2023 Composite Siding Cost And Installation

Composite wood is one of the most affordable and versatile house siding materials. Composite siding is a revamped version of natural wood siding, offering many upgrades over the real deal.

Composite siding materials are a step up from vinyl siding in terms of curb appeal, durability, as well as sustainable manufacturing practices.

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

How Much Does Composite Siding Cost

Composite siding usually costs $2.50-$7.50 per square foot. For the average American two-story house the total cost can be anywhere from $7,500-$22,500.

Siding Material	Cost Per Square Foot
Composite Wood	$2.5-$7.5

What Is Composite Wood Siding?

As the name suggests, composite wood siding is manufactured from wood shavings, sawdust, and other types of scrap wood. Producers compress the substances and bond them with resins.

Most commercially available solutions come in appealing finishes that mimic genuine wood pieces. However, composite wood is far more durable.

Types Of Composite Wood Siding

There are three main types of composite siding:

Lap Siding

Lap siding is the most popular composite siding for houses.

Lap siding boasts a traditional look to complement classic abodes, but it can also suit contemporary homes. This is because it can be manufactured in numerous profiles and colors, allowing you to customize the result.

Due to such versatility, lap siding is a perfect option for nearly any project.

Whether you need a bevel or Dutch profile, smooth or wood grain finish, lap siding will work great. It highlights your home’s character nicely and adds value to the dwelling.

Vertical Siding

If you need an alternative way to add a unique flair to your place, vertical composite siding might be your best option.

You can use vertical composite siding throughout your home on its own or mix it with stone, vinyl, brick, or other materials to create stunning accents. This takes the exterior of your abode to a whole new level.

Cedar Composite Siding

Cedar is a highly coveted material on the siding market, but it can be fragile.

Homeowners can solve this problem by installing cedar composite siding.

This product blends top-quality craftmanship and beauty to deliver a fantastic look.

Adding cedar composite siding to your gables makes heads turn and adds more depth to your house.

Composite Wood Siding Brands

You can purchase composite wood siding from numerous manufacturers:

• Truwood
• LP SmartSide
• KWP
• Fiberon
• Alside
• Wolf Home Products
• James Hardie
• Quality Edge

Trending Siding Colors

Finding composite siding that matches the rest of your property is straightforward. You can choose from countless options:

• Almond
• Khaki
• Coffee
• Maize
• Olive
• Sierra
• Cedar
• Granite
• Walnut
• Commercial brown
• Yellowstone rustic
• Cactus
• Pearl gray

Sustainability

Composite siding is pretty sustainable.

Conventional products are primarily made of wood. For instance, medium-density boards are usually constructed from 96% timber and 4% resins.

The wood content usually comes from wood waste or solid logs (virgin wood). The former is also known as wood chips or leftovers produced after processing timber for other purposes.

Some panels can also contain wood reclaimed or recycled from other lumber products.

Utilizing recycled wood and wood waste is eco-friendlier than many other manufacturing practices since it doesn’t increase deforestation.

Therefore, composite siding and other waste-based solutions have a more sustainable production process than steam-pressed scrim lumber or plywood.

Did you know? Plywood is the most popular type of engineered wood.

When cutting logs, the kind of timber also plays a big factor in determining the sustainability of the product.

Softwood trees grow fast, meaning they regenerate rapidly and replenish the supply of wood that can be used for other purposes.

By contrast, hardwood trees take much more time to regrow.

That’s why softwood composite panels are recommended if you want to help protect the environment.

Besides the speed of growth, the sustainability of composite wood also depends on the trees’ lifespan and population.

For instance, aspen can be better for the environment than redwood despite being hardwood. It’s a short-lived tree you can find on practically any street.

In contrast, redwood logs are typically cut from a century-old tree that is home to many useful insects and other animals. This can dramatically hurt the forest biome.

Composite Wood Siding Warranty

Composite siding manufacturers generally warrant their products for 25-50 years, depending on the quality of their offerings. Some even guarantee their siding with a lifetime warranty that it will be free from defects for as long as you’re the owner.

