Siding Lifespan and ROI Comparison Calculator
Compare different siding materials by total cost of ownership, lifespan, and return on investment over your chosen time horizon.
Formulas Used
Initial Installation Cost:
Cost = (Material Cost/sqft + Labor Cost/sqft × Labor Multiplier) × Wall Area (sqft)
Labor Multiplier = 1.0 (professional) or 0.60 (DIY)
Number of Replacements:
Replacements = ⌊ Analysis Years ÷ Material Lifespan ⌋
PV of Replacement Costs (real terms, constant cost):
PV_replacements = Replacements × Initial Installation Cost
PV of Annual Maintenance (annuity formula):
PV_maintenance = C × [1 − (1 + r)^(−n)] ÷ r (r > 0)
PV_maintenance = C × n (r = 0)
where C = Annual Maintenance Cost/sqft × sqft, r = discount rate, n = years
Total PV Cost of Ownership:
Total PV = Initial Cost + PV Replacements + PV Maintenance
Resale Value Added:
Resale Value = Initial Installation Cost × ROI% (material-specific recoup rate)
Net Cost:
Net Cost = Total PV Cost − Resale Value Added
Salvage Value (pro-rated remaining lifespan):
Remaining Life = Lifespan − (Analysis Years − Last Replacement Year)
Salvage = (Remaining Life ÷ Lifespan) × Initial Installation Cost
Assumptions & References
- Material costs and lifespans sourced from Remodeling Magazine Cost vs. Value Report 2023, HomeAdvisor, and the National Association of Realtors.
- Vinyl siding: $1.50–$3.50/sqft installed, 20–40 year lifespan, ~68.9% ROI at resale.
- Fiber cement (HardiePlank): $6–$12/sqft installed, 50-year lifespan, ~76.9% ROI — consistently top-ranked for resale value.
- Wood siding: $3–$6/sqft installed, 15–25 year lifespan; higher maintenance due to painting, sealing, and rot prevention every 3–7 years.
- Brick veneer: $15–$30/sqft installed, 100+ year lifespan, ~83% ROI; highest upfront cost but lowest lifecycle cost.
- DIY labor savings estimated at 40% of total installed cost (labor typically 40–50% of project).
- Annual maintenance costs: vinyl 0.5–1%, fiber cement 1%, wood 3–5%, brick 0.25–0.5% of installed cost per sqft.
- Discount rate represents the opportunity cost of capital or expected inflation (default 3% = long-run US CPI average).
- Resale ROI percentages represent the fraction of project cost recouped at point of sale, not annualized return.
- Wall area (sqft) should reflect total exterior siding surface, not conditioned floor area — typically 1.2–1.5× the home's footprint perimeter × wall height.
- Results are estimates; actual costs vary by region, contractor, and site conditions. Obtain 3+ contractor quotes before deciding.