2023 Cost Of Aluminum Siding

Among the growing number of exterior siding materials, aluminum siding remains a great choice if you are looking for a modern siding that offers long lasting protection.

Aluminum siding costs $6-11 per square foot installed. On a 2,000 sq.ft. house installing aluminum siding runs $12,000-22,000.

While aluminum’s popularity has slowly declined due to the development of cheaper and more versatile house siding options, such as vinyl aluminum siding is here to stay.

To replace your old house siding, contact your local siding installers for FREE Quotes.

How Much Does Aluminum Siding Cost?

The cost of the aluminum siding ranges from approximately $3.50 to $5.50 per square foot for the metal itself depending on the weight, or gauge, of the metal.

The labor cost for installation adds an additional $2.50 to $5.50 per square foot. Siding a house is a big project which can take up to 90 hours of work to complete.

The total cost for a house of 1,500 square feet can range from $10,000 to $18,500 with an average cost of $14,500. This estimate includes the cost of the materials, the labor cost and the cost to remove and dispose of any waste including panels, fasteners and trim.

As with all home improvement materials, the cost to install aluminum siding varies based on several factors, such as:

– total square footage of the job. Keep in mind that small jobs actually may incur a 10-15% mark up because the contractor still has the same overhead costs as well as set up and clean up time.
– Architectural complexity of the house, including corners, windows, doors, etc
– Number of stories
– Ease of access
– Any repairs that may need to be done prior to installing new siding
– Removal and disposal of old siding
– Local labor rates that may vary as much as 20-25% from than national average depending on where you live.

It is a good idea to contact several licensed contractors for estimates and go with a mid-range price quote.

Cost to Remove Aluminum Siding

If existing aluminum siding needs to be removed and disposed of, it can cost between $1.70 and $3.60 per square foot. This can add $2,500 to $5,300 for labor and disposal fees for the average house.

Cost to Replace Aluminum Siding

It can cost an additional $8,000 to $14,000 to install a new set up.

Cost To Repaint Aluminum Siding

If you have a house sided with aluminum and want to change the color, the price to paint it is about $2.30 per square foot which includes the labor and cleanup time. Thus, painting a 2,000 sq.ft. house that has aluminum siding costs $4,600

While aluminum siding can be repaired, the color fades over time and the repair may not match the rest of the house.

It may be time to replace your aluminum siding if the color match is of concern to you, or if there is heavy damage and the cost to repair is higher than replacement.

Aluminum Siding Repair Cost

The cost to repair aluminum siding is $4 to $10 per square foot, not that much more than repairs for fiber cement siding ($4 to $6 per square foot). Wood siding repairs vary widely from $2 to $34 per square foot depending on the type of wood and the grade.

No matter what type of siding you have, the labor cost to repair siding ranges from $40 to $75 per hour .

Aluminum dents can be removed or filled. Typically, a contractor will include labor in the price per square foot for installation. The average material costs per square foot for repairs ranges from $3 to $20, depending on the type of siding and the extent of the damage.

However, a small repair job is usually determined by using the amount of time it will take to repair the damage. Professionals have the right tools to remove old siding and cut the new pieces if needed to fit in a certain area.

Some materials are dangerous to work with as a DIY project, like aluminum which is very sharp and can cut you if mishandled.

How Is Aluminum Siding Made?

Most aluminum siding is manufactured from aluminum coil stock material which is often produced from recycled materials. The siding is coated with chemicals to prevent corrosion.

The color is then baked on, with a final layer which can be imprinted with your choice of texture. This product is sturdy and not prone cracking with age, the way vinyl siding is.

Longboard vs Corrugated Aluminum Siding

There are two different styles of aluminum siding; Longboard (flat panels) and corrugated panels.

Longboard aluminum panels can mimic the look of wood and comes in several different textures and colors. The price for longboard siding is $14 to $18 per square foot.

Corrugated aluminum siding is more durable because its shape can better withstand the contraction and expansion caused by temperature changes, whereas flat panels can warp.

Corrugated aluminum siding comes in different colors and different “ripple” patterns, some of which have flat sections with a more squared-off rise between each section. The cost for corrugated aluminum is $3 to $7 per square foot.

Barn and RV Aluminum Siding

In addition to residential siding, aluminum siding is used for barns, recreational vehicles (RV) and trailers.

A two-stall, 30 x 40-foot barn with aluminum siding costs a minimum of $10,000.

RV and trailer aluminum siding prices range from $8.50 to $11 per square foot depending on thickness. The siding is sold on 48-inch-wide rolls and can be order with a pattern or flat.

