How Much Does Vinyl Shake Siding Cost?

Table of Contents

1. Vinyl Shake Siding Cost
2. Vinyl Shake Siding Cost Factors
3. Vinyl Shake Siding Cost Comparison
4. Vinyl Siding Advantages
5. Vinyl Siding Disadvantages
6. Vinyl Siding Styles
7. Colors & Texture Options For Vinyl Shake Siding
8. How To Maintain Vinyl Siding
9. Find A Siding Contractor

Vinyl Shake Siding Cost

Vinyl shake siding costs between $3 and $10 per square foot to install. Of course, not all vinyl siding was created equal, so costs vary by project. The full range of vinyl shake siding prices is below:

Vinyl Shake Siding Cost Factors

Like all siding materials, there are various considerations that can increase or decrease your total siding installation cost. If you want to keep your vinyl siding price down, keep the following factors in mind as you look for a qualified siding contractor:

1. Home Size: Since vinyl panels are priced per square foot, the bigger the home, the more you’re going to pay.
2. Vinyl Quality: There are different grades of vinyl. You can purchase builder grade, standard grade and premium grade. Clearly, builder grade is the cheapest vinyl shake siding.
3. Insulation: Insulated vinyl siding will cost more than non-insulated siding.
4. Siding Contractor: Vinyl contractors charge different amounts per project. Some may charge $2 per square foot, while others may charge $5 per square foot. If you’re covering 1,000sf, that $3 per square foot difference can quickly add up.
5. Compatible Accessories: While certainly not necessary, adding in vinyl siding accessories may increase the curb appeal of the home. Some of the most popular vinyl siding accessories to include are gable vents, exterior vinyl shutters and ornamental dentil moldings. All add to your overall vinyl shake siding cost.

Vinyl Shake Siding Cost Comparison

Vinyl shake siding is usually more affordable than most siding options out there. While there are other pros and cons to all siding options beyond price, it’s a good idea to have a full vinyl shake siding cost comparison before jumping in.

Vinyl Siding Advantages

Vinyl shake siding brings a host of perks, beyond costs, that many homeowners neglect. Those include:

• Durability
• Easy Maintenance
• Versatility
• Variety of Colors & Textures
• Rot & Insect Resistance
• Easy Installation

Unlike wood, which can be damaged by humidity, insects, strong winds or even color fading over time, vinyl is a much more durable option. Cleaning and maintenance are minimal, and the surface will never need to be repainted as long as it’s installed correctly. Since vinyl comes in such a wide variety of colors, styles and textures, it’s easy to match the right look to the style and design of a particular home. Vinyl can be equally attractive in a traditional house and a contemporary home.

Finally, vinyl is cheaper than many other siding materials, which makes it an appealing option to anyone on a limited budget. With a simple installation process and the potential for DIY installation, there are even more ways to cut costs and keep the price of vinyl siding as low as possible.

Vinyl Siding Disadvantages

While the perks of vinyl siding are numerous, homeowners should also be realistic about the downsides of the material:

• Potential Water Issues
• Potential Color Fading
• Noticeable Seams
• Extensive Repairs

Despite these drawbacks, many homeowners are still happy with vinyl siding. Vinyl siding, if properly installed, will be water-resistant, but strong winds combined with heavy rain can cause water to get behind the siding. To eliminate any mold problems, the best course of action is to install a vapor barrier first. When it comes to repair, keep in mind that entire panels will need to be installed, rather than just a small section, so it can become a long process. As such, vinyl siding repairs are costly.

Vinyl Siding Styles

Vinyl siding comes in a number of different styles, and these include seamless vinyl siding, vinyl log siding, vinyl shake siding and solid core vinyl siding.

1. Vinyl Shake Siding
2. Seamless Vinyl Siding
3. Vinyl Log Siding
4. Solid Core Vinyl Siding

Vinyl shake siding is designed to look like cedar shake siding, or small, rough squares of wood that are used like shingles on the exterior of the home. This kind of vinyl siding can be much cheaper than the wood alternative, and it brings with it the advantages of low-maintenance and insect-resistance.

Seamless vinyl siding, just as the name suggests, is a type of siding without visible seams. Rather than using overlapping 12’ pieces of vinyl, the pieces are cut to fit the home. This makes it more expensive, but it can be visually appealing to buyers.

Vinyl log siding looks just like a traditional log cabin siding, but it’s much easier to clean and maintain over time.

The final vinyl siding style is solid core vinyl siding, which is one of the most popular options. Solid core vinyl siding is thick, and it has a foam core to help interlock with the pieces around it, resulting in a more insulated home and a more attractive exterior appearance.

Colors & Texture Options For Vinyl Shake Siding

Along with the styles mentioned, vinyl can be purchased in a range of colors and textures to fit just about any design style or aesthetic. The most popular color choices, and often the cheapest options, are white and beige. These neutral shades are versatile, and they’re less likely to fade over time. Homeowners who don't want the hassle of replacing faded vinyl in the next decade may want to stick with these lighter, neutral shades. However, that isn't all that is available by any means. Other popular vinyl siding colors include red, green, blue and even wood tones that replicate the look and texture of pine, cedar, oak and other attractive hardwoods.

How To Maintain Vinyl Siding

Compared to most siding alternatives, vinyl is extraordinarily easy to maintain. While some sellers proclaim that vinyl siding needs no cleaning or maintenance, that isn't the case. In reality, homeowners will need to wash off your vinyl siding at least once every six months, and more often if there is visible mud splash along the sides form a heavy rain. Thankfully, washing vinyl siding often involves little more than spraying the exterior of the house with a hose.

Find A Siding Contractor

If you’d like a cedar-like siding material that costs less and requires half the maintenance, vinyl shake siding is your answer. Fortunately, ImproveNet found the most reliable siding contractors near you that can assist with any siding project.

Last updated on Nov 8, 2018