2023 Shed Siding Installation And Prices

Choosing suitable shed siding that will be both practical and beautiful can be challenging.

Trying to save money on shed siding without sacrificing the quality of the final product is a narrow line to walk. Luckily, it’s more than possible to find an option that suits your needs without breaking the bank.

To get started on your shed siding install, contact your local siding pros for FREE ESTIMATES!

How Much Does Shed Siding Cost?

The cost of shed siding varies from material to material. For example, Vinyl ranges from $3.20 to $15.20 per square foot, while engineered wood goes from $5.20 and $7.10 per square foot.

The cost of metal siding will depend on the metal you choose to use, but the average range is from $3.10 and $8.20 per square foot. Natural wood has the widest range of prices, varying between $1.20 and $15.10 per square foot.

Hardiplank has a middle range cost of $4.10 to $8.20 per square foot.

On top of these materials prices, add $2.15 to $5.45 per square foot if you opt for a professional installation.

Type of Shed Siding	Price per Square Meter
OSB Siding	$4 .10- $9.05
Plywood	Siding $6.10-$12.05
Vinyl Siding $3.20-$15.20
Engineered Wood Siding	$5.20-$7.10
Metal Siding	$3.10-$8.20
Natural Wood Siding	$1.20-$15.10
Hardiplank Siding	$4.10-$8.20

Most Common Shed Siding Options

Shed siding is frequently constructed from plywood or OSB by homeowners. OSB and plywood are mainly used for sheathing and are meant to be covered up. As a result, both manufacturers construct the panels in four-by-eight-foot sections.

Plywood can be manufactured from softwood or hardwood veneers glued together in various configurations, depending on the intended use. It is engineered wood manufactured by gluing together chips and strands of wood.

These materials should be painted or stained shortly after setting up for optimum weather resistance. Because plywood is more durable and easier to deal with than OSB, it’s more recommended as a siding option. If you prefer a batten-and-board finish, you may use T1-11 plywood instead.

Did you know? All cuts and holes in T1-11 panels should be sealed, flashed, or trimmed to minimize moisture damage and decay. Protecting the edges is made possible by the boards’ lapping at the seams.

However, there are many other options to choose from, such as vinyl and metal siding.

Vinyl siding is a popular choice because of its affordability, adaptability, durability, and weather resistance.

Additionally, there are a wide variety of metal siding options, such as aluminum or steel sheets, that require little to no upkeep. They are very resistant to decay, insects, and mold.

Almost every construction may benefit from the versatility of natural wood. It’s a popular choice because of its visual appeal and environmental friendliness.

Cost Of Shed Siding By Siding Material

Here is a break down of how much each type of shed siding costs, along with its top features and pros and cons.

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is available in a wide range of tints, widths, and styles. Board-and-batten, Dutch lap, scalloped, shake shingle, or scale profiles can all be used for horizontal or vertical installation.

Vinyl siding may cost anywhere from $3.20 to $15.20 per square foot, depending on the vinyl siding’s size, quality, and design profile.

Vinyl is a favorite of homeowners because of its versatile usage and many different colors. The material is also very durable, with a lifespan of between 10 and 60 years.

If installed correctly, it’s very weather resistant. Maintaining it is very easy as well since it’s not prone to rust and can be cleaned effortlessly.

The cost of vinyl siding is also cheaper. This makes it ideal for a DIY project since you can buy more vinyl without breaking the bank in case something goes wrong. Isolated versions are also available.

However, project costs might be significantly inflated by additional materials and trim parts.

Moreover, this material is a type of plastic that is not biodegradable which can lower your real estate value in high-end neighborhoods. It’s also prone to fading and cracking over time.

Engineered Wood Siding

Natural wood siding cannot compete with the technical advantages of this artificial wood. In addition, specific alternatives offer protection from decay and wood parasites in their treatments.

Engineered wood is made to reduce defects, improve resistance to degradation, and be easier to care for.

Siding made of engineered wood will cost you between $5.20 and $7.10 per square foot.

Pro Tip: Consider hiring a professional contractor to install your shed siding if you’ve never dealt with engineered wood before. The price is between $8 to $13 per square foot for the cost of engineered wood’s materials and installation.

Engineered wood is extremely low maintenance since the only thing you need to do regularly is to repaint it every 6-7 years.

Moreover, the wood is very durable and won’t chip, rot or dent easily.

The manufacturing process of engineered wood makes it also resistant to mold, pests, fungus, and mildew. Like vinyl, engineered wood is available in different colors, textures, and finishes.

The lifespan of engineered wood is estimated to be 25-30 years.