A dedicated workshop charges $65 to $190 per hour for these jobs and requires 1 to 2 days depending on the size of the project.

How Long Will Aluminum Siding Last?

Average quality aluminum siding lasts for 30 years. Thicker versions made from higher grade metal or painted versions can last over 40 years.

Thicker vs Thinner Aluminum Siding

It may seem obvious, but thicker metal is stronger and more durable. The least expensive aluminum is .4” thick, or 40-gauge. This is lightweight, and often chosen as builders’ grade aluminum by commercial home builders but may dent and bend quite easily.

The industry standard is just slightly heavier at .44-gauge. However, if you are buying new siding for an existing structure, or are building a new home and need siding, consider getting .53-gauge. It costs more at about $5 to $9 per square foot installed but you get a stronger, more durable product.

The greatest issue with heavy-gauge aluminum siding is the finish. It will have a good warranty, but after a couple of decades it will be pitted, cracked, and even chipped.

This will require thorough cleaning and repainting every now and then. While the appearance of the finish may decline, when properly maintained, aluminum siding will protect your home for many years.

How To Insulate Aluminum Siding

The best way to insulate aluminum siding is to install rigid foam insulation on the exterior of the home before adding the siding.

When installed properly, rigid foam insulation creates a barrier against heat gain or loss and increases the total R-value of the exterior wrapping or “envelope” when combined with cavity insulation.

The other option is to purchase aluminum siding that comes with a sprayed-on foam insulation backing.

Aluminum Siding Styles and Textures

Aluminum siding is available in a number of different patterns and textures, many of which can mimic the look of vertical Board and Batten which has a rustic style or Lapped Wood siding. Common styles are two overlapping planks together, referred to as “double planks.

Board and Batten aluminum siding can either come in two, side-by-side panels or individual planks. The side-by-side planks are available in 4- or 5-inch widths. The single planks come in 10- or 12-inch planks.

Lapped aluminum siding comes in sheets of 2-3 overlapping planks together or in single planks. The attached, overlapping planks are called “doubled planks” and come in 4-, 5- or 6-inch widths. Single width planks are also available and come in 8 inch and 9-inch widths.

The panels can come pre-painted in the baked-on color of your choice or you can choose to paint the siding yourself. While most people think of siding in terms of horizontal planks, both flat and corrugated panels can be installed horizontally or vertically according to your home’s architecture and your design preferences.

The thicknesses of aluminum siding ranges from .019” to .024”. The thicker the material, the more it is resistant to wind and the more it will cost.

Color Options For Aluminum Siding

While compared to other siding materials such as fiber cement, vinyl or engineered wood, aluminum’s color options are limited, there are still plenty to choose from.

You can other choose regular pre-manufactured siding colors, or wood grain colors for your aluminum siding. Moreover, you can paint your aluminum siding any color you would like.

Pros & Cons Of Aluminum Siding

There are many positive aspects to using aluminum siding.

Cost Effective – aluminum is in the middle of the price range compared to other popular types of siding. Its actually a misconception that aluminum siding is as cheap as vinyl.

In fact, this used to be the case before vinyl siding basically conquered the Number One spot as a residential siding and essentially pushed aluminum out.

As less and less companies remained in the manufacturing of aluminum siding, the cost of materials as well as labor continued to grow.

Still for all the advantages aluminum offers its a reasonably priced siding option. In fact, aluminum siding is actually cheaper than steel siding. On average aluminum siding costs $3-6 per square foot, compared to $4-8 for steel siding.

Low Maintenance – it just needs to be rinsed about once a year to make sure there is no debris lodged in the seams or window sills. It may need repainting after 12-15 years.

Energy Efficient – Bare aluminum has an R-value of .61. If you add insulation to the back of it, it provides an R-value of 2 to 5. An R-value represents the resistance that a material has to air flow and temperature conduction. Aluminum siding keeps heat out in the summer and warmth in during the winter.

Environmentally Friendly – aluminum is considered a “green” siding product. It is 100% recyclable and usually made, at least partly, from other recycled materials.

Waterproof & No Rust – if you live along the coast or in another humid region, aluminum is a good choice. It does not rust or absorb moisture the way wood does. It will not swell in humidity, nor will it dry out and shrink in the heat.

Insect Proof – metal is insect-proof. There is no worry about infestations of carpenter ants or termites.

