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Exterior guide

Siding & exterior paint: how to choose

Compare siding materials and exterior paint by installed cost, maintenance needs, moisture control, and the finish that fits your home.

Lifespan, DIY and permitsDIY: pro-only14 brands10 cost linesUpdated Nov 2026

Decide these first

  1. Are you replacing damaged siding or refreshing a sound surface with paint?
  2. Which weather, moisture, fire, and maintenance demands matter most at your home?
  3. Do you want prefinished siding, a paintable surface, or a particular profile and color?
  4. Was the home built before 1978, and could the work disturb old paint?

Specs that actually matter

TermWhat it meansLook for
Weather-resistive barrier and flashingThe water-control layer behind siding and the details that route water around openings and edges.Install over a weather-resistive barrier; flash penetrations and terminations per code and product instructions.
Clearance from grade and hard surfacesThe manufacturer-required separation that helps keep siding away from ground moisture and splashback.Follow product-specific clearances at grade, rooflines, decks, and paved areas.
Lead-safe renovation ruleEPA rules cover paid work that disturbs lead paint in most pre-1978 homes and child-occupied facilities.Use an EPA- or state-certified firm and trained workers for covered projects.

Good, better, best

Good

Vinyl siding and straightforward repainting can keep initial costs lower; check color fade, surface preparation, and warranty limits.

$4–12/sq ft vinyl siding installed; $1.50–5/sq ft exterior painting

Better

Engineered wood or aluminum offers more profile options; durable paint and thorough prep improve an exterior refresh.

$6–12/sq ft engineered wood installed; $2–4.50/sq ft aluminum painting

Best

Fiber cement, cedar, or stucco can deliver a distinct look and long service life when correctly detailed and maintained.

$6–17/sq ft installed for fiber cement or stucco

What it costs

ItemUnitTypical US rangeSource
Vinyl siding, installed
Installed; old siding removal is extra.		sq ft$4 to $12HomeGuide
Aluminum siding, installed
Installed; panel thickness and finish affect price.		sq ft$6 to $10HomeGuide
Fiber cement siding, installed
Installed; style and home complexity affect price.		sq ft$6 to $15HomeGuide
Engineered wood siding, installed
Installed; finish and house layout affect price.		sq ft$7 to $12HomeGuide
Cedar siding, installed
Installed; wood grade, style, and upkeep vary.		sq ft$6 to $16HomeGuide
Exterior house painting, wood siding
Labor and materials; prep and number of coats affect price.		sq ft$1.5 to $5HomeGuide
Exterior house painting, vinyl siding
Labor and materials; check siding warranty before painting.		sq ft$1.5 to $4.5HomeGuide
Exterior house painting, stucco
Labor and materials; surface texture and repairs affect price.		sq ft$2 to $5HomeGuide
Exterior house painting, brick
Labor and materials; prep and height affect price.		sq ft$2.5 to $5HomeGuide
Exterior house painting, aluminum siding
Labor and materials; primer and surface preparation matter.		sq ft$2 to $4.5HomeGuide

Calculators

Siding calculator

Squares of siding for walls and gables.

Results

Siding calculatorExterior paint calculator

Major brands and where to buy

Links go to each manufacturer. Tier is a rough price position, not a quality score.

James HardieFiber cement siding and trimPremiumCertainTeedVinyl siding and exterior trimMidLP Building SolutionsEngineered wood sidingMidMastic by Ply GemVinyl siding and accessoriesMidAlsideVinyl siding and windowsValueNichihaFiber cement and architectural wall panelsPremiumAlluraFiber cement lap, panel, and shake sidingMidPly GemVinyl siding and exterior building productsValueKaycanVinyl siding and exterior productsValueQuality EdgeSteel siding and exterior accessoriesPremiumWestlake Royal Building ProductsExterior cladding and siding brandsMidBenjamin MooreExterior paints and stainsPremiumSherwin-WilliamsExterior paints and coatingsPremiumBEHRExterior paints and primersValue

Retailers

The Home DepotLowe'sMenardsABC Supply

Pitfalls to avoid

  • Installing siding over hidden rot instead of repairing the sheathing and water-management layer.
  • Skipping flashing at windows, doors, roof edges, and wall penetrations.
  • Painting vinyl or factory-finished siding without checking warranty and product requirements.
  • Comparing bids that treat old siding removal, disposal, and trim differently.
  • Disturbing paint in a pre-1978 home without checking lead-safe requirements.

Questions to ask a pro

  1. Does your estimate include tear-off, disposal, sheathing repairs, WRB, flashing, and trim?
  2. How will you keep water moving out and away at windows, doors, and wall penetrations?
  3. Which primer and paint system is compatible with this siding and existing finish?
  4. If old paint may contain lead, is your firm certified for the work?

How long it lasts

About 30–40 years for vinyl, 30–50 for engineered wood, 50–75 for fiber cement, and 5–10 years between many exterior paint jobs.

Can you DIY it?

pro-only: removing siding and integrating flashing, WRB, and trim require careful sequencing.

Permits

Local rules vary; siding replacement may require a permit, especially when changing sheathing or openings.

Ready to hire?

Get up to 3 quotes from licensed, insured local pros.

Trusted resources

From the Journal

Sources

  1. https://homeguide.com/costs/siding-cost
  2. https://homeguide.com/costs/cost-to-paint-exterior-of-house
  3. https://st.hzcdn.com/static/econ/2026_U.S.Houzz_Outdoor_Trends_Study.pdf
  4. https://www.jameshardie.com/JamesHardieMainSite/media/Site-Documents/TechnicalDocuments/Reports/ESR-1844.pdf
  5. https://www.jameshardie.com/installation-instructions-technical-docs/
  6. https://www.epa.gov/lead/lead-renovation-repair-and-painting-program

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