The manufacturers also stand behind the composite siding’s resistance to hail damage or other elements, allowing you to replace any broken boards for free. This is rarely covered under standard homeowner’s insurance policies.

In addition to product warranties, you can obtain a policy that guarantees high-quality installation for your composite siding.

For instance, the contractor you hire can offer their workmanship warranty. It assures you that the siding will be mounted according to the manufacturer’s specifications and instructions.

Working with a technician who provides this policy is essential, as it gives you peace of mind in case of workmanship flaws.

Companies are mandated to warrant their services in some areas.

Composite Siding Efficiency

There are several reasons you should consider installing composite siding.

Apart from elevating the elegance of your property and making it more robust, composite siding can also help make your place energy efficient.

These benefits depend on the design and materials, but most composite wood boards are highly energy efficient.

Composite siding is usually just as good as their genuine wood counterparts, but they’re more resistant to various forms of damage.

Consequently, composite siding is a smart long-term investment from a money-saving standpoint.

Composition of Composite Siding

Composite wood siding includes several materials fused with resins. This delivers a robust body that can withstand all sorts of threats.

Some manufacturers take the construction one step further with advanced features:

Enhanced core

Composite wood cores feature sturdy recycled materials with softwood and hardwood fibers. This makes the product impressively durable.

Furthermore, they’re environmentally friendly because you can recycle them.

Co-extruded Caps

Caps shield composite wood boards from all sides. These impenetrable layers can endure cupping, mold, mildew, swelling, scratching, fading, and staining.

To create this component, producers use extremely high temperatures to fuse cores and enhance their shielding capabilities simultaneously. As a result, no harmful chemicals or adhesives are distributed in the air.

Did you know? Some manufacturers use hollow boards to make them more affordable and easier to install.

Since composite wood siding is so well-made, you can gain a lot from this material. Primarily, it provides nearly unparalleled resistance.

The unique shield formations allow composite siding to retain vibrant colors longer than natural wood siding or standard decking materials.

Composite siding delivers extraordinary protection from UV rays.

The same goes for splitting resistance. You get a nearly indestructible cap that keeps composite siding from breaking, increasing its longevity.

Next, there’s no need to panic if a liquid like oil or gasoline is spilled on most composite wood sidings. They will not stain due to their top-rated construction. The composite siding surface doesn’t absorb liquids, enabling you to remove the mess easily.

Composite siding material also inhibits the formation of mildew and mold. Standard wood boards are notorious for developing these substances, but composite wood is less susceptible.

Finally, the composite siding build quality addresses possibly the biggest threat to wood siding – pests.

Termites, carpenter bees, and carpenter ants burrow into natural products, wreaking havoc on the structure. This isn’t an issue with composite siding. Insects are less likely to destroy the surface because the extruded caps are incredibly durable.

Composite Siding Maintenance

Composite siding upkeep is pretty simple, but homeowners need to perform certain tasks regularly.

Primarily, the composite siding boards should be repainted, re-stained, revarnished, or resealed from time to time to maintain the material’s water resistance.

In general, any wood siding (including genuine and composite wood) needs to be refinished every five years or so to retain its protective properties.

You may need to refinish your composite siding more often if it’s directly exposed to the sun. The UV rays compromise paint, varnishes, and other types of finish more rapidly.

Composite Siding Installation

Installing composite wood siding can be time-consuming. The material is thick and normally requires:

• Joint molding – This element covers the joints between panels.
• Nail fin – The nail fin eliminates face nailing on trims and corners.
• Transition molding – This part is used to ensure a smooth floor-level transition.
• Reversible joint spacers – These spacers spread out two planks evenly.
• Drip caps – Installed over doors and windows, drip caps enable water to flow safely away from the house.
• Thermoplastic caulking – This finishes the connection between panels.
• Inside corner posts – The post is placed where inside walls meet.
• Outside corner post – Similarly, this unit is mounted at the outer corners of two walls.
• J molding – J molding is attached around windows and doors to seal the siding.
• Anti-rodent trim – It prevents the intrusion of vermin and rodents. You can find vinyl and aluminum trims.
• Flashing – This component is placed under panels between your joint spaces.