Fire Resistant – It is non-flammable meaning it will not ignite and will not burn or melt. This makes it a preferable material in areas with frequent wild fires. The enamel may become scorched but it can be cleaned and painted. Since it does not burn, it does not emit dangerous fumes when it gets hot. Insurance companies may offer discounts to homeowners in areas prone to brush fires.

Durable – aluminum siding can last 40 to 50 years if installed correctly and properly maintained.

Cons Of Aluminum Siding

As with any material for your home, there are some downsides of aluminum siding.

Dents and Scratches Easily – aluminum is a soft metal which makes it more prone to scratches and dents. If you live in an area with hailstorms or if there is heavy traffic around your house, you should expect to need more repairs. Young children on riding toys, or others playing football, basement or driveway hockey can lead to dents that are hard to remove.

Small dents are often repaired in the same way as dents on a car, and may need to be done professionally. A technician will drill a small hole in the center of the dent and pull it out. Then the dent will be filled, sanded and repainted. Since the color can fade on metal siding, a repair may be more obvious than the surrounding color. Heavier gauge metal is more resistant to dents.

Noises – as metal expands and contracts slightly with temperature changes it may create a popping or pinging sound. Very high winds can also produce these sounds. Rain and hail can also sound loud on aluminum siding. Some homeowners enjoy this sound, others do not.

Industrial Appearance – although the texture of aluminum siding has improved significantly in the past decade it still looks like metal, especially when you stand close to it.

Limited Suppliers – as the popularity of aluminum siding steadily declined over the last 40 years, it has become increasingly hard to find suppliers for residential siding applications. This is another reason why the costs of aluminum siding have drastically increased over the years.

Leading Aluminum Siding Brands

There are fewer brands of aluminum siding than of vinyl siding. Among the top manufacturers are Mastic, Revere and Royal Building Products. Alcoa was once the largest maker of aluminum siding. Alcoa’s siding business was bought by Mastic and the products are available as Mastic’s Performance Metals lines.

Mastic Aluminum Siding

Ply Gem is the manufacturer of Mastic siding. Mastic Aluminum siding is light, easy to install and completely waterproof. It is 100% recyclable and includes up to 67% recycled materials. Mastic comes in three styles: Lap Siding, Vertical Siding and Shake and Shingle Styling.

You can choose narrow, regular or wide plank widths for the Lap Siding ranging from3” to 9”. There are 9 different Lap Siding products which offer different wood-look textures and colors, as well as features suitable for different extreme weather climates and their SolarDefense Reflective Technology to prevent dark colors from fading.

The Vertical Siding is a Board and Batten style available in over 25 colors. It can be used to side the entire exterior of a home, or on certain portions to enhance architectural details and a sense of height.

Shake and Shingle style siding mimics cedar shakes and shingles with a choice of evenly finished edges or hand-split edges. The hand-split shakes come in 16 colors. The evenly finished shake and shingle edges come in 5- and 7-inch widths with 16-21 colors choices depending on width. There are half-round shingles which are often referred to as “fish scale” shingles and come in 7 colors.

Revere Aluminum Siding

Revere has 3 different aluminum siding is 100% recyclable and made from 90% recycled aluminum. There are three product lines Cedarwood, Woodgrain Series 2000 and Deluxe.

The Cedarwood siding comes in 4 earth tones and has the texture of Cedar. This product can be placed in non-repeating patterns to create the variegated look of genuine Cedar. Cedarwood is “weather-sealed” in a resilient Kynar 500® coating specially formulated to resist staining, mildew, dirt and extreme weather.

It is also warranted against excessive chalking or color change for 25 years. Cedarwood only needs to be rinsed occasionally to keep it clean. The Woodgrain Series 2000 comes in 6 colors and mimics the look of traditional, hand-cut wood siding.

This siding is backed by a lifetime limited, non-prorated, transferable warranty with chalk and color change protection. The Deluxe series is available in traditional white clapboards of 4- and 8-inch widths.

Longboard Cladding

Longboard Cladding manufactures a high-end aluminum siding that masterfully replicates the look of natural wood. This siding is made from architectural grade, anodized aluminum and finished with a high performance powder coat. One of the greatest advantages of Longboard is that it can be used as a siding application, a soffit system, or a privacy fence.

Another great benefit of this brand is that the aluminum siding planks come in lengths of up to 24 fee, unique in the industry. This enables you to cover an entire wall of the house without having any joins or transition pieces.

The company offers 20 wood grain colors and more than 60 solid color options for its aluminum siding.

