Six Hidden Costs Most Siding Contractors Never Tell You

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Siding installation and repair has become a very lucrative business.  A lot of contractors are competing in this niche.  Many provide very tantalizing offers in terms of how much a customer is going to pay and what they are prepared to do during installation.  Unfortunately, many learn later that there are hidden costs they were not aware of.  These additional costs no longer make the home improvement project cost-effective.

Damage Hidden by Old Siding

Some of these hidden costs are unavoidable if the job entails the replacement of old siding.  There may be damage hidden under the old siding.  This damage has to be repaired before new siding can be installed.  This type of cost is difficult for the contractor to predict.  Adding 20 percent to 30 percent to the estimate will, in most cases, account for this possibility.
Old Siding Removal and Disposal Cost
Removing old siding is hard work.  It entails several man-hours that add to the overall cost.  This can be anywhere between around $1,000 to more than $4,000 depending on the size of the house and the amount of siding to be removed.  The siding being replaced also has to be disposed properly.  This means that the customer needs to hire another company to haul the waste siding and bring to the requisite dumpsite for this type of waste.  The contractor may also offer to do these for the homeowner, which of course will add to the cost.

Wear and Tear Caused by the Weather

The exterior of any house is highly susceptible to weather conditions.  The type of siding installed should be able to retain its integrity for a reasonable period of time.  Despite assurances stated in the warranty, sidings do get damaged to the point where they need to be replaced even before the warranty date.  This adds to the overall cost because it is an unexpected expense.  Contractors consider this normal and do not deem it as something they should tell their customers.  Some do give sound advice on this matter if the customer asks them.

Siding Warranty and Installation Warranty

The warranty coverage of the siding being installed is different from the warranty that covers the installation itself.  The former pertains to the material being used while the latter refers to how it is attached to the exterior of the house or building.  There are contractors who do not include warranty coverage for the installation.  Some even intentionally mislead their customers by making it appear that the installation is part of the siding manufacturer’s warranty when in fact it is not.

Permits

There are communities that require residents to apply for a permit before they may modify the exterior of their home or building.  In many cases, the applicant has to pay a certain amount of money in order to do specific modifications.  Some contractors do not include this when they are giving a quote.  It may not be intentional on their part, as this does not apply to all the communities they serve.  It is a part of the cost, however, which can easily be hidden.

Trim, Molding, and Soffits

The beauty of any siding installation does not come from just the type of siding chosen.  An important part of its aesthetic, as well as its installation, is the trim, molding, and soffits.  If the customer has specific ideas concerning this and does not explain them to the contractor, the final product might be a disappointment.  Not incorporating this into their quote allows unscrupulous contractors to state a lower, seemingly attractive inital price.

What Customers Can Do

There are many aspects of siding installation that a contractor may hide from customers.  Some of them, particularly the unscrupulous ones, do not disclose these costs in order to quote an attractive price.  SidingMagazine.com is an excellent source for information and warnings on this topic.  The database of the Better Business Bureau is also a very good tool in determining whether a contractor can be trusted.

It is important that the customer gather quotations from different companies.  The quote should then be analyzed and direct questions asked, especially concerning the areas mentioned above.  This will help him or her get a quote that is closest to what the actual cost may be.

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Emilio has built a reputation as a content marketing whiz and also has an intuitive understanding of consumer buying behaviors. This has allowed him to deliver great content for our readers, ensuring they get useful information and the help they are seeking for their projects.

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