has become damaged. Your siding company might also recommend replacing this layer or wrap material for other reasons, and you should be sure that you take this into consideration, since you don’t want your siding to fail.
5. Permitting and Inspections
There will almost always need to be permits granted to make alterations to your home of this kind. You might also need to have your property inspected once the new siding has been installed. These permits and inspections can add a chunk of change to your bid for that work that needs to be done. Be sure that you ask to have these items included in your documentation when you are comparing and contrasting bids from companies.
6. Complex Designs
Complex home designs can lead to time-intensive cutting and application to handle gables, corners, or steep pitches. This is one of the areas where labor and specialized tools can be necessary to complete a job. You might be surprised at just how much this kind of work costs. Be certain that you have this information in the quotes that you get from the companies that you are comparing. You will want to have an accurate picture of how much each business will charge for this kind of work.
7. Shipping Costs
If you have picked vinyl siding materials that have to be shipped in, you will need to find out the cost of shipping for the siding that you want. This can be a regional issue. Some locations have ready access to building materials, while other places do not. Be sure that shipping is part of the bid that you have been given by any of the companies that you think you might work with. Shipping can be quite costly for items like siding, so you should be aware of how this cost will impact the overall budget for your siding replacement job.
Replacing Your Siding Can Be Worth Every Penny
There are so many reasons that you might need or want to replace your siding. If you have a realistic idea of the cost of having this kind of work done on your home, you will not suffer sticker shock when you find out what your siding budget needs to be. This is an ideal way to improve the value of your home as well as its appearance. You will be protecting your home from water incursion and damage as well.
Home siding is an important part of the well-being of your property, and replacing it is just part of owning a home. Whether you are looking to improve the appearance of your home or you just need to replace vinyl siding that is damaged or aging, having an accurate budget in place for the work will make all the difference.
