DIY Siding Installation: Cost-Saving or Stupid Idea?

It’s been around 30 years and your siding is no longer getting the job done. As such, you’re on the cusp of replacing it.

You know that you can just call up a siding replacement company to facilitate the task. However, you’re a little unsure about handing over all of that money. So you’re wondering: how hard is it to install siding? Is DIY siding installation a good idea or a stupid one?

We can’t give you a one-word answer to that question. What we can do, though, is explain the pros and drawbacks of replacing siding on a house by yourself, thus helping you determine whether it’s a viable option for you. Interested?

Read on!

The Pros of Installing Your Own Siding

In truth, there are just a few pros to installing your own siding. These pros include the following.

Saving Money

The obvious benefit of installing your own siding is that you’ll save money. Labor costs for siding replacement usually run between $2.50 and $5 per square foot of house. As such, if you have a 1,500-square-foot house, you’ll pay somewhere between $3,750 and $7,500 for labor.

What this means, of course, is that you have the potential to save several thousands of dollars by installing your siding on your own. Note, though, that “potential” is the keyword there.

If everything goes perfectly, you’ll undoubtedly save big bucks. If you make mistakes, however, you’ll save less and less with each mistake made.

The Satisfaction of Doing the Job Yourself

This may or may not matter to you. However, completing a siding project on your own is bound to provide you with ample satisfaction.

It’s a long and arduous task, one that requires a great deal of effort and know-how. As such, to finish it on your own would be to fill yourself with a great sense of accomplishment.

The Drawbacks of Installing Your Own Siding

Yes, saving money is nice. And it can feel good to remodel your home without the help of a professional. However, there are a number of downsides to installing your own siding.

Let’s discuss these drawbacks in detail now.

A Simple Mistake Could Cost You Big Money

On its surface, installing siding seems simple. You nail up large panels so that they overlap one another and — voila! — your house is entirely protected from heat, cold, moisture, and insects.

Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. Yes, you must nail up large siding panels. However, in order for them to provide adequate protection, they must be nailed up with proper spacing and overlap.

If you’ve never installed siding before, could very easily nail them incorrectly. This could lead to substantial water damage over time, thus costing you big money in the long run.

And that doesn’t even take into account the fact that your siding would need to be replaced sooner than normal. Replacing siding after 15 years instead of, say, 30 years, will cost you thousands of additional dollars.

So, while replacing your own siding has the potential to save you money, it also has the potential to cost you extra money. For this reason, you should only do it if you have DIY experience, and are exceedingly confident in your ability to complete the task properly.

It Takes a Long Time

It doesn’t matter how much experience you have with DIY projects. The fact of the matter is that replacing siding takes a lot of time. For a team of professionals, it can be completed within 2 to 3 days; for a single person, it’s going to take around 2 weeks.

That’s 2 weeks without adequate coverage for your home; that’s 2 weeks of coming home from work and taking on a second job; 2 weeks of very little free time. While it’s certainly doable, it might very well be overwhelming for you.

It Requires a Lot of Tools

In order to install siding, you need a number of different tools. These include but aren’t limited to a hammer, nails, saws, tin snips, and a utility knife.

If you already have these tools, then this shouldn’t hinder you. However, if you don’t have them, expect to shell out hundreds of dollars in order to get your hands on them.

This is a key reason why many homeowners opt to go with a professional: the professional siding installer already has these tools at their disposal. In other words, by hiring a professional, you’re not just paying for labor but for the temporary use of their tools and resources as well.

No Discount on Materials

Yes, hiring a professional siding installer costs quite a bit of money. However, there are cost-savings benefits to hiring a professional. For one, professionals can usually get materials at a discounted rate.

This is because they do regular business with suppliers, and those supplies like to reward them by keeping their prices low.

Unfortunately, you probably don’t have a mutually beneficial relationship such as this. As such, you’re probably not going to get a discount on your materials. That said, if you are looking for low-cost siding, you should try Factory Direct Siding.

DIY Siding Installation Is Doable But Not for Everyone

When push comes to shove, DIY siding installation is doable. That said, it’s not for everyone. Assess your own capabilities and determine whether you’re up to the task.

Remember: if you mess up even once, it could cost you more than it would have to have just hired a professional in the first place. In other words, before you embark on the project, do your due diligence.

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