Outfitting your home with new siding is an exciting endeavour! It can give your home a whole new look, and with so many styles, colours and materials to choose from, you can create the aesthetic you’ve always dreamed of. Siding protects your home from the elements, provides insulation and comfort, and adds to the curb appeal of your home. Gentek carries an array of siding options that are low-maintenance, long-lasting and extremely durable! The siding you choose will depend on the area you live in and your home style, but when it comes to calculating how much siding you need for your home, there are some steadfast rules.
Prep: To calculate how much siding you’ll need for your house, you’ll have to take measurements of your home, and you’ll need the right prep materials. Make sure to have a pencil, paper, measuring tape and ladder.
Step 1: Draw out a rough sketch of your house. This allows you to track your measurements as you go.
Step 2: Measure the height of your house (from ground to top) and length of your house (from side to side) in feet. Write the dimensions on your sketch. Start with one side of the house first, then move on to the others.
Step 3: Measure each rectangular wall of your house, one at a time. Do not deduct for windows and doors, unless it’s a wall with a large opening such as a garage door. The excess will provide an allowance factor for waste.
Step 4: Measure all gable walls (the triangular portion of a wall). Include base length and height (the distance from base to peak).
Step 5: Find the area of the rectangular walls. Length x Width = Area of the wall.
Step 6: Find the area of the gable(s). Length x Width divided by 2 = Area of the gable.
Step 7: Add the gable and rectangular wall areas to find the total area of the walls.
Step 8: Add 10% to make up for wasted siding. It’s better to have more siding than not enough!
Step 9: Take measurements for starter strip (measure the entire base of your house), the trim (the distance around all windows and doors), and j-channel (measure the top of each window and door).
Step 10: Measure the height of inward and outward corners, and don’t forget design features such as bumped out windows.
Step 11: Calculate the pricing for your project. The price of your siding will depend on material, style, thickness, colour and whether it’s insulated. You’ll also need to consider other factors in your siding project such as soffit and fascia, tools, cost of removing your current siding, and cost of installation. Contact your local Gentek retailer for pricing!
If you’re undertaking a siding project for your home, do these calculations so you know how much siding you really need!