We knew our siding needed replacing when the woodpecker started making progress. The bird had found a soft spot in our old cedar siding and was methodically excavating what would become an impressive hole, working his way through wood that had apparently been deteriorating longer than we’d realized. That woodpecker cost us $24,000 in new siding and a month of decision-making I hadn’t anticipated when I started calling contractors.
Finding a good siding contractor isn’t complicated but it requires some homework. Here’s what I learned about the process from initial quotes through final inspection.
When to Replace Your Siding
Some signs mean repair, others mean replacement.
Warping or buckling visible from the street suggests widespread problems. Individual warped boards can be replaced but when the warping is systemic the underlying issues probably affect more than what’s visible.
Rot or soft spots in wood siding indicate moisture damage that often extends beyond the affected area. Press on suspicious areas with a screwdriver, if it sinks in easily the wood is compromised.
Persistent mold or mildew that returns after cleaning might mean moisture is getting behind the siding rather than just affecting the surface. This is structural concern territory.
Cracked or loose pieces on vinyl or fiber cement siding leave your home vulnerable to water infiltration. A few pieces can be replaced but widespread damage means replacement makes more sense than patchwork repairs.
Fading that won’t clean and has progressed beyond just looking old to actually affecting the material’s ability to protect your home. Severely faded or chalky siding has often lost its weatherproofing properties.
High heating and cooling bills sometimes indicate siding issues. Old siding often lacks modern insulation backing and may have allowed air infiltration through gaps that developed over time.
Your house just looks dated and you want to update it. This is a valid reason, siding replacement dramatically changes your home’s appearance and can increase its value significantly.
Types of Siding Materials
The material you choose affects cost, longevity, and maintenance requirements.
Vinyl siding is the most popular choice for good reasons. It’s affordable, typically $3-8 per square foot installed, comes in countless colors and styles, never needs painting, and lasts 20-40 years. The downsides are that it can crack in extreme cold, warp in extreme heat, and some people consider it less attractive than other options. Quality varies dramatically between brands.
Fiber cement siding like James Hardie is the premium option many contractors recommend now. It costs more, usually $6-13 per square foot installed, but looks like wood without wood’s maintenance requirements, resists fire and insects, and lasts 50+ years. It needs periodic painting, typically every 10-15 years. Extremely durable but significantly heavier than vinyl and more expensive to install.
Engineered wood siding offers the look of real wood at lower cost than solid wood but higher cost than vinyl, typically $4-9 per square foot. Brands like LP SmartSide are made from wood fibers bonded with resin and resist moisture and insects better than natural wood. Still requires painting and maintenance but less than real wood.
Natural wood siding like cedar remains an option for those who want authentic wood appearance and are willing to maintain it. Costs vary widely, $5-15+ per square foot depending on species and cut. Beautiful when maintained, requires staining or painting every 3-5 years, and can be vulnerable to insects, rot, and fire. Lasts decades with proper care.
Metal siding in steel or aluminum offers extreme durability and fire resistance. Less common on residential homes except in certain regions but worth considering for specific situations. Costs $4-10 per square foot installed. Can dent and metal expands and contracts with temperature changes.
Stucco is traditional in certain climates and architectural styles. Professional installation is critical, poorly done stucco causes moisture problems. Costs $6-10 per square foot and requires periodic inspection and maintenance but can last the life of the house.
Finding Siding Contractors
Start your search before you’re desperate. Rushing this process leads to bad decisions.
Get recommendations first. Ask neighbors with recent siding work who they used. Check neighborhood social media groups. Ask your real estate agent or insurance agent, both tend to know reputable contractors. Personal recommendations from people who’ve actually worked with a contractor beat random searching.
Search online but verify carefully. Google your city plus “siding contractor” and you’ll find options. Check Google reviews, Better Business Bureau ratings, and look for complaints. Reviews matter but understand that even good contractors occasionally have unhappy customers, you’re looking for patterns rather than isolated complaints.
Verify licensing and insurance. Requirements vary by state but most require contractors to be licensed. Ask for their license number and verify it’s active. Confirm they carry liability insurance and workers’ compensation. A legitimate contractor will provide proof without hesitation, anyone reluctant to share this information is a red flag.
Check how long they’ve been in business. Siding installation seems straightforward but experience matters for handling the unexpected, things like discovering rot during tear-off or dealing with unusual architectural features. Companies that have been around for years are more likely to still exist if warranty issues arise.
Look at their previous work. Established contractors should be able to show you completed projects or provide addresses of previous customers willing to let you drive by. Looking at actual installed siding tells you more than photos on a website.
Getting and Comparing Quotes
Get at least three quotes. Five is better if you have patience for that many appointments.
The estimate process: Contractors should visit your home in person to measure and assess conditions. Estimates generated from satellite images or rough descriptions miss important details. A thorough estimator examines the current siding condition, checks for visible damage, measures accurately, and asks about your goals and budget.
What quotes should include:
The specific materials proposed including brand, product line, and color. Generic descriptions like “vinyl siding” aren’t helpful, you want “CertainTeed Monogram in Granite Gray” or similar specificity.
Whether the quote includes tear-off of existing siding or installation over it. Installing over old siding is cheaper but doesn’t allow inspection and repair of what’s underneath.
