Every homeowner faces the prospect of either replacing their home’s existing siding or installing it entirely for the first time. If you don’t have accurate information on the costs associated with the whole procedure, this might be difficult for you to go through. On the other hand, having a siding calculator at your disposal should alleviate any concerns you may have about this matter. A siding calculator helps get your head in the game by allowing you to calculate a realistic budget for the project.
This article will go through what siding is, the many types available, and how to get the most out of a siding calculator.
Siding calculator: What is siding?
Siding refers to any outside wall covering seen on a house or other residential structure. It does this by preventing outside elements from entering the house. The installation of siding on a home’s outside walls produces a barrier impermeable to water and prevents water, snow, and strong winds from penetrating the structure. In addition to these functions, siding also prevents the entry of dust, dampness, and insects.
Siding calculator: Types of siding
Siding options are many and may be found in various types, from brick and wood to vinyl and even stucco. We’ll look at the most prevalent forms.
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Vinyl siding
The vast majority of homes nowadays have vinyl siding. It’s affordable and long-lasting, and it comes in a spectrum of hues, so it’s clearly the best option. It has a long lifespan (up to 40 years), is simple to maintain, and comes in various styles and materials, including an insulated alternative. Water may infiltrate behind the panelling and cause significant damage to the surfaces if installation isn’t done correctly, which is the primary negative.
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Metal siding
In addition to vinyl, metal siding is often used. It can withstand the elements, has a sophisticated appearance, and is fireproof and weatherproof. But it’s heavier than vinyl, which means more money for labour to put it up. Additionally, it may easily be damaged by mechanical means like scratching or impact.
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Wood siding
It’s no surprise that wood siding is a popular choice among homeowners because of how natural it appears and how good for the environment it is. It offers the best insulating capabilities, is the least harmful to the environment, and can be replaced quickly and cheaply if damaged. Water and insects may deteriorate your siding. It’s also expensive to maintain; you’ll need to repaint the outside every four to five years.
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Brick siding
Brick siding is the best choice if you’re looking for something that will survive for a very long time; it can resist the elements for well over a century. It can withstand heat, flame, and water without being damaged, and it also repels insects. The exorbitant price tag and extensive setup process are the biggest drawbacks.
Siding calculator: How to use it?
In just nine simple steps, a siding calculator can assist you in determining the quantity of vinyl siding and accessories required for your project.
- Step one is to draw a rough sketch of the home. All of the home facades need to be shown in this drawing. Don’t forget any details; this will give you a general notion of the overall extent of the work you’re about to embark on
- The next thing to do is to measure all the sides for length and breadth. Multiplying the elevation by the breadth yields the surface area of the sides, which is expressed in square feet. Once you’ve added up all the sides, you should have your result.
- The third step is to take all of the necessary measurements finally. The dimensions for the dormers and gables are included. The height of a triangular object is determined by measuring its base to its peak. Multiply the height by 0.5 to get the base height. Doing so yields the triangle’s area. Complete all calculations of this kind. The next step is to add this new total area to the one you just calculated.
- The fourth step is to take precise measurements of the openings around the windows, entrances, and any other areas that won’t be clad with siding. Multiplying the lengths by their widths gives us the square footage of these areas. Add together all the calculated areas and enter the total square footage in a separate field. You may recall that the combined surface areas acquired in steps 2 and 3 were shown on a different page. Now, take this number and deduct it from the total area you found in Steps 2 and 3.
- In the fifth step, you will need to determine 10 per cent of the final value that you found in the fourth step. It is necessary to include the result in the figure from where you acquired it. This will include oversights such as slight miscalculations and waste resulting from pruning.
- The sixth step is understanding that vinyl is often offered in squares measuring 100 square feet. You can easily do the math if you want to know how many of these squares you’ll need for your home’s siding.
- You are now at the seventh step, which requires you to estimate the soffit regions. In the first step of the calculation, multiply the height by the breadth. You need to carry this out for all of the spaces that are located under your eaves. After that, you need to input the entire square footage that was acquired using this method.
- The total number of soffit squares needed for your siding may be calculated in Step 8. Now is also the time to consider the strips and add-ons you’d want to utilise and where you’d like to put them. To determine how many linear feet of each material you’ll need, you’ll need to measure.
- As the ninth step in the process, you need to make sure that you note all of the dimensions on the drawings of your house. This allows you to place an order for the siding and get the job underway.
Siding calculator: What is the cost of the siding?
To provide an accurate estimate of the siding cost, you will need further information, specifically the price per unit of siding. In most cases, 100-square-foot sections of siding will be the smallest unit of sale. Vinyl, for instance, often comes in 200-square-foot packages with two squares. This is why it’s better to ask for the unit pricing instead of the price per square foot and to always pay close attention to the quantity offered in a single package of a certain material.
When you have the pricing per unit, you are one step closer to having the total cost of the siding figured out. Multiplying it by the whole area is all that is required of you. The very last thing you need to do is tally up the whole cost of your project, and then you should go out to the next shop that sells building supplies.
Siding calculator: Tips for estimating siding
There are often many variables in a siding project, and time is often crucial. By proactively defining, planning, and restricting your project circumstances, you may substantially improve your estimate methodologies, lower and mitigate risks, and increase your project success rate. To make estimates a little less difficult for you, we will provide the following tips:
- Maintain an ongoing “actual hours” database in which you record the amount of time you spend working on each individual aspect of your siding projects.
- Use the information to assist you in forecasting future projects and determining the historically accurate buffer time necessary to do the work within a fair period.
- Develop a strategy for the siding project and its requirements and use the other papers required for planning.
- Combine several different estimation approaches, then look for one that falls somewhere in the centre of the pack.
- Limiting the applicability of your estimates, you should establish a set of caveats, constraints, and assumptions to apply to your computations.
- If things are particularly unclear, you may want to consider using a phased method, with the initial phase concentrating mostly on determining requirements and making estimates.
FAQs
What is the waste factor for siding?
The amount of trash generated by various siding materials will vary. A portion of this is attributable to the material itself, while the remainder is attributable to your home's layout. Between 10 and 15 per cent of your total is likely to be wasted.
How many siding boxes do I need?
Each box of siding has a total of approximately 200 square feet since it is divided into two equal squares and packaged together. To determine the boxes required, just divide the floor space of your house by 200. This will give you an estimate.