Free Siding Estimate Template
A complete, line-item siding estimate you can preview below — tear-off and disposal, water-resistive barrier, flashing and trim, fiber-cement lap siding, caulk and paint, plus labor — with a plain-language guide to the drainage plane, flashing details and fastening the IRC requires.
| Line item | Qty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tear-off existing siding & disposal | 2,150 sf | $2,365.00 |
| Sheathing repair allowance | 8 sheets | $560.00 |
| Water-resistive barrier & seam tape | 2,150 sf | $860.00 |
| Flashing — window, door, kick-out | 1 lot | $740.00 |
| Fiber-cement lap siding (incl. waste) | 2,365 sf | $4,730.00 |
| Corner boards, trim & soffit detail | 480 lf | $1,920.00 |
| Caulk, fasteners & touch-up paint | 1 lot | $690.00 |
| Installation labor | 2,150 sf | $6,450.00 |
| Total | $18,315.00 | |
Payment schedule
How to measure and price siding work
- Measure wall area by elevation (width x height) and subtract only large openings; gables are 1/2 base x height.
- Add 10% waste on lap siding and 15% on shake or board-and-batten patterns.
- Always carry a sheathing-repair allowance per sheet — you never know what's behind the old siding.
Siding building-code guide
Siding is a rain screen, not a seal. Inspectors look at the water-resistive barrier behind it, the flashing at every opening and penetration, and the fastening schedule.
- A WRB equivalent to one layer of No. 15 asphalt felt is required over all exterior sheathing
- Install shingle-style from the bottom up, with horizontal laps of at least 2" and vertical laps of 6"
- Fiber-cement and most manufactured claddings require a drainage gap or drainable WRB in wet climates — check the instructions
- Flashing required at: tops of windows and doors, at wall/roof intersections, at decks and balconies, and at every penetration
- Kick-out flashing where a roof edge meets a wall is mandatory — its absence is the most common cause of hidden wall rot
- Integrate flashing with the WRB in the correct order (sill pan first, then jambs, then head flashing over the WRB fold)
- Maintain 6" clearance to grade and 2" to hard surfaces such as walks, decks and roofs
- Fasten into studs at the manufacturer's spacing; blind-nail lap siding at the correct overlap (typically 1-1/4in)
- Corrosion-resistant fasteners only — electro-galvanized nails will bleed through the finish
- Butt joints in fiber-cement need joint flashing behind them; caulking a butt joint alone is not an approved detail
- Do not caulk the bottom lap of siding or the weep path at trim — the wall has to drain
- Leave the manufacturer's gap at trim and openings and seal with a flexible, paintable sealant rated for the substrate
Code quick reference — Siding
| Item | Requirement | Code reference |
|---|---|---|
| Water-resistive barrier | Continuous, lapped shingle-style over sheathing | IRC R703.2 |
| Flashing | At openings, horizontal joints, and wall/roof intersections | IRC R703.4 |
| Clearance to grade | Follow manufacturer, typically 6in to soil, 1-2in to hardscape | Manufacturer |
| Fasteners | Corrosion-resistant, penetrate framing per table | IRC Table R703.3(1) |
| Weep screed / kickout | Kickout flashing where roof meets wall | IRC R903.2.1 |
Drawings & details
Simplified section and plan views of the details inspectors look at most. Illustrative only — not to scale.
Adjust the values — the drawing below updates in real time.
- 1 · Siding — clearance to grade / roof(0.50")
- 2 · Rainscreen or furring — optional but recommended(0.50")
- 3 · WRB / housewrap — laps over flashing(0.06")
- 4 · Sheathing + framing — Layer in the assembly, drawn top to bottom(0.50")
- Siding: 0.50"
- Rainscreen or furring: 0.50"
- WRB / housewrap: 0.06"
- Sheathing + framing: 0.50"
- Total assembly: 1.56" (1 9/16")
Adjust the values — the drawing below updates in real time.
- 1 · Member thickness — Nail into studs · min lap per manufacturer(1.50")
- 2 · On-center spacing — 16in OC studs(16.00" OC)
- 3 · Member length — Plate to plate(8' 0")
- 4 · Overall run — Total covered by this layout(8' 1 8/16")
- On-center spacing: 16.00" · 7 members
- Overall run: 8' 1 8/16" · Member length: 8' 0"
- Nail into studs · min lap per manufacturer
Inspection-day checklistShow
- WRB laps and taped seams photographed before siding covers them.
- Kickout flashing at every roof-to-wall termination.
- Fasteners hitting studs, not just sheathing.
- Expansion gaps at trim and butt joints per manufacturer.
- Penetrations (lights, hose bibbs, vents) flashed and sealed.
Code references are based on the 2021 IRC and related model codes. Local amendments, state codes and manufacturer instructions can be stricter — always confirm with your local building department before starting work.
Common siding estimating mistakes
- No allowance for rotten sheathing or missing flashing, which turns into an awkward mid-job change order.
- Forgetting trim wrap, corners and soffit details — usually 15–20% of the material cost.
- Quoting scaffolding and two-story access as if it were single-story labor.
Export a branded, client-ready PDF or send a sign-from-phone link.
Your client reviews and signs the estimate from any device.
IRC R703 guidance for the water-resistive barrier, kick-out and window flashing, clearances and fastening.
Siding estimate FAQ
What should a siding estimate include?
A siding estimate should list tear-off and disposal, a sheathing repair allowance, the water-resistive barrier, flashing, siding material with waste, corners and trim, caulk and fasteners, and installation labor.
How do you measure siding square footage?
Measure each elevation's width times height, treat gables as half the base times the height, and subtract only large openings such as garage doors and picture windows. Add 10–15% for waste.
What code governs siding installation?
IRC R703 covers exterior wall coverings: R703.2 requires a water-resistive barrier, R703.4 requires flashing at openings and roof-wall intersections, and R703.3 sets clearances to grade and fastening requirements.
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