House wrap or weather barrier installation. Some contractors include it, others quote it separately or assume the existing barrier is adequate.
Trim, soffit, and fascia work. Does the quote include wrapping window and door trim? Replacing or covering soffits and fascia? These items add significant cost if excluded from initial quotes then added later.
Permits. Your locality probably requires permits for siding replacement and the quote should include permit costs and responsibility for pulling them.
Cleanup and disposal. Removing old siding generates substantial debris. The quote should specify that the contractor handles removal and disposal.
Warranty information. What warranty does the manufacturer provide on materials? What warranty does the contractor provide on labor?
Comparing quotes fairly:
Cheaper isn’t always better and expensive doesn’t guarantee quality but you should understand why quotes differ. A quote $5,000 lower than competitors might be using lower quality materials, skipping house wrap, or excluding trim work that others include. A quote significantly higher might include premium materials or services others don’t.
Ask questions when quotes seem out of range. “Your quote is quite a bit higher than others, can you help me understand what I’m getting for the difference?” or “Your quote is lower than competitors, I want to make sure I’m comparing the same scope of work.” Good contractors explain their pricing.
Questions to Ask Contractors
Beyond basic quotes, these questions help evaluate contractors.
Who will actually do the work? Some companies use employees, others use subcontractors. Both can be fine but you want to know. Will the person who gave you the estimate be present during installation?
How do you handle unexpected problems like discovering rot or water damage during tear-off? This happens more often than you’d expect. Get their process and typical costs for common issues in writing before work begins.
What’s your payment schedule? Reasonable is a deposit at contract signing, a progress payment mid-job, and final payment upon completion. Large deposits before work begins or full payment before completion is risky.
How long will the project take? Siding replacement typically takes 1-2 weeks depending on house size and complexity. Much shorter might mean rushing, much longer might indicate they’re splitting crew between multiple jobs.
What happens if I’m unhappy with something? You want a contractor who will address concerns, not one who becomes defensive or disappears after final payment.
Do you pull the permits and schedule inspections? This should be yes. Contractors who want you to pull permits or suggest skipping them entirely are raising serious red flags.
Can I contact some recent customers? Reputable contractors provide references. Actually call them and ask specific questions about communication, timeline, cleanup, and whether they’d hire the company again.
Red Flags to Avoid
Some warning signs suggest walking away.
Door-to-door sales pitches especially following storms. Legitimate contractors don’t need to canvass neighborhoods. Storm chasers show up, do questionable work, and disappear.
Pressure to decide immediately. “This price is only good today” or “we have a crew available this week but won’t again for months” are pressure tactics, not legitimate business practices.
Unusually low quotes. Significantly cheaper than competitors usually means cutting corners on materials, labor, or both.
No physical address or verifiable business presence. A contractor operating out of a truck with no office, no online presence, and no verifiable history is high risk.
Unwillingness to provide license and insurance documentation. This should be automatic. Reluctance indicates problems.
Bad reviews with consistent themes. One angry customer can happen to anyone. Multiple customers complaining about the same issues, communication problems, work quality, or unresolved disputes, indicates real problems.
They want cash only or ask you to write checks to an individual. Professional contractors accept multiple payment forms and have business accounts.
What to Expect During Installation
Understanding the process helps you evaluate whether the work is proceeding correctly.
Tear-off: The crew removes existing siding and disposes of it. This is noisy and messy. They should assess the exposed sheathing and report any damage or rot.
Repairs: If underlying damage exists, it gets repaired before new siding goes on. This might include replacing rotted sheathing, addressing moisture issues, or fixing structural problems. Get any additional costs approved before this work proceeds.
House wrap: A weather-resistant barrier gets installed over the sheathing. Proper installation with taped seams is important for moisture protection.
Siding installation: The actual siding goes up, starting from the bottom and working up. Proper installation includes appropriate spacing for expansion and contraction, correct fastening patterns, and careful work around windows, doors, and penetrations.
Trim work: Windows and doors get trimmed out, corners get corner posts or boards, and any soffit or fascia work gets completed.
Cleanup: The crew removes debris, checks for and picks up nails, and leaves your property clean.
Final inspection: Both you and the contractor do a walkthrough. Note anything that doesn’t look right and get commitment to address issues before final payment.
Our Experience
We got four quotes ranging from $18,000 to $28,000. The spread was partly materials, two contractors quoted fiber cement while two quoted premium vinyl, and partly scope, some included full trim and soffit work while others quoted that separately.
We chose a mid-priced contractor who’d been in business locally for 22 years and came highly recommended by two neighbors. The work took eight days. They found some moisture damage and soft sheathing during tear-off, called us immediately to show us, explained the repair options, and gave us a written estimate for the additional work before proceeding. That added about $2,200 we hadn’t planned for but they handled the conversation professionally and the repair was clearly necessary.
The finished product looks great. The company came back once six months later to address a small issue with trim that had started separating, no argument, no charge. That’s the kind of contractor experience you want.
Siding costs vary significantly by region, material, and home complexity. Square footage quoted is for materials plus installation combined. Always get multiple detailed quotes and verify contractor credentials before signing contracts.
