Siding replacement cost is one of the first questions we get when a homeowner spots peeling paint, soft spots, or water stains on their exterior walls. The honest answer for Seattle in 2026: most full re-sides land between $12,000 and $48,000, depending mostly on one decision — vinyl or fiber cement (Hardie). That’s a wide range, so let’s break down where your project would actually fall.
We’re BB-Builders Pro, a licensed general contractor working across Seattle, King County, and Snohomish County. Here’s what we’re seeing on real siding projects this year. All numbers below are estimates — every house is different, and the only real number is a written bid.
Seattle Siding Replacement Cost at a Glance
| Siding type | Installed cost per sq ft (est.) | Typical Seattle total (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | $6 – $13 | $8,500 – $19,000 |
| Fiber cement (HardiePlank) | $13 – $21 | $30,000 – $48,000 |
| Hardie Artisan (premium profile) | $18 – $28 | $45,000 – $68,000 |
Two notes on reading this table. First, “square foot” here means wall area, not floor area — a typical 2,000 sq ft two-story home has roughly 1,800–2,400 sq ft of siding. Second, these are full-scope numbers: tear-off, disposal, house wrap, flashing, trim, and cleanup. A quote that looks cheaper than this range is usually leaving something out.
Hardie vs Vinyl: The Real Comparison
Vinyl is the budget option, and there’s nothing wrong with that. At roughly $6–$13 per square foot installed in the Seattle area (2026 estimates), it’s about half the cost of fiber cement. It never needs paint, and modern insulated vinyl looks better than what was going up in the 90s. The trade-off: it’s plastic. It fades, it can crack in a cold snap or melt near a grill, and it typically needs full replacement in 20–25 years.
Fiber cement — HardiePlank around here — runs about $13–$21 per square foot installed in Seattle (2026 estimates). It’s the dominant siding in our market, and for good reason: it doesn’t rot, bugs don’t eat it, it’s fire-resistant, and it holds paint for 15+ years. James Hardie makes a specific product line for our climate (HZ10) engineered for constant moisture. Realistic lifespan is 30–50 years.
Quick math on the premium: a Hardie re-side might cost $15,000–$25,000 more than vinyl on the same house. Spread over the extra decades of life and fewer repaints, the gap narrows a lot — and around Seattle, Hardie is what buyers expect to see on a well-kept home.
What Drives Siding Replacement Cost in Seattle
A few things move your number inside those ranges:
Stories and access. A two-story with steep grades or tight lot lines means more staging and scaffold time. That’s labor, and Seattle labor rates are above the national average.
Tear-off surprises. More on this below — what’s behind the old siding matters more than the siding itself.
Trim and details. Corners, fascia, soffits, belly bands, window trim. Craftsman-era homes in Seattle have a lot of trim, and trim is slow, careful work.
Rainscreen and house wrap. A proper Seattle re-side includes a weather-resistive barrier and, on better jobs, a ventilated rainscreen gap that lets the wall dry. It adds cost up front and saves the wall long-term.
Paint choice. Hardie comes factory-finished (ColorPlus) or primed for field painting. Factory finish costs more per board but carries a 15-year finish warranty. If you field-paint, see our guide on house painting costs in Seattle.
The Hidden Cost Nobody Puts in the Ad: Rot Repair
This is the Seattle-specific part. Our climate keeps walls damp for months at a time, and a lot of local homes — especially those with 80s–90s composite siding — have hidden rot in the sheathing, studs, or around window openings. You can’t see it until tear-off.
On most projects the fix is minor: a few hundred to a few thousand dollars of sheathing and flashing repair (estimates). On a house that’s been leaking for years, it can run further. A good contractor will give you unit pricing for rot repair in the bid — per sheet of sheathing, per stud — so there’s no mystery invoice later. That’s how we write ours.
Do You Need a Permit to Replace Siding in Seattle?
Usually not. Like-for-like siding replacement is generally treated as ordinary repair and is exempt from a building permit in Seattle. You move into permit territory when the project does more than swap cladding — for example, adding exterior insulation (which triggers state energy-code review) or replacing structural sheathing and framing over a large area. When a permit is required, plan on roughly $300–$900 in SDCI fees (estimate) depending on scope. Your contractor should handle this, not you.
Which Siding Makes Sense for Our Climate?
If the budget allows, fiber cement is the right answer for western Washington. Rain is our default weather, and Hardie’s HZ10 line exists specifically for this. Vinyl still makes sense on rentals, flips, and tight budgets — it’s honest, cheap protection.
One more local note: if your home still has original cedar, don’t assume it has to go. Sound cedar can often be repaired and repainted for far less than a re-side. We’ll tell you straight which camp your house is in — our siding services page covers repair as well as full replacement.
FAQ
How much does it cost to re-side a 2,000 sq ft house in Seattle?
As a 2026 estimate: roughly $12,000–$19,000 in vinyl, or $30,000–$48,000 in HardiePlank, full scope included. Complexity, trim, and rot repair move the number.
Is Hardie plank worth the extra cost over vinyl?
For most Seattle homeowners staying in their home, yes. It lasts roughly twice as long, holds paint 15+ years, resists rot and fire, and matches what buyers expect in this market. Vinyl wins on upfront price alone.
Do I need a permit to replace my siding in Seattle?
Usually no — like-for-like replacement is treated as repair. Adding exterior insulation or fixing structural framing changes that. When triggered, SDCI fees run roughly $300–$900 (estimate).
How long does siding replacement take?
Most single-family re-sides take one to three weeks on site: tear-off, any rot repair, wrap and flash, siding, trim, caulk, and paint touch-up. Weather can stretch that in winter.
Can you install new siding over the old siding?
Sometimes it’s allowed, but we don’t recommend it here. Covering old siding traps moisture and hides rot — the two things that kill walls in western Washington. Tear-off is part of every bid we write.
Get a Real Number for Your House
Ranges are for reading — your house needs a bid. We’ll walk the exterior, check for soft spots, and give you a written, line-item price for vinyl and Hardie so you can compare honestly.
Call us at 206-851-4233 or request a free estimate. BB-Builders Pro is a licensed general contractor serving Seattle, King County, and Snohomish County.
