Tell Me What You Know about Siding

[Harvey]

I’m sure your blueprints say how tall your house will be.

Plans say the building is just under 34 feet high for all three floors, including basement.

When I divide that by 3, I get 11.5 feet per story.

I asked A-man and he said use 9' per story.

 

[Harvey]

Building	Est Sq Feet of Siding	Siding Type	Est Material Cost​
Garage	1,404	Insulated Vinyl	$14,500​
Garage	1,404	Hardie	$6,400​
Garage	1,404	LP Smartside	$8,000​

Building	Est Sq Feet of Siding	Siding Type	Est Material Cost​
House	2,142	Insulated Vinyl	$22,300​
House	2,142	Hardie	$9,700​
House	2,142	LP Smartside	$12,100​

I didn't add any money for trim, it probably adds 10% to Hardie and Smartside, less for vinyl. I also didn't reduce siding sq footage for windows and doors.

I was told to DOUBLE the material cost to include installation. BUT. Vinyl is the easiest to install, Hardie is the hardest.

Right now it seems like LP is the way to go, IF I can find an experienced installer.

(ETA: Hardie price.)

 

[Sbob]

Building	Est Sq Feet of Siding	Siding Type	Est Material Cost​
Garage	1,404	Insulated Vinyl	$14,500​
Garage	1,404	Hardie	(don't know yet)​
Garage	1,404	LP Smartside	$8,000​

Building	Est Sq Feet of Siding	Siding Type	Est Material Cost​
House	2,142	Insulated Vinyl	$22,300​
House	2,142	Hardie	(don't know yet)​
House	2,142	LP Smartside	$12,100​

I didn't add any money for trim, it probably adds 10% to Hardie and Smartside, less for vinyl. I also didn't reduce siding sq footage for windows and doors.

I was told to DOUBLE the material cost to figure installation cost. BUT. Vinyl is the easiest to install, Hardie is the hardest.

Right now it seems like LP is the way to go, IF I can find an experienced installer.

I will add the Hardie price when I get it.

Yikes.Quite a price difference , go with Smartside and put the difference in CD’s . It’s hard to justify the difference, how much R value does it add?

There will be some waste, Im not sure 5%? . If you get a bid from a pro they might be able to do the job for less money than you purchasing the materials and hiring someone. They get better prices with quantity.

Years ago I used to hire an insulator to do my work. They could do the job for less than I could purchase the materials.

 

[Campgottagopee]

Building	Est Sq Feet of Siding	Siding Type	Est Material Cost​
Garage	1,404	Insulated Vinyl	$14,500​
Garage	1,404	Hardie	$6,400​
Garage	1,404	LP Smartside	$8,000​

Building	Est Sq Feet of Siding	Siding Type	Est Material Cost​
House	2,142	Insulated Vinyl	$22,300​
House	2,142	Hardie	$9,700​
House	2,142	LP Smartside	$12,100​

I didn't add any money for trim, it probably adds 10% to Hardie and Smartside, less for vinyl. I also didn't reduce siding sq footage for windows and doors.

I was told to DOUBLE the material cost to figure installation cost. BUT. Vinyl is the easiest to install, Hardie is the hardest.

Right now it seems like LP is the way to go, IF I can find an experienced installer.

I will add the Hardie price when I get it.

I don't think you can make a bad choice. They'll all have pluses and minuses.

I feel you're correct in doubling the materials cost to get an approx installation price. One thing I very much like about my small house is nothing is monumental. I'll be redoing my kitchen this winter, and I'll do the majority of it myself. I'm also planning on an entirely new heating system, of which, I'm qualified to do none of it! LoL

 

[Harvey]

Yikes.Quite a price difference, go with Smartside and put the difference in CD’s . It’s hard to justify the difference, how much R value does it add?

There will be some waste, Im not sure 5%? . If you get a bid from a pro they might be able to do the job for less money than you purchasing the materials and hiring someone. They get better prices with quantity.

Years ago I used to hire an insulator to do my work. They could do the job for less than I could purchase the materials.

Like I said, if I can find the right installer and my guy will GC him I'm leaning towards the LPSS. It's looks better, it's likely more durable in some ways, and it's cheaper. The install will be more so I'd need to add it all up.

I'm also not saying I would buy it myself, I just want to understand the cost.

 

[Harvey]

@Sbob or @D.B. Cooper I wonder why you can't get the back of the LP painted from the factory? That seems like it would protect it more from absorbing water or swelling?

 

[Tjf1967]

@Sbob or @D.B. Cooper I wonder why you can't get the back of the LP painted from the factory? That seems like it would protect it more from absorbing water or swelling?

Maybe they do it to let the moisture out should it get in

 

[Sbob]

@Sbob or @D.B. Cooper I wonder why you can't get the back of the LP painted from the factory? That seems like it would protect it more from absorbing water or swelling?

It’s probably only woodgrain on one side. Some construction trades are known for liquid lunches, so i can see it installed wrong side out if it’s the same color both sides. Kidding aside probably dollars and cents.

A friend recently used that type of siding and it seems pretty impervious to water.

 

[Harvey]

Building	Sq Feet of Siding	Siding Type	Est Material Cost​
Garage	1,404	Insulated Vinyl	$14,500​
Garage	1,404	Hardie	$6,400​
Garage	1,404	LP Smartside	$8,000​

Building	Sq Feet of Siding	Siding Type	Est Material Cost​
House	2,142	Insulated Vinyl	$22,300​
House	2,142	Hardie	$9,700​
House	2,142	LP Smartside	$12,100​

Surprise the Hardie Board is cheaper than the LPSS.

It's funny, there are tons of video out there comparing HB and LPSS. Many of the ones that favor LPSS are SPANCERED by LPSS.

But the one I saw that recommended HB said basically "contractors love LPSS because it's easier, but why should you care about that? You want the best product."

I do care. I don't want a frustrated or pissed off installer nailing up my siding.

 

[Harvey]

It’s probably only woodgrain on one side. Some construction trades are known for liquid lunches, so i can see it installed wrong side out if it’s the same color both sides. Kidding aside probably dollars and cents.

A friend recently used that type of siding and it seems pretty impervious to water.

I found it on the website, it is recommended that you don't paint the back. FWIW