Composite Siding Cleaning And Maintenance Tips

Like any other siding, composite wood siding should be cleaned periodically to maintain its charm and remove debris. Otherwise, you will be unable to paint and refinish the surface to prevent mold and mildew from forming.

Cleaning composite siding should be quite simple. You need only use a high-pressure nozzle connected to your garden hose and simple cleaning products.

Take the following steps to scour the surface:

• Connect your hose to a high-pressure nozzle.
• Spray your composite siding with the nozzle to remove any debris or dust.
• Mix some bleach and water in a spray bottle.
• Apply the solution to any area with mold damage.
• Let the combination be absorbed into the area of for 20-30 minutes.
• Rinse the mixture with the nozzle.
• Wash other parts of your composite siding with mild detergent and water.
• Scrub gently to avoid discoloration.
• Rinse the detergent with plenty of water and let the surface air dry. Try to do this when it’s sunny to speed up the drying process.
• Once it’s over, you can refinish your siding with an appropriate varnish, stain, or sealant.

Composite Siding Repair

Many elements can damage your composite siding. The most common is hail, but there can be others, including floods, ice, and wind. Even rogue baseballs or bicycles can cause extensive harm to the surface if they accidentally strike it.

Did you know? Clogged gutters can also damage siding, as they allow water to overflow to the side of the house. Clean them to avoid this problem.

Regardless of how your composite siding suffers damage, you need to address the problem immediately to avoid further harm to the rest of your house.

The bad news is that you can’t simply sand and repaint the composite siding surface.

Once the laminate sections are compromised, the boards are beyond repair. Simply painting over damaged areas doesn’t do anything – it allows water to seep in seamlessly.

You could do more harm than good to your house by concealing the damage, so don’t take a gamble.

Take these steps to fix your composite wood siding:

• Remove broken boards with a pry bar.
• Measure the new units to ensure you have the right length and width.
• Sand the outside of the new panels.
• Secure the boards with a hammer and nails.

What Is The Best Composite Siding ?

You can find a large number of composite siding manufacturers, but not all of them offer high-quality products. You want to stick to the most reliable producers:

• James Hardie
• LP SmartSide
• Quality Edge

Engineered Wood Siding vs Composite Siding

Many people think composite wood siding and engineered wood siding are the same. The reality is slightly different.

Engineered wood is actually a subtype of composite siding.

Engineered wood is usually manufactured from wood with minimal tannins and extractives that can bleed through and stain. This helps improve the looks of the final product.

The most significant difference between the two is the composition.

Composite siding products consist of cellulose fibers bonded with resins or other materials.

Meanwhile, engineered wood features processed wood strands with resin binders for extra strength.

Is Composite Siding Better Than Vinyl?

There are various alternatives to composite wood siding, such as vinyl.

Vinyl is the cheapest siding material with tons of styles and excellent protective features.

Nonetheless, composite siding is superior. It has a longer lifespan and rarely gets damaged.

Plus, composite siding can be just as appealing as vinyl products due to its wide array of available colors.

What Is Another Name For Composite Siding?

Composite siding is also known as weatherboard and fiberboard.

Is Composite Wood Siding Good?

Composite siding is an excellent choice for homeowners who want to combine fantastic looks and extraordinary protection from bad weather.

Plus, installing the material makes sense if you’re environmentally conscious.

Create A Stunning Look

If you’re looking for high-quality siding that doesn’t cost a fortune, you’re good to go with composite siding.

Composite siding offers a phenomenal blend of elegance, strength, efficiency, and sustainability.

Composite siding is also less expensive than brick and other high-end materials, allowing you to revamp your place on a budget.