Installing vinyl shakes sidings is a great way to protect your home and instill a new life in it. Besides adding warmth to your house, sidings are great for moisture, wind, dents and provide a high level of bio-resistance.
Before starting a new project, you probably want to know how much does vinyl shakes siding costs. So, if you’re looking to renovate your home and add some much-needed esthetic refreshment, make sure to read this article!
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What are vinyl shakes sidings?
Siding is a material that protects houses and apartments from environmental factors. It is placed on the exterior walls, and it comes in the form of panels, shingles, shakes, and so on. The pieces are interconnected and should cover every inch of the house.
Vinyl shakes, in particular, are very resilient. Unlike natural materials, vinyl tends to be much cheaper, and you can easily maintain it. Wooden shakes and shingles are often damaged by termites, which is why many homeowners prefer synthetic materials. Furthermore, these shakes do not require occasional painting and are especially great for regions with harsh weather conditions.
The main advantage of wooden materials is in their appearance. They give homes that rustic, warm feeling. Unfortunately, they do have quite a few disadvantages. Even when we’re talking about their looks, you can easily substitute natural materials with synthetic ones. Unless you’re close to the house, you won’t notice the difference between the two.
What is the difference between shakes and shingles?
Often, people mistake shakes for shingles.
First off, these two products are not always made from the same material. Companies commonly use various materials for shingles, including slate, wood, cement, plastic, metal, etc. This is a much more encompassing term that refers to all roof coverings which have overlapping segments.
Shakes are usually made from a lesser variety of materials. Companies usually make them by using wood, but vinyl shakes have also become very popular as of late.
Manufacturers utilize different processes to make these objects, which is why they are noticeably different from one another. Shakes are commonly hand-split for a lot. On the other hand, shingles are much thinner and sawn on both sides.
It is worth mentioning that shakes create a much longer, heavier shadow. These materials look much rougher, and, as a result, they will give your exterior a rugged appearance. Shingles are placed one on top of another, giving the house a uniform appearance. Contractors prefer using shingles when due to their versatility. However, shakes can look much better visually.
Anyway, your choice of shakes or shingles will depend on personal preferences. Given that they can be made from similar materials, they can provide similar protection. The main difference between the two is in their appearance.
How much does vinyl shake siding cost?
Vinyl shake sidings usually go from $4 to $9 per square foot. Keep in mind that this includes both the material and labor. While this is generally more expensive than a horizontal lap, most homeowners will utilize shakes and shingles to cover just a small portion of their house. So, the overall project might even be cheaper than horizontal lap installation.
The sidings are especially great if you know what you’re doing. Most homeowners like to make their own decision regarding shakes, but we suggest that you hire an experienced designer. Combining shakes with materials such as stone or brick can be tricky, but if done the right way, it can produce incredible results.
Some homeowners will try to reduce the cost of the project by installing shakes themselves. If you wish to buy only shakes, a square foot of material will cost between 2 to 3 dollars. If shakes are primed and factory painted, they will cost somewhere between $3 and $4.
It is worth noting that vinyl shakes are approximately four times more expensive than traditional vinyl panels. This is because of their thickness and durability. So, going with shakes can be a better long-term solution.
| Square Feet of Home | Average Cost Range (Installed) |
| 1,000 sq.ft. | $3,000 – $16,500 |
| 1,500 sq.ft. | $3,500 – $20,100 |
| 2,000 sq.ft. | $4,100 – $23,400 |
| 2,500 sq.ft. | $4,600 – $26,000 |
| 3,000 sq.ft. | $5,700 – $28,600 |
Main things affecting the project price
Here are some of the main factors that will impact the end price:
1. Removal and disposal of the previous siding
If you had a siding before, the cost of the project would be somewhat higher. A crew can easily remove your previous sidings in a day or so. Upon removal, they will place the material in a rented garbage bin.
Unfortunately, the costs don’t end there. In most cases, there will be some damage to the walls leading to repairs and additional expenditures. The good thing is that you can address all these issues during the very construction project preventing further damage to the house’s structure.
2. The quality of the material
Of course, we believe that vinyl shakes are perhaps the best material for this kind of object. However, you can also go with wooden elements.
Homeowners rarely paint their wooden shakes and shingles. So, you can save some money there. They will still be much more expensive than the vinyl shingles, and you will need to invest a lot of work into them. Popular cedar shingles require a lot of maintenance and have a shorter life expectancy compared to vinyl.
Anyway, the quality of the material will have the biggest impact on the end cost.
3. Thickness and shape of the shakes
Shakes are one of the thicker options for sidings. This is especially noticeable when you compare them to shingles. Thickness is an important factor for the price because denser materials tend to be more expensive.
A customer can choose between several different shapes of the shakes. You can go with staggered edge, straight edge, or wavy edges. Straight edge shakes usually have a uniform size and shape, which is why they are the cheapest option. Wavy edges require the biggest investment.
4. Additional material
Besides the shakes, which represent the biggest material expenditure, you will also have to consider other items such as nails, flashing, and furring strips. When combined, all these additional objects will cost you up to $1.50 per square foot.
Ideally, you should buy vinyl shakes that the manufacturer painted. Naturally, you can also paint them yourselves, but the price tends to be very high in comparison. For example, you will need to pay an additional $2.50 per square foot of painted shakes. A similar paint job will cost about $1 to $1.50 when done by the manufacturer.
5. Labor
Unlike panels, which are rather easy to set up, shakes require a lot of work. Besides the regular installation cost, a contractor can do several other things that will drive the price up. Good examples are previously mentioned removal of sidings and double coursing (installing several layers of shakes).
As previously mentioned, disposing of waste material increases the costs. But, if you hire experienced professionals, they will buy just the right amount of material for the project and are less likely to cause additional waste. So, even though a seasoned veteran might cause more initially, he will reduce the project’s costs down the line.
Comparing vinyl sidings to cedar and cement
The main reason you should go with vinyl is that they are so easy to maintain and can last for a long time. They can also look stunning visually. Modern products can replicate the wooden looks, and sometimes, it can be hard to tell the difference between the two.
Advantages of vinyl shake sidings
- Very easy to maintain
- They can last for a long time
- A customer can choose products in various colors
- Offers great protection
- Vinyl sidings are an economical solution
Disadvantages of vinyl shake sidings
- They are not as nice as cedar shakes
- It can be hard to replace vinyl shakes when they get damaged
Cedar shakes are popular because of their natural beauty. They fit well for homes made from natural materials. Cedar, in particular, is a very resilient type of wood. Often, homeowners and real estate experts install these shakes when they want to increase the price of the house.
Advantages of cedar shake sidings
- Cedar shakes will give any house a rustic feeling
- They are great for insulation
- Cedar is one of the most resilient types of wood
- While not as cheap as vinyl, you can get them at a reasonable price
Disadvantages of cedar shake sidings
- They need to be regularly maintained
- It can be really hard to replace damaged sections
Lastly, we need to consider fiber cement. These shakes are also really nice in their own way but are much more durable than the wood. Like vinyl, you can choose from various colors.
Advantages of fiber cement shake sidings
- Great for any weather
- Do not require a lot of maintenance
- There are lots of colors and types to choose from
- Not affected by pests
Disadvantages of fiber cement shake sidings
- They don’t look natural
- Like other shakes, it is hard to repair them or replace them
Conclusion
To reiterate, you will have to pay somewhere between $4 to $9 for a square foot of vinyl shakes (labor included). Due to some major differences between states, this price can vary significantly from one region to another.
Given that this is a major investment, we suggest you find the right types of shakes and consult an architect before starting the project.