Are you a fan of cabin-like homes? Then, you’ll love engineered wood siding. This material gives you a natural wood look without the hefty costs of installing fresh cedar on the walls of your home. On average, engineered wood siding costs between $6,680 and $12,154, though it will vary by home size and a few other factors.
Outside of its curb appeal, engineered wood is still durable and requires little maintenance. If you’re considering this material, here’s everything you can expect about pricing and the best way to help pay for your project.
Key takeaways
Engineered wood siding is made of planks that resemble natural wood but are constructed from wood fibers and composite materials.
This material is a cheaper alternative to natural wood siding but isn’t cheaper than other siding options like vinyl.
The average cost of engineered wood siding is between $4 and $6 per square foot, but several factors affect the total cost of your home.
You may have several options to help pay for your siding, like financing through your company or using your homeowner’s insurance and warranty.
This siding material is always best to leave to professionals to install and never DIY.
What is engineered wood siding?
Engineered wood is a type of siding that closely resembles natural wood siding. Since it’s made with strands or fibers from real wood plastered in layers of adhesives, you can achieve the “solid wood” look without the actual solid wood costs. Mixed in with the wood strands and fibers are composite resin material and wax to boost the siding’s durability and sheen.
Though engineered wood is a great option for achieving a wood design at a reduced cost, it has a few downsides. For instance, the material can still warp and crack like regular wood if it’s exposed to moisture. The color painted onto the surface is also known to fade over time the more it’s exposed to the sunlight.
But one of the more notable features of this material is that it’s sustainable since it’s built from discarded real wood bits — and it’s still durable. It can even be considered more durable than real wood siding since the wood fibers are bound by composite materials, which adds to its strength.
Engineered wood siding pros and cons
Pros
- + Contains a real wood look for a fraction of the cost
- + Easy for professionals to install
- + Multiple styles and colors available
- + Has a decent lifespan
- + Requires minimal maintenance
Cons
- - Colors can fade over time
- - The material may crack from harsh storms
- - Can still swell if exposed to moisture
How much does engineered wood siding cost?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer regarding the expected cost of installing engineered wood on your home since a few factors affect the overall price. The most important factors are:
Home size
Repairing vs. replacing
Seasonality
Labor costs
Permits
Engineered wood siding cost factors
Home size
A few factors alter the cost of installing engineered wood siding, and home size is one of them. Typically, this material costs between $4 to $6 per square foot, so with that figure in mind, here’s an average cost for popular home sizes.
Engineered wood siding costs by home size
Exterior wall surface area | Average installation costs | Average replacement costs |
1,000 sq. ft. | $4,453–$8,103 | $4,858—$8,839 |
1,500 sq. ft. | $6,680–$12,154 | $7,287—$13,258 |
2,000 sq. ft. | $8,907—$16,206 | $9,716—$17,677 |
2,500 sq. ft. | $11,1354—$20,257 | $12,145—$22,096 |
Repairing vs. replacing
If you’re looking to repair existing siding or replace it with this material, know that replacing old siding with engineered wood is a few thousand dollars higher since replacement comes with demolition costs factored into labor fees. Repairing cracked or existing engineered siding is less labor-intensive and doesn’t require as much labor costs.
Seasonality
The time of year you decide to upgrade your side definitely affects the cost of your project. That’s because certain seasons of the year – like the spring or summer – are warmer months that are easier for contractors to work in. This is the time of year when businesses will have higher costs, unlike the winter.
Labor costs
Labor fees are usually attached to the overall expense of installing engineered wood siding on your home, which usually averages between $1.50 and $2.75 per square foot. For an average home, this typically shakes out to about $3,100. Siding isn’t a part of your home to compromise cost by going the DIY route to save money, so labor costs are definitely worth the quality of work.
Permits
Permits are usually required for home improvement projects like siding replacement since you’re altering the overall look of your home. Unfortunately, permits come with a cost that can fluctuate per state, but you can expect it to average a couple hundred dollars.
How to pay for your new engineered wood siding
Even though engineered wood is a cheaper option for its design, it’s still a pricey project. Luckily, there are ways you can soften the blow of the expense with a few of these options.
Financing
Almost all contractors or roofing companies have financing options you can take part in that set up monthly payments until your project is paid in full. The key is to consult with each company you’re interested in working with since they also charge interest. If they do, look for the company with the smallest percentage that you feel confident will still do a stellar job.
Home equity loan
In some cases, you might be able to take out some of your home equity loans to pay for all or a portion of the project. If this is an option that you think might be best for you, contact your bank or mortgage company to discuss how to use this option for your new siding.
Home insurance or warranty claims
If your current siding has been damaged from inclement weather or for a reason that’s out of your control, you might be able to use your homeowner’s insurance or warranty to pay for the project. However, if your siding has been damaged from neglect or normal aging, odds are you won’t be covered.
Going through insurance or warranties can be a complicated process, but it’s worth checking the fine print and reading your contract to see if you qualify for these methods to pay for all or some of your replacement.
Choose the off-season
Though this method doesn’t pay for any of your projects, you can save on the overall cost if you hire a contractor during the off-season (fall and winter). During this time, business is slower, so companies are more likely to promote discounts or specials.
Siding your home with engineered wood
As you can see, there are many benefits to upgrading your siding to engineered wood, especially if you’re after the look of real, solid wood. Engineered wood is a more cost-effective option than cedar siding, and it still comes with durability, so you never have to worry about performance or strength.
If you’re ready for a new home exterior look, start sourcing a professional or siding contractor in your area to determine your project's price and pick out your favorite style of planks!
Engineered wood siding FAQ
If you love the look of natural wood siding but want to conserve the cost, engineered siding is the right option. It’s not as expensive as natural wood siding, like cedar, since engineered wood goes through a simpler construction process and doesn’t take long to install (thus cutting down on labor fees, too!).
Though engineered wood siding is a cost-effective route if you want to achieve a wood look along your exterior, it’s not as cheap as vinyl siding. However, while vinyl siding has the upper hand of being more budget-friendly, that is because vinyl siding does not come with the same eye appeal or durability as engineered wood siding.
If you maintain your engineered wood siding, it will last between 20 and 30 years. Rougher climates that are used to severe storms may see a decrease in lifespan since harsh weather damages this type of siding. Still, as long as you apply a fresh coat of paint every ten years and routinely inspect the planks for signs of damage, you should be able to enjoy your siding for several decades.