Siding Calculator software update: Siding prices udjusted for house/roof type, roof pitch and number of floors.

Today we’ve added some major changes to the siding calculator algorithm which make it calculate siding materials and installation price much more accurately. New major algorithmic changes include addition of two new settings which will better define the type of your house and will help calculate siding materials more accurately:

Added House / Roof type settings for Gable, Hip, Multi Gable and Raised ranch types of homes

Before adding this function the siding calculator assumed that your house is just a box. Now it can account for the triangular sections of the wall, which are different depending on your roof type. Now it can make a difference between Hip, Gable, Multi-gable and Raised ranch types of roof and correctly calculate additional siding materials needed to be installed an these triangular walls sections, or not at all in case of a Hip roof, where the roof line is straight and the home is in fact a box.


Added roof pitch calculation to account different roof slopes

With the addition of house/roof types, it became important to also use the correct roof pitch can make a big difference in total siding cost calculation. Also even if your home is not that big, you still want to calculate siding prices as accurately as possible. We added a roof pitch selection with Flat, Low-slope, Medium-slope and High-slope options. These correspond to roof pitch of 0, 4, 8 and 12 respectively. Unlike calculating a roof size, in a siding calculator roof pitch will not make that huge of a difference when you go from 4 to 6 in 12 roof pitch. That is why we included only 4 options for the roof pitch.

Other changes to siding calculator algorithm

New siding calculator now assumes that you have 8-foot ceilings in your home, an thus each floor of your home is about 9 feet high. Before, siding calculations were based on 10 foot floors. Now a 4 story house will have a height of 36 feet instead of 40 feet previously, which can add significant error to overall siding prices calculation.

Also the siding calculator can now account for the odd shaped Raised Ranch homes, by adding 54 sq. ft. to the total siding area (a 3×9 feet bump-out on each side of the house). Roof slope is also calculated by adding 3 feet to the gable side (width). It is important that if you calculate siding materials for the raised ranch home, you measure the house at the bottom – just above the foundation, and do not add the front bump-out – the calculator will do it automatically.


Future features to be added to the calculator:

Functionality: Right now the siding calculator is nearly complete – the only few things we plan to add improve are the option to select ceiling height of your home, which can make a big difference in overall siding materials and prices calculation. Another major update we plan to include is the Soffit / Fascia installation which is common on most siding jobs – typically siding contractors will install perforated vinyl soffits and aluminum wrapping on all fascia boards / rakes, etc. The calculator already includes windows and door wraps with aluminum copping.

Under the hood: – right now the calculator does not account for siding materials waste on gables, and additional labor involved in installing the siding on an angled plane – we plan to add waste factor to gable roof types, to make siding prices calculation more in line with what siding contractors would charge. Second, we plan to add progressive siding prices algorithm for small jobs such as sheds, etc. Although most of the time, siding will be installed on entire house some jobs are small, while setup costs are the same, so we need to account for higher per sq. ft. pricing.

Siding Calculator for your company website

We plan to make the siding calculator available for construction companies and siding contractors who want to install it on their websites, so your customers can calculate the cost of a siding project online. This feature will be implemented within few days of this article. The siding calculator for website will be free of charge and will include reference to SidingCalculator.org – optionally we can make a custom version for you, to match your site design, colors, and the siding materials that you install / siding prices that you charge – second option will come at a small annual fee.


Siding Materials Vinyl Siding Fiber Cement

Is Vinyl Siding Right For Your Home?

You have probably heard a lot about vinyl siding and how it can help your home. According to many people, it is easier to install than other materials, fairly durable, and comes in a wide range of colors. However, you probably have heard very little about the different kinds of siding, such as fiber cement and cedar, and what the pros and cons are.

Vinyl is a popular choice amongst many homeowners because it can be a do it yourself project if you want it to be. Also, this type of material does not require too much maintenance over time, which is ideal for busy people. It should be washed annually though. It tends to be cheaper than wood and fiber cement siding.


For many people, vinyl is easy to find in hardware stores and allows them to add their own unique touch to the exterior of their homes. This is because siding comes in tons of different colors and styles, some of which mimic the look of wood and other materials. Also, any good hardware store should have a special toolkit to help you get the job done.

Over time, the vinyl can tear and become worn. It may not be suitable for areas where there is harsh weather, such as frequent storms, as it may tear or puncture the vinyl more easily than other materials. Also, high winds can cause the panels to become undone.

If you consider yourself to be an environmentally friendly person, vinyl is probably not for you. This is because when vinyl burns, it releases toxic chemicals which are hazardous to the environment and to our health. Additionally, disposing of it is also hazardous to the environment.

Fiber cement siding is more expensive than vinyl, but cheaper than wood. It can be made to resemble any number of different materials, like stucco or wood. Additionally, this material is more durable than wood and fire resistant.


Many people choose fiber cement for their homes because of the added safety. Also, it is quite affordable when compared to the cost of wood and generally requires less maintenance. This type of siding can also be found under the names cement fiber siding and concrete siding.

Wood clapboard siding is known for giving homes a classic look and being very beautiful. However, this look does come at a cost because this type of siding is both expensive and high maintenance. However, the prices do range greatly amongst the different types of available woods.

Wood clapboard comes in tons of different finishes that can appeal to almost anyone. You can also paint it any color you desire. However, you will need to paint it regularly and apply a good finish to it in order to ensure it is always looking its best. Staining, rather than painting, the wood may help decrease the amount of regular maintenance that must be performed.

Choosing the right siding for your home is not an easy task. To help you narrow down the material choices, consult a professional siding installer / contractor, and they will help you figure out what appeals to your tastes, how much you can spend, and what will best stand up to the weather conditions of your home town.