(Note, this is a Canadian company so you need to contact them about the availability of their products in the USA)

Royal Aluminum Siding

Royal Building Products has an aluminum siding line called Cedar Renditions. Their product is 100% recyclable and made from 99% recycled materials. The aluminum siding comes in 6 woodgrain colors and 3 solid colors. It is available in 4- and 6-inch planks.

Aluminum vs Vinyl Siding

Here is a quick overview comparing the two cheapest siding material options: aluminum vs vinyl siding. Keep in mind that both of these siding materials have better grades, but they are also more expensive.

Lifespan: aluminum siding can last over 35 years depending on the thickness of the siding, the quality of installation and the maintenance. Vinyl siding lasts approximately 50 years.

Durability and Strength: Vinyl and aluminum siding are both very resistant to wear and exposure. Aluminum siding is prone to denting and scratching while vinyl is resistant to cracking and warping. Aluminum siding is fire resistant. You may be able to reduce the cost of your homeowner’s insurance with aluminum siding in areas of the country prone to wild fires.

Insulation: Metal is a poor insulator compared to vinyl. Although a heavier gauge of aluminum will be better than a thinner gauge, aluminum siding will not make your home as energy efficient as with vinyl. Additionally, aluminum absorbs heat in the summer and causes your home to become hot.

Color: The weather exposure can cause the color of aluminum siding to fade and look dull and chalky. Vinyl does not fade and maintains its color for life.

Aesthetic: There are many more design options with vinyl siding including those that closely mimic wood. You can get vinyl siding in shake style, Dutch lap, standard boards, vertical, scalloped and more.

Cost: while there are many sites that tout aluminum being as cheap as vinyl siding its actually not the case. Maybe the prices are similar when you are comparing low grade aluminum siding used for barns to vinyl. However, high quality residential aluminum siding is at least about 20-30% more expensive than vinyl.

Aluminum Siding vs Wood Siding

Lets take a look at how aluminum siding stacks up against real wood siding.

Impervious to Moisture: one of the advantages of aluminum siding over wood siding is that aluminum does not absorb moisture. Aluminum siding will not rust along the ocean or in areas of high humidity. Mildew will not grow on either. Wood siding is prone to absorbing moisture which can lead to mildew and rot. It also attracts insects.

Cost: aluminum is a less expensive and lighter product than wood and is often made from recycled materials. Typically wood siding costs at least 50% more than aluminum.

Fire Resistant: aluminum siding is fire-resistant and will not melt, while wood (unless its treated with special fire retardant sealers) will easily burn.

Noise: aluminum siding expands and contracts slightly with temperature changes. This can create a popping or pinging noise. Very high winds can also produce these sounds. In addition, rain and hail can sound loud on aluminum siding. Some homeowners are irritated by this, others like the sounds. Wood siding has excellent insulating properties and is not noisy at all.

Aesthetic: wood siding gives a warm, classic look to a house. There is a larger selection of profiles such as clapboards, hand-cut shakes and shingles. Aluminum siding does not have the tonal or textural variety of natural wood and still looks like one all-over metal material.

Aluminum Siding vs Fiber Cement

Here is a look at the differences between aluminum siding and one of the more expensive and modern siding materials: fiber cement.

Maintenance: the color of aluminum siding fade over time and the color looks chalky and can rub off. It doesn’t fade evenly which means that patches or replacement boards will not match the surrounding planks. Fiber cement siding, such as James Hardie is a much lower maintenance product that does not have these same issues.

Curb Appeal: aesthetics plays a big part in choosing the siding material. Homeowners want their home to look great from the street. Although aluminum siding comes in a woodgrain-look it is not deeply embedded like fiber cement siding. The lack of texture and variation detracts from the curb appeal of aluminum siding. As mentioned previously, as aluminum siding fades it can leave a chalky appearance.

Fiber cement siding is made to resemble real wood. It has a realistic looking texture and finish and comes in numerous colors and styles including horizontal lap siding; Board and Batten siding, Architectural panels, Shingles, Rustic shingles, octagon and other decoratively shaped shingles. This means that you can more easily match your home’s style and even create different designs from the same materials.

Durability: aluminum siding has sometimes been chosen by homeowners who believe that it is very durable. Unfortunately, aluminum is a light weight material with a tendency to dent from any type of impact.

A stray baseball or a hail storm could put dents into the siding. While small dents can be filled with putty or popped back out again, larger dents require you to remove and reinstall large section of siding to repair them.

Fiber cement siding is a heavy, solid product. When installed properly it doesn’t move or bend and is more resistant to large dents even if it is hit by a ball.