Exterior Siding Costs: Vinyl, Hardie, Wood, and 20-Year TCO
Cost per square foot, lifespan, maintenance, 20-year total cost of ownership, when to repair vs. replace, and what to ask contractors when getting bids.
Exterior Siding Costs: Vinyl, Hardie, Wood, and 20-Year TCO
Your siding is your home's suit of armor. It protects against weather, controls how your house looks, and affects maintenance for decades. As a GC, I've installed or replaced siding on hundreds of homes. Here's what you need to know to choose wisely.
Siding Types and Cost Per Square Foot
Vinyl Siding
- Cost installed: $8–$15 per square foot
- Full home (2,000 sq ft): $16,000–$30,000
- Lifespan: 20–40 years (often outlasts expectations if well-maintained)
- Maintenance: Occasional cleaning, gutter cleaning to prevent mold
- Pros: Low cost, no painting, easy installation
- Cons: Can look plastic-y in some climates, dents and warps in extreme heat, fades over time
Fiber Cement (Hardie Board)
- Cost installed: $12–$25 per square foot
- Full home (2,000 sq ft): $24,000–$50,000
- Lifespan: 25–40 years
- Maintenance: Painting every 7–10 years, occasional caulking
- Pros: Looks like wood, very durable, doesn't rot, fire-resistant, excellent weather resistance
- Cons: Requires painting, heavier than vinyl (more labor), more expensive upfront
Wood Siding (Cedar or Pine)
- Cost installed: $10–$20 per square foot
- Full home (2,000 sq ft): $20,000–$40,000
- Lifespan: 15–30 years (highly dependent on climate and maintenance)
- Maintenance: Painting or staining every 5–7 years, regular inspection for rot
- Pros: Natural beauty, warm aesthetic, ages well in dry climates
- Cons: High maintenance, susceptible to rot and insects, weather-dependent lifespan
Engineered Wood (Hardboard)
- Cost installed: $8–$16 per square foot
- Full home (2,000 sq ft): $16,000–$32,000
- Lifespan: 15–20 years
- Maintenance: Painting every 5–7 years, susceptible to delamination if not maintained
- Pros: Cheaper than real wood, can look natural
- Cons: More prone to moisture problems than wood, lifespan shorter than expected
Stucco
- Cost installed: $10–$20 per square foot
- Full home (2,000 sq ft): $20,000–$40,000
- Lifespan: 20–30 years
- Maintenance: Occasional recoating, repair of cracks and damaged sections
- Pros: Fire-resistant, weather-resistant in arid climates, unique aesthetic
- Cons: Not ideal for cold/wet climates (freeze-thaw damage), crack repair is visible, labor-intensive installation
Brick Veneer
- Cost installed: $15–$35 per square foot
- Full home (2,000 sq ft): $30,000–$70,000
- Lifespan: 50–100+ years (essentially permanent)
- Maintenance: Minimal; occasional mortar repointing every 20–30 years
- Pros: Extremely durable, timeless look, no painting, excellent weather resistance
- Cons: High upfront cost, requires structural support, mortar repointing is specialized work
20-Year Total Cost of Ownership Comparison
Assume a 2,000 square foot home in a moderate climate (not desert or arctic), full replacement needed at year 0.
Vinyl Siding
- Installation: $22,000
- Cleaning/maintenance: $2,000 (20 years)
- Repair (1–2 panels per decade): $800
- Replacement at year 35+: $0 (outside our 20-year window)
- 20-Year TCO: $24,800
Fiber Cement (Hardie)
- Installation: $36,000
- Painting (2 times at $4,000 each, years 8 and 16): $8,000
- Caulking and minor repairs: $2,000
- 20-Year TCO: $46,000
Wood Siding
- Installation: $28,000
- Painting/staining (4 times at $3,500, years 5, 10, 15, 19): $14,000
- Rot repairs and replacements: $4,000
- 20-Year TCO: $46,000
Brick Veneer
- Installation: $48,000
- Mortar repointing (year 20): $5,000
- Cleaning: $1,000
- 20-Year TCO: $54,000
The Takeaway: Over 20 years, vinyl and fiber cement are close. Vinyl wins on total cost if you're OK with repainting or replacing earlier. Fiber cement wins on durability and look. Brick is premium but lasts forever.
Lifespan and Maintenance Chart
| Siding Type | Lifespan | Repaint Interval | Annual Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | 20–40 years | Never | Cleaning, gutters |
| Fiber Cement | 25–40 years | 7–10 years | Painting, caulking |
| Wood | 15–30 years | 5–7 years | Staining, inspections |
| Engineered Wood | 15–20 years | 5–7 years | Painting, inspection |
| Stucco | 20–30 years | 10–15 years | Crack repairs, recoating |
| Brick | 50–100+ years | Never | Occasional repointing |
When to Repair vs. Replace
Repair if:
- Damage is localized to 5–10% of siding
- Siding is otherwise in good condition
- You can match materials (harder with aged vinyl or faded paint)
- Repair cost is below 30% of replacement cost
Replace if:
- 25%+ of siding is damaged, rotted, or delaminating
- Siding is over 25 years old and showing signs of failure
- You're changing the home's aesthetic
- Repair is "invisible"—patches show versus new siding
Example: A wood siding home with rot in 30% of boards should be fully reclad, not patched. Partial repair looks bad and the remaining old siding will fail within 5 years anyway.
Bidding Red Flags
When you're getting siding bids, watch for:
Vague labor estimates: "We'll charge 8 dollars a square foot" without separating demo, insulation, flashing, and trim details. Push for itemization.
No mention of flashing or trim: Flashing (around windows, doors, rooflines) and trim (fascia, soffit, corners) are where leaks happen. Good bids break these out.
Skipping the sheathing inspection: Old siding might hide rotted sheathing underneath. Contractors should evaluate and quote replacement if needed. If they don't, you'll discover it mid-project and face cost overruns.
No warranty: Reputable contractors offer 10-year labor warranties. If they won't guarantee their work, something's wrong.
Upfront payment request: Never pay in full before work starts. Typical terms: 33% upon contract signing, 33% at rough-out, 34% upon completion.
Pressure to decide fast: Quality contractors are busy and will book out. They don't need to pressure you. If a contractor pushes for a same-day decision, walk.
What to Ask Contractors
- What's your removal and disposal process? Some charge extra; others include it. Get it in writing.
- Will you inspect and replace sheathing if needed? Honest answer is "yes, we'll know once we pull siding off. We'll quote it separately if needed."
- What's your flashing detail for windows and doors? Should mention new flashing and caulk to prevent leaks.
- Do you include insulation? Some install foam board; others don't. Specify what you want.
- What's your cleanup process? Siding debris is massive. Confirm they're hauling it.
- What warranty do you offer? Labor warranty is standard; material warranties vary by manufacturer.
Energy Efficiency and Insulation
New siding often includes rigid foam insulation (0.5–2 inches), which adds R-value and creates a thermal break. This improves energy performance, especially on older homes with single-layer sheathing.
Foam-backed siding costs 1–3 dollars more per square foot but returns value quickly in cold climates. In moderate climates, standard installation is sufficient.
Related Links
Get the Renovation Readiness Checklist
27 things to verify before you spend a dollar or sign a contract — scope, budget, contractor vetting, permits, and payment protection. Free. No fluff. Written by a licensed GC.
- 27-point pre-project checklist (PDF, print-ready)
- Weekly renovation + investing guides
- Contractor red flags, cost breakdowns, and real project data
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Your email stays private.
Written by BlueprintKit
BlueprintKit publishes expert construction and renovation content based on real project experience. Every guide is reviewed by a licensed general contractor.