HESTER CONTRACTING
Construction Business Newsletter
All audiences
Can I install siding myself? What special equipment do I need to install siding?
How much does vinyl siding cost?
Q. Can I install siding myself?
Installing siding can be a complicated undertaking depending on your particular project. We recommend you utilize a professional siding installer such as Hester Contracting for the job. Most people have the necessary skill to install the actual siding; it’s the trim that overwhelms most people and even some contractors. Almost all of the window trim, fascia trim, cornice trim, louver trim & door trim are custom made for each application. Not to mention other custom trim to accommodate situations created by varying home designs. These are the areas that make a home look shabby if not done correctly. Even if you are a seasoned, “Do-It-Yourselfer”, operating a vinyl break with precision requires experience and practice. Remember, time is of essence. An inexperienced installer will generally spend two to three times longer than a professional installation team. So a one week project for professionals is typically a three week project for “Do-It-Yourselfers”, taken that the “Do-It-Yourselfer” can work on the project 8 hours a day and has someone to help that can also work on the project 8 hours a day. If the “Do-It-Yourselfer” has a forty hour a week job and can only work on the project an average of two hours a day, and eight hours a day on weekends, and help is available only on weekends, this will equate into 8 to 10 weeks of work to complete the project. However, if you do have the skill, time, tools, help and equipment to do it yourself, make sure you account for the cost of paying help, any tools you may not already own and some extra material for likely mistakes. Also account for the value of your time needed for research & installation education, acquiring local permits and overall gain in home value, when totaling the Do-It-Yourself cost and comparing that to the cost proposed by a professional.
Q. What special equipment do I need to install siding?
The main equipment is the siding break such as the Van Mark Series. These breaks are priced according to the quality and model you decide to use. A decent 10’ 6” siding break will cost around $1,250.00, and a good stand will cost another $250.00. Then you will need to purchase a couple of good extension ladders, usually a 24’ will do. These ladders can be purchased at your local Home Depot store and will cost around $225.00. Don’t forget to buy ladder extension covers to protect your newly installed siding from scuffing. The next item is a good 14” wide x 24’ 6” long aluminum, 2 person walk plank, a set of long body ladder jacks to hold the walk plank and a pump jack with brace and railing, for reaching the top sections of your gables. A setup like this will cost around $750.00. Good saw horses are also a must. A good set will cost around $50.00 a set. Other tools include a circular saw, miter saw, snap lock punch, siding snips, chalk box, speed square, utility knife, hammer, 35’ tape measure, reciprocating saw, plenty of extension cords and GFCI, gloves, safety glasses, tool bag and safety harness. These are not all of the tools that could be required, but the basics that you should have to work safely without damaging the products you are installing. The cost of these items can run around $1,400.00. That is a total of $3,925.00. Do you still think you’re ready for doing your own siding?
Q. How much does vinyl siding cost?
Because of the abundant brands of siding in a wide array of colors and profiles through anational network of lumber yards, home centers and building material dealers, there is no average dealer price, due mainly to the fact that there is no specific brand, color, profile and dealer that is considered to be, “The Industry Standard”. Also, regional demand, freight issues whether a product is in stock or is available on a special order basis -- all play a role in determining price for a given dealer in a given market for a given product. We suggest you contact your local dealer for information on pricing in your area if you are a Do-It-Yourselfer. If you plan to use a contractor, the cost of the siding will generally not be separated from the lump sum cost for the project. Most contractors have a set price per square foot that includes all labor and material. This cost varies according to the grade of product selected for each project, accessories selected, accenting options and type of project, e.g., new construction or remodeling. Typically, products are broken down into three categories; good, better and best, and a set price is applied to each category for products, along with the company’s standard accessories and trim. BE AWARE, that not all contractors have the same perspective of good, better and best products. Most of your lower grade contractors consider the cheap, off-brand, budget siding as good siding. That means you will pay more for a lesser quality product than you would from a quality professional contractor such as Hester Contracting. We do not offer these cheaper off-brand products as an option for our customers. The cost difference of cheap, off-brand, budget products compared to good quality name brand products is not worth the sacrifice. This also applies to the better and best categories as well. If a contractor is selling cheap, off-brand products as a good product, then the better offering is actually just good and the best is actually just better. Pay attention to what brands are being offered for each category. A different brand in any category is usually a sure sign that the contractor has found a good deal on some cheap siding and is trying to push this product off as a higher quality product than it actually is so they can make an extra buck, at the homeowner’s expense and loss.
