The process of installing siding on a home can often be long and overwhelming. It typically involves setting a timeline and budget, choosing a material, and hiring a contractor. One other essential step in this process involves measuring exactly how much siding your property requires.
It’s critical to take this measurement as accurately as possible the first time to avoid costly mistakes that result in you going over your budget or extending the timeline of the installation. Here is a closer look at this subject.
How To Measure How Much Siding Your Home Needs
By accurately calculating the amount of siding your house needs, you’ll be able to gain a better sense of how much you’ll spend on this project. The first thing to know about siding is that one unit (i.e. “one square”) equals 110 square feet. Measurements for trim, on the other hand, are in linear feet. According to Forbes Advisor, it typically takes 3 or 4 days to install wood siding on a home, and the average cost of this installation normally falls between $600 and $800 for a wall measuring 16 x 18 feet.
If you choose to install wood (e.g. redwood, oak, spruce, cedar, pine, etc.) siding — which is generally less durable, more expensive, and more difficult to maintain than other siding materials such as vinyl — you can take the following six steps:
- Measure each side of your home’s width and height. You can get the total square footage for each side by calculating the product of these two values.
- Measure other parts of your property, such as dormers and gables. Any triangle-shaped areas should be calculated by multiplying the height and half of the length of the base.
- Measure each door and window’s width and height.
- Add the total square footage for each side and all other areas.
- Calculate the difference between the amount you computed in the previous step and the square footage of your house’s uncovered areas.
- Divide this figure by 100 to determine how many squares of siding you need.
You can use online calculators such as this one to confirm your measurements.
Common Siding Measurement Errors
There are many mistakes you can make if you’re new to measuring siding for your home, but you can avoid three in particular by taking the correct precautions:
- Not ordering enough siding: As crucial as it is to stay under budget for this type of home project, you also want to make sure you don’t underestimate the amount of siding you need. If you do, your installation will take longer. Remember that wood siding is not as susceptible to damage as other materials, so there is generally less risk of waste.
- Wrong measurements: As with virtually any other project that involves measuring, it’s always a good idea to measure your home’s total square footage for siding more than once (or to ask someone else, such as an experienced contractor, to confirm your measurements). This can also help you avoid spending more than you need to on siding.
- Ignoring additional costs: The total cost of siding installation includes more than just the material itself. You also have to consider the cost of trim, sealant (or caulk), flashing, tools, nails, and labor. Be sure to conduct as much research as possible to learn how much each of these things costs, on average, in your area.
Additional Tips For Measuring Siding
Here are three additional tips that can make the process of measuring siding for your home easier:
- Divide irregularly-shaped areas into smaller, traditional shapes. When in doubt about how to calculate the area of an irregularly-shaped area of your home’s exterior, use standard shapes like triangles and squares and relatively simple calculations.
- Add 5-10% extra siding. This will help you factor in mistakes. If you end up with extra siding, you can keep it for a future home project.
- Perform door and window repairs first. Doors and windows represent essential aspects of your home, so be sure to repair your framework first before moving onto siding. An experienced contractor can help you identify and repair any cracks and warping.
Once you’ve measured your home for siding, the next step is to choose a substrate.
Get High-Quality Siding Installation From Adelphia Exteriors
Contact the professionals at Adelphia Exteriors to learn more about how to measure the amount of siding your home needs. Although we began as a small painting company, we have since grown to become a large firm that is dedicated to providing both residential and commercial clients throughout the DC Metro area with high-quality, efficient, and affordable home improvement services such as siding, roofing, and insulation installation and replacement.
At Adelphia, our Northern Virginia contractors understand how important it is for a home to have siding that effectively protects it from inclement weather while keeping the property energy-efficient and warm. They can also provide recommendations on what type of siding you should choose (wood, vinyl, fiber cement, etc.) based on your budget, needs, and goals. Call Adelphia Exteriors today at (703) 386-7357 or contact us online to request a free siding evaluation.