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Siding FAQ

The three questions homeowners ask most: siding replacement costs about $8,000 to $30,000 on a typical 2,000-square-foot home (This Old House, 2026); vinyl and aluminum typically last 20 to 40 years while fiber cement lasts 50-plus; and the decision to repair or replace comes down to whether the damage is impact or water.

Most siding regret traces back to the same two errors: hiring on price without normalizing the scope, and covering a wall without inspecting what's behind it. Almost every question below is a version of one of those.

If you only take one thing from this section: siding is a rain screen. Its job is to shed most water and let the rest drain out. The parts that keep your house dry are the water-resistive barrier and the flashing, and they are installed by the crew you hire — not by the brand you choose.

How to choose

Ask every contractor three questions
What's your rot repair rate per sheet? How do you flash window heads and roof-wall intersections? What's your workmanship warranty term, in writing?
Insist on the open-wall photo set
Sheathing, barrier, flashing. Yours to keep. Non-negotiable.
Normalize before you compare
Same scope on paper to every bidder. Otherwise the cheapest quote is just the least complete one.
Verify insurance with the insurer
Certificate sent directly to you, current dates, general liability and workers' compensation.
Pre-1978 house means lead rules
Paid work disturbing painted surfaces requires an EPA lead-safe certified firm.
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Siding faq — common questions

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About $8,000 to $30,000 for a typical 2,000-square-foot home, averaging near $19,000, per This Old House's 2026 guide. Installed rates run from about $6 per square foot for vinyl to $20 for brick veneer.
This Old House gives 20 to 40 years for vinyl, aluminum and cedar, 50-plus for fiber cement, and 100-plus for masonry veneers. NAHB lists most siding materials as lasting the life of the house — plan around the shorter figures.
Some products allow it, but it means nobody inspects your sheathing or flashing. If your existing siding is failing because of water, going over the top is a genuinely bad idea.
Barely, on its own. EPA estimates air sealing plus insulating attics, crawlspace floors and accessible basements saves an average of 15% on heating and cooling. Adding insulative sheathing during a tear-off is the efficient way to combine the two.
Three quotes on an identical written scope, insurance verified directly with the insurer, references from jobs two-plus years old, milestone payments, and no signing under time pressure.
Sources

Where these figures come from

You know more than the last homeowner they quoted.

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