On the downside, the manufacturing process is also not very eco-friendly since heavy chemicals are used.

Metal Siding

If you’re a fan of the industrial appearance, metal siding is an excellent option. Metal siding is offered in aluminum, copper, tint, corrugated steel, steel, and zinc variants and can be installed horizontally or vertically.

A steel or aluminum panel with a 36-inch cover is the most common choice for homeowners. The gauge (or thickness) of metal siding is also available in various sizes to suit your project’s requirements.

Aluminum and steel siding costs between $3.10 and $8.20 per square foot, although you can spend considerably less or much more depending on the material of choice.

As one might assume, metal siding is one of the most durable options and one of the most affordable ones.

With a lifespan of 50-60 years and fully recyclable, it also makes it the most eco-friendly option. You won’t have to worry about fires since this is a very fire-resistant option.

Additionally, the siding can usually be painted as desired, and it’s maintained easily. Insects, mold, fungus, and rot won’t be an issue with metal siding.

On the other hand, metal siding can be pierced, scratched, and deformed. Scratches that go unnoticed for some time become ideal locations for corrosion to set in. And since metal is very heavy, this siding should only be installed professionally.

Natural Wood Siding

Natural wood has long been a favorite because of its positive effects on the environment and practicality. All of these types are available from different manufacturers and may be applied to the exterior of your home.

Before deciding whether to choose softwood or hardwood siding, be aware of the ongoing maintenance required to increase the life span of your siding.

Eco-friendly natural wood can only be grown by a firm that strictly adheres to forest conservation measures. Unsealed wood can be a food source for insects and birds and be damaged by water.

The cost of natural wood siding may range from as little as $1.20 per square foot to as much as $15.10 per square foot.

Keeping your natural wood siding functioning and looking good will require ongoing maintenance for the life of the siding.

Pro Tip. It’s a good idea to have your siding examined every two years by a specialist. You will also need to clean your siding every three to five years and repaint the finish depending on the climate and your unique circumstances.

The most significant advantage of natural wood for many homeowners is its esthetically pleasing appearance. Moreover, natural wood is somewhere in the middle, depending on the type of wood you choose and the size of the siding.

The finish can be smooth or rough, and you can paint the wood, varnish, or stain it, making it very customizable. Most of the time, the installation can be a DIY project, except for bigger and heavier sidings.

Of course, natural wood is also one of the most eco-friendly shed siding options.

However, the most significant disadvantage of natural wood is the regular upkeep. You’ll need to have regular inspections, cleaning, and maintenance done.

It’s essential to reapply the finish coat regularly to prevent cracks, splits, and rot. Also, natural wood attracts insects and birds, which is hardly preventable.

HardiPlank Siding

Because they were initially created to resist more intense conditions, these boards make excellent siding. As a further bonus, these fiber-cement boards simulate the look and feel of natural wood, such as cedar shingles and shakes.

Hardiplank siding costs range from $4.10 to $8.20 per square foot. Add $2.15 to $5.45 per square foot of installation on top of that.

Hardiplank comes in many different profiles, colors, and sizes. The siding usually comes painted and primed. Hardie siding is also very durable since it’s not prone to swelling, cracking, and is resistant to moisture, pests, and mold.

You also won’t have to worry about fires since the material isn’t flammable. The cleaning and maintenance don’t require much effort, and the material is very eco-friendly.

On the other hand, Hardie siding is very heavy and requires special hardware for cutting and a professional installation. The installation process is also longer than most sidings and can take up to 10-12 days.

Shed Siding Styles

In addition to the material you use, you must decide on the siding style of your shed as well.

Bevel Siding

Planks of bevel siding, also known as clapboards, are fastened to the outside of a shed at an angle rather than horizontally.

A minor bevel angle is used to generate planks that are thinner on one side than the other, thus the name “bevel siding.” To create a weather-resistant, water-shedding surface, a light top edge of siding is nailed over the thicker bottom border of the course above it.

The two softwood species, Western red cedar, and redwood, which are frequently used for bevel siding, are inherently resistant to decay and wood-boring insects.

However, there are also spruce, cypress, and pine varieties. Depending on the kind and grade, bevel siding can be smooth on one side and rough sawn on the other.

The siding should be installed facing outward if you intend to paint it. Using the rough side out for a stained finish will allow the stain to penetrate deeper into the rough-sawn surface.

Pro Tip: make sure to nail through the plywood sheathing and into the studs of the walls. This will prevent the risk of nail points sticking out of the shed’s inside.

