Understanding how much siding you need for your home is critical to any exterior renovation project. An accurate estimate ensures that you adequately cover your home’s exteriors, preventing any shortfalls or unnecessary expenditures. In this post, the siding and roofing experts at Lask Exterior Solutions, LLC show you exactly how much siding is too much or too little.
Measuring Your Home’s Exterior Dimensions
The first step in calculating the amount of siding needed for your home is measuring your home’s exterior dimensions. If you measure the height and the width of each wall that requires siding, you can easily avoid buying too much siding.
When measuring, remember to subtract the areas occupied by doors and windows, as these spaces will not need siding. A good rule of thumb is to add up the total square footage of your home’s exterior walls, which can then be used to estimate the quantity of siding required.
However, keep in mind that this is an estimate and may vary depending on other factors, such as the type of siding chosen and the possible wasted materials. If it’s a bit difficult or takes too much time, you can ask roofers with extensive siding experience to help you determine accurate costing.
Choosing the Correct Siding Material
The type of siding you choose can significantly impact the amount required for your home. Different siding materials come in various sizes and coverage rates. For instance, vinyl siding typically comes in 12-foot lengths, while fiber cement boards can be up to 16 feet long. The exposure (or the part of the siding that is visible on the wall) also varies by product.
Vinyl siding usually offers an exposure of 4 to 5 inches, while fiber cement siding might provide 6 to 8 inches. These variations in size and exposure directly affect how much of each material you’ll need to cover your home.
Factoring Waste in Your Calculations
Once the installation process starts, it’s normal to have some material waste, especially around corners, windows and doors. A common practice is to add a waste factor of 10% to your siding estimate. However, this percentage can increase to 20% for more complex installations with many cuts and angles. A top siding and roofing contractor will include waste calculations to ensure they order enough material to complete the job without unnecessary delays or additional costs.
Estimating the right amount of siding for your home involves understanding your home’s exterior dimensions, choosing the right siding type and factoring in waste. While homeowners in Rockford, IL, can make preliminary calculations, professional help from trusted providers like Lask Exterior Solutions, LLC ensures accuracy, saving time and costs in the long run. To learn more about how we can help you with your siding needs, give us a call at (815) 964-2220, or fill out this contact form to get an estimate.