Buying Vinyl Siding

Buying vinyl siding for your home is a process. It involves much more than just going to Home Depot and buying a few boxes of siding. Before you can begin the process of purchasing siding for your home you must do a little homework. There are several especially important questions you must know before you begin your project.

Since vinyl siding comes in many assorted styles, types, thicknesses, colors, insulated or non-insulated versions, it is important to pick out the particular type of siding you think will look the best on your home.

We recommend that you follow a 4-step process to make your buying decision a lot easier and less time-consuming.

4-Step Buying Process

Make a generalized budget for your project.
Measure your house to see how much siding you are going to need to buy.
Choose the siding that you think will look the best on your home.
Shop for pricing, both siding and contractors.

We will go through each step in the process below. By following these four steps, you will save a ton of time and aggravation for your project.

What Is My Budget?

What is your budget going to be? You need to know this up front because you always want to buy the best siding that you can afford. And siding comes in many different price ranges. From builder grade to high end premium grades.

Some vinyl sidings are great in areas where harsh weather is a concern, and other vinyl sidings are better for the price conscience home buyer looking to improve the look of their home without breaking the bank.

The type or style of the siding or the color of the siding does not play that important of a role in determining the price of the overall project. The style of siding such as Clapboard or Ship Lap siding will cost pretty much the same as Board and Batten siding.

The real difference in price is the quality of the siding and the thickness of the siding. Economy siding and high-end premium grade siding varies in price. Economy siding will range around $3 to $5 per sq foot where high end premium siding that can withstand very harsh weather such as hurricane force winds will run $8 to $12 + sq ft.

This is why you need to create a budget right up front. Make a generalized budget before you do anything else. Even before you go shopping. Why?

When you are ready to go to the local home improvement stores you will already know how much money you are going to spend. You always want to buy the best grade of siding that you can afford.

So, let's make a budget.

How Much Do I Want to Spend?

The first item in buying any siding is to determine how much siding will you need to buy, and can you afford to buy that much?

If you are looking for economy grade siding to improve the look of your home that will be completely different from wanting premium grade siding that will withstand hurricane force winds or harsh winter weather.

The quick and easy first step in considering a new siding install is to first determine the amount of siding you will need then multiplying that by the quality of siding you are interested in.

Example: You have a ranch style home with approximately 1,000 sq ft of exterior walls.

Builder Grade $3 -$4 sq ft

Premium Grade $8 - $12 sq ft

Your general budget will be somewhere between 1,000 sq ft x $4 = $4,000

or 1,000 sq ft x $12 = $12,000.

Now you have a ball-park idea of the money you are going to need for your project.

Once you have the budget the next step is to pick out the style and type of siding you think will be the best fit for your house.

Pick a Type of Vinyl Siding

What type of vinyl siding will look the best on your home? Drive around the neighborhood and look at what other homeowners have chosen to put on thier homes and what do you think about each of them?

Clapboard vinyl siding is the most popular siding style.

Clapboard vinyl siding is the largest selling vinyl siding sold in the US. It comes in many different profiles. Profiles are the way the siding panels look. You have Dutch Lap with a grove or notch on the top, smooth flat panels, or Beaded with a notch or grove on the bottom edge of the panel.

Board and Batten Vinyl Siding runs up and down the house, vertically.

Board and Batten siding is one of the oldest and most popular home sidings. It has been around for centuries and is still a best seller.

To see more information on Board and Batten Vinyl Siding Click Here Board and Batten Vinyl Siding

Cedar Shake Vinyl Siding classic look of the rugged outdoors.