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Siding replacementSiding replacement cost, by wall area rather than floor area
Siding is priced by the square foot of wall, not of floor, and the two are not close. Getting that number right is most of the work in checking a quote.
Rates reviewed August 2026
Siding replacement estimate
No email · nothing storedWorking out your wall area
Wall area is perimeter multiplied by wall height, less roughly 10 to 15% for windows and doors. A 2,000 square foot two-storey house typically has 1,600 to 2,200 square feet of wall — noticeably less than its floor area, which surprises most people.
Gables add area that is easy to forget. Each triangular gable end is roughly half its base times its height, and a house with three or four of them can carry a few hundred extra square feet that never appears in a rough estimate.
| Material | Installed, per sq ft | Expected life |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | $3 – $12 | 30 yrs |
| Engineered wood | $5 – $12 | 30 yrs |
| Fiber cement | $6 – $15 | 40 yrs |
| Metal | $6 – $16 | 40 yrs |
| Natural wood | $7 – $18 | 25 yrs |
| Stucco | $8 – $16 | 50 yrs |
| Brick or stone veneer | $12 – $30 | 75 yrs |
What quotes leave out
Trim. Fixr notes trim alone can add $0.50 to $30 per linear foot depending on material. On a house with a lot of windows that is not a rounding error.
House wrap and sheathing. You only find out what is behind the old siding once it is off. Rot around windows and at ground level is common on older houses and is not optional to fix.
Insulation. Rigid foam behind the siding adds cost and pays back in comfort. It is the cheapest time you will ever have to do it, since the walls are already open.
Complexity. Board and batten, diagonal layouts and custom factory colors all add labor or lead time or both. Standard horizontal lap is the cheapest way to buy any material.
What insurance covers
Hail, wind and impact damage are generally covered. Fading, warping, age and ordinary weathering are not. Siding claims run into a specific and frustrating problem more often than other trades: matching.
If a storm damages one elevation and your siding has been discontinued or has faded over fifteen years, replacing that elevation alone leaves an obvious mismatch. Some policies include matching coverage that pays to replace undamaged siding for a uniform appearance. Many do not, and will pay only for the damaged section. It is worth finding out which yours is before you need to.
Questions
How much does it cost to replace siding?
Installed siding runs roughly $3 to $15 per square foot of wall across materials. A 2,000 square foot house with mid-range material typically lands near $17,200. Vinyl is the cheapest mainstream option at $4.50 to $8.20 installed.
How do I calculate my siding square footage?
Perimeter times wall height, less 10 to 15% for windows and doors, plus roughly half the base times the height for each gable end. A 2,000 square foot two-storey house usually has 1,600 to 2,200 square feet of wall.
Is fiber cement worth more than vinyl?
It costs 20 to 30% more and lasts longer, resists impact better and holds paint well. In hail country or where fire resistance matters it earns the premium. Vinyl still delivers the stronger return on investment at resale.
Does homeowners insurance cover siding replacement?
Hail, wind and impact damage are generally covered. Fading, warping and age are not. The complication is matching — if your siding is discontinued, some policies pay to replace undamaged sections for uniformity and many do not.
How long does siding last?
Vinyl and engineered wood around 30 years, fiber cement and metal around 40, natural wood 25 with maintenance, stucco 50 or more. Dark vinyl colors fade noticeably faster in strong sun.
Can I replace only part of my siding?
Physically yes, and it costs less. The problem is appearance — new siding rarely matches fifteen-year-old siding even in the same product code, and some colors are discontinued entirely. Phased replacement works best when done by elevation.