If your siding is wearing down, it might be time to take action. Siding protects your home from the elements, but it can’t do this if it’s old or damaged. When siding wears down, you have the option to replace it or repainting the house. Deciding between siding replacement and a paint job depends upon both the condition of your siding and your financial situation.
Factors That Will Help You Choose Siding vs. Paint
There are a few questions that you need to ask yourself before you can make an informed decision between replacing your siding and repainting your home.
Does It Cost More to Repaint or Replace?
Repainting your house will likely cost less than half of what it would cost to replace its siding. If your only consideration is what will cost you less cash now, repainting is probably your best bet, provided your siding isn’t damaged or too old.
What is the Extent of the Damage?
While repainting your siding can often extend its life for 5-7 years, it won’t always be sufficient to protect your home. Repainting can’t restore the condition of your siding and isn’t a substitute for repair of serious damage.
Are You Making a Calculated Investment or Dealing with a Necessary Expense?
Your circumstances will likely determine whether replacement or repainting is the correct choice. If you have the budget, then replacing your siding is a wise investment. Replacing your siding may cost two to three times more than repainting your home, but it can last between 25-50 years. While upfront costs are steep, over time, siding replacement costs less over the long-term.
If you don’t have the cash to replace your siding, repaint. When you repaint, recognize that it is a temporary solution and that in a few years, you will need to repaint again. Eventually, a siding replacement will become unavoidable.
Related: Siding Materials: What Are the Best Types of Siding?
Are You Planning on Moving Anytime Soon?
Replacing your siding is an investment in the future of a home. If you are planning to sell your home sometime soon and the damage to your siding is not extensive, repainting your home should satisfy potential buyers. It does not make sense to invest in a home that won’t be yours in the near future.
Is It Cheaper to Paint a House or Put Siding On It?
It’s cheaper to paint a house than put siding on it. But how much cheaper?
The Cost of Installing Siding
The cost of siding installation varies widely based on the property size, unique preparation requirements, and the varying costs of different siding materials. On average, installing siding on a 1,500 square foot home will cost between $7,000-$14,000.
Related: How Much Does It Cost to Put Siding on a House?
The Cost of Painting the House
The cost of painting a home largely depends upon the quality of paint used. Premium paints are likely to last longer but cost substantially more per gallon than bargain-priced paints. The cost of paint ranges between $25-$100 per gallon.
Painting a 1,500 square foot home will likely cost between $1,500-$3,500. While repainting a home is a complicated and often dangerous job, if you are an experienced painter, you can paint your home for the cost of the paint plus the cost of renting needed professional-grade tools.
The Cost of Replacing Siding
Replacing the siding on a home will cost slightly more than the cost of adding siding to a home. The difference in price between a siding replacement and a siding installation comes down to one factor: increased labor costs associated with removing all siding and left over caulk. Additional labor costs associated with removing existing siding will probably cost less than $1,000.
The Cost of Repainting the Siding
Repainting the siding on a home can cost far less or slightly less than a full paint job because it requires less paint and labor. If your home requires a slight touch up, it is reasonable to expect the cost to be in the hundreds of dollars. However, the more paint and labor required for your home, the closer the cost of repainting gets to the cost of painting your entire house.
Keeping the outside of your home healthy is critically important. A healthy home exterior dramatically impacts your home’s value and for a good reason. When functioning correctly, your home’s exterior protects from moisture, heat exposure, wind, and pest intrusion. Whether you decide to repaint or replace your siding, make sure that you hire an experienced contractor that can renovate your home effectively and efficiently for a fair price.
