How Much Does it Cost to Replace Rotted Siding?

Basic Vinyl

• According to Remodeling Magazine, as of October 2011, the cost of removing rotten siding and replacing it with 1,250 square feet of vinyl siding runs an average of about $11,357, including all trim. This is for basic vinyl with no added insulation. Vinyl comes in a variety of colors, can be textured to look like wood and needs only an occasional washing for maintenance. This addition is expected to be worth $8,223 when the house is sold, which means you'll recoup about 72 percent of your costs. As costs have risen since 2003, returns on installation have declined from a high of close to 100 percent.

Premium Vinyl

• The cost to replace rotted siding with a premium, foam-backed vinyl averages $13,973 for the same number of square feet. Aside from the advantages over lowered-cost basic versions, vinyl with foam-backing adds insulating properties to the exterior of a house, so the added costs are recovered in energy savings. The resale return on this expense is also 72.4 percent or $10,119. As with basic vinyl, costs have risen since 2006, when returns were higher at over 80 percent.

Fiber Cement

• Fiber-cement siding is made of cement, sand and cellulose fibers bonded under high temperature. It also comes in different colors and textures, but doesn’t warp or buckle, which can be a problem with vinyl siding. It does, however, require routine maintenance such as caulking to avoid moisture penetration. The cost of replacing rotting boards with fiber-cement siding averages $13,382 for the same square footage. This includes all trim using either fiber-cement boards or cellular PVC. The expected return on resale is $10,707 or 80 percent. Installation costs have remained relatively constant since 2006, though rates of return have dipped from about 85 percent.

Wages

• The wages of installers, naturally, affect the costs of replacing rotted siding, and wages vary by location. As of May 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that installers made a mean $16.15 per hour throughout the country. The lowest 10 percent earned a mean $8.93 per hour and the highest 10 percent received a mean $27.66 per hour. Their highest means were in Hawaii at $24.63 per hour, New Jersey at $23.42 per hour and Alaska at $23.33. Lower-than-average salaries were in Texas at $11.83 per hour, New Mexico at a mean $12.49 per hour and Louisiana at a mean $12.79 per hour.