Siding Replacement vs Repair Cost Calculator
Compare the total cost of repairing damaged siding versus full replacement, factoring in material costs, labor, lifespan, and long-term value.
Home & Siding Details
Repair Costs
Replacement Costs
Financial Factors
Formulas Used
Damaged Area:
Damaged Area (sq ft) = Total Wall Area × (Damage % ÷ 100)
Total Repair Cost:
Repair Cost = (Repair Material $/sq ft + Repair Labor $/sq ft) × Damaged Area + Miscellaneous Costs
Total Replacement Cost:
Replacement Cost = (Replace Material $/sq ft + Replace Labor $/sq ft) × Total Wall Area + Miscellaneous Costs
Cost Per Year:
Repair Cost/Year = Total Repair Cost ÷ Remaining Siding Lifespan
Replace Cost/Year = Total Replacement Cost ÷ New Siding Lifespan
NPV of Energy Savings (Annuity Formula):
NPV = Annual Savings × [1 − (1 + r)^(−n)] ÷ r
where r = annual discount rate, n = new siding lifespan in years
Home Value Increase:
Value Gain = Total Replacement Cost × 76% (industry average ROI)
Net Replacement Cost:
Net Cost = Total Replacement Cost − NPV of Energy Savings − Home Value Gain
Break-Even Year:
The year at which cumulative replacement cost (minus annual energy savings) falls below cumulative repair cost (paid every remaining-lifespan years).
Recommendation Logic:
REPLACE if: Damage ≥ 40% OR Remaining Life ≤ 5 years OR Net Replacement Cost < Total Repair Cost
Otherwise: REPAIR
Assumptions & References
- Material lifespans: Vinyl 30 yrs, Fiber Cement 40 yrs, Wood 25 yrs, Engineered Wood 30 yrs, Aluminum 35 yrs, Stucco 50 yrs — per This Old House and manufacturer guidelines.
- Siding replacement returns approximately 76% of cost in resale home value — Remodeling Magazine Cost vs. Value Report.
- Energy savings NPV uses a standard annuity discounting formula; a 5% discount rate is a common real-estate planning assumption.
- Repair costs apply only to the damaged area; replacement costs apply to the full wall area.
- Break-even analysis assumes repair cycles repeat every remaining-lifespan years and replacement energy savings accrue linearly.
- Typical repair costs: $2–$5/sq ft materials, $2–$5/sq ft labor. Typical replacement: $3–$12/sq ft materials, $3–$6/sq ft labor — per HomeAdvisor and Angi (2024).
- This calculator provides estimates only. Obtain multiple contractor quotes for accurate project pricing.