Plywood Siding

Plywood siding is a popular choice for shed builders for two good reasons: it is inexpensive and rapidly covers a large area. Sheets of exterior-grade plywood siding measure 4×8 feet and are 5/8 inches thick.

Rough sawn, primed, and unprimed options are all available. T-1-11 is the most prevalent design by far. An unevenly spaced 3/8-inch-wide groove pattern covers the rough-sawn surface of this siding. The grooves are spaced in either 4- or 8-inch increments.

Plywood siding is attached to the studs of the wall using a nail gun. Overlapping shallow rabbets machined into the sheets’ edges prevents rain from penetrating.

Construction adhesive should be applied to all studs before nailing down plywood siding. Siding can be held in place by the studs.

Tongue-and-Groove Boards

Siding with interlocking or overlapping connections is referred to as “pattern siding.” V-jointed tongue-and-groove siding is the most prevalent style of pattern siding.

A tongue on one side and groove on the other are machined into each 3/4-inch-thick board.

When the boards are put in place, the tongue of one board fits snugly into the groove of the next.

At a 45-degree angle, the boards’ ends also have ornate V-shaped joints along their seams to provide visual interest to the overall design. Vertical, horizontal, and diagonal installations are all possible with this siding.

To install tongue-and-groove siding, you don’t need to first cover the walls with plywood.

When installing, nails should be hammered into the tongue and then covered by the grooved edge of the following board, rather than just face-nailing. All of the nails are hidden from view after this procedure is completed.

Redwood or Western red cedar is typically used for tongue-and-groove siding, with the latter more commonly having a rough-sawn finish. Untreated pine tongue-and-groove boards are also an option, but keep in mind that they’re more prone to decay. Stain or paint wood siding to preserve it from the elements.

Tongue and groove siding comes in 4-, 6-, and 8-inch broad boards. Smaller sheds look better with 4-inch or 6-inch siding, while bigger sheds look best with 8-inch siding.

Board-and-Batten Siding

In terms of wood siding styles, board-and-batten is one of the oldest. It’s made up of longboards and thin strips of wood, known as battens.

These are used to conceal the vertical gaps between the boards after being attached vertically to the wall structure.

Board-and-batten siding does not have a defined dimension like other forms of wood siding. It may be made from just about any lumber, regardless of its size. Generally, 1×3 battens and 1×8 to 1×12 vertical boards are used for battens.

Cutting siding from red cedar, redwood, or pressure-treated timber provides the best protection against rot and insects. To avoid buckling, provide a 1-inch gap between the boards while mounting them.

Also, while installing the battens, be sure to leave at least a half-inch of space between the battens and the boards to allow any shrinkage.

Cedar Shingles

With cedar shingles, your shed will look like a beautiful country home. Overlapping courses of shingles are used to install the shingles, and the result is an efficient rainwater runoff system.

A clean appearance is achieved because the shingles hide the nails in each course above them. Installing shingles can take a long time and might be pricey compared to other forms of wood siding.

It would be best to first build plywood sheathing before nailing shingles on the wall. Exterior grade paint, a clear wood preservative, semitransparent stain, or solid color stain can all be used to finish cedar shingles.

Pro Tip. Consider adding hand-split cedar shakes if you like shingles but prefer a more rustic esthetic. Unlike shingles, which are thin and smooth, shakes are heavy and rough.

How To Select The Best Siding For A Shed

A wide variety of siding materials for sheds are available these days, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Before making a purchase, keep in mind that there are several factors to consider regarding your shed siding.

Here’s a list of factors to keep in mind when you compare siding options:

Cost: is it possible to increase or lower the price of your shed significantly based on the type of material and style option for siding?

Warranty: find out what are the terms of warranty granted by the company that makes the siding.

Durability: how long will the shed siding you select last in your home’s current environment and climate?

How is the siding sealed? does it allow the material to breathe without leaking water?

Aesthetics: how does the siding go with the outside of your house and the surrounding neighborhood?

DIY installation: to build the shed, how much mechanical knowledge do you need to have? Is it necessary to purchase specialized equipment to install it?

Maintenance requirements: is there a specific frequency for cleaning your siding? To what extent should repairs be done by specialists, and how much does it cost to fix?

Build The Shed You Want With The Right Siding

Knowing the pros and cons of different siding materials will help you build the shed you want.

If you prefer the natural look and don’t might the upkeep, natural wood siding could work for you. If you want a durable shed that is fine without any special maintenance, metal siding may be the right fit.

Whether you’re planning a DIY project, or you opt for a professional installation, talk with a professional about the appropriate siding for your needs.