Exterior Siding Repair Pricing: Carpenter Cost Guide
Exterior siding repair costs $5-$15 per sq ft for wood clapboard repair, $8-$20 per sq ft for cedar shingle replacement, $6-$12 per sq ft for fiber cement repair, and $3-$8 per sq ft for vinyl siding repair. Most repair projects run $500-$3,000. Full siding replacement costs $6-$15 per sq ft installed for the entire house.
Exterior siding repair is a steady revenue stream for carpenters, with demand driven by weather damage, rot, woodpecker holes, impact damage, and general aging. This work combines carpentry skills with weatherproofing knowledge and offers good margins because repairs are typically urgent — homeowners want water infiltration stopped immediately. This guide covers pricing for every type of siding repair.
Wood Clapboard Siding Repair
Wood clapboard (lap siding) repair is the most common siding work for carpenters. Replacing individual clapboards costs $5-$15 per sq ft or $8-$20 per board (6-8 inch wide, 8-16 feet long). The process: score the paint line above and below the damaged board, carefully pry out nails, remove the damaged section, check the sheathing and housewrap underneath for damage, cut and fit the replacement board, install with stainless steel ring-shank siding nails, caulk the joints, and prime and paint. Material for replacement clapboards: cedar at $2-$5 per lnft, primed pine at $1.50-$3.50, and engineered wood (LP SmartSide) at $1.50-$3.00. A typical repair replacing 5-10 boards takes 3-6 hours. Charge $500-$1,200 for a small repair area. For patches where the original siding profile is no longer available, you may need to custom-mill matching boards using a router or shaper — charge $4-$8 per linear foot for custom milling in addition to installation.
Cedar Shingle and Shake Siding Repair
Cedar shingle siding repair costs $8-$20 per sq ft. Individual shingle replacement involves splitting and removing the damaged shingle, cutting nails with a shingle ripper or hacksaw blade, sliding in a new shingle, and face-nailing near the top edge (covered by the shingle above). Cedar shingles cost $4-$8 per sq ft for material — buy a bundle or two rather than individual shingles. A bundle (approximately 25 sq ft of coverage at standard exposure) costs $80-$150 for #1 grade blue label cedar. Labor for individual shingle replacement runs $15-$30 per shingle, taking 10-20 minutes each. For larger areas, replace entire courses at $10-$18 per sq ft including material and labor. Cedar shingle siding weathers to a silver-gray color — new shingles will not match the existing color for 1-2 years. Inform clients of this during the consultation. Bleaching oil can accelerate the weathering process. For stained cedar siding, match the stain color and apply to new shingles before installation.
Fiber Cement Siding Repair
Fiber cement siding (HardiePlank, HardiShingle) repair costs $6-$12 per sq ft. Fiber cement is durable but can crack from impact, freeze-thaw cycles, or improper installation. Replacing a damaged plank involves removing the damaged piece (carefully — fiber cement is brittle), checking the underlayment, installing the replacement plank, caulking, priming exposed edges, and painting. HardiePlank costs $1-$3 per sq ft for material. The challenge is color matching — the original paint may have faded, and new paint will not match exactly. Offer a color-match service: take a chip of existing paint to a paint store for computer matching ($15-$30 for a custom quart). Apply two coats to the new plank and feather into adjacent planks for a seamless look. Labor for fiber cement repair requires carbide-tipped saw blades and produces silica dust — use a dust-collecting circular saw and an N95 respirator (OSHA requirement). A typical repair of 3-5 planks takes 3-5 hours at $400-$900 including materials and paint.
Siding Rot and Water Damage Repair
Rot behind siding indicates a deeper problem that must be addressed. When you discover rot during a siding repair, probe the sheathing, framing, and housewrap with an awl. OSB sheathing that has delaminated must be cut out and replaced with new OSB or plywood at $2-$4 per sq ft. Rotted wall framing (studs, headers, sills) adds $200-$800 per affected area depending on extent. Missing or damaged housewrap must be repaired or replaced — new housewrap overlapped properly costs $0.50-$1.00 per sq ft. Flashing corrections at windows, doors, and roof-to-wall intersections add $100-$300 per location. The total cost of a siding repair that reveals underlying damage can escalate quickly from $500 to $2,000-$5,000. Always inform the client as soon as you discover additional damage, provide a written change order with the additional cost, and get approval before proceeding. Document everything with photos for both your records and any potential insurance claims. Siding rot repairs often qualify for homeowner insurance coverage if caused by a covered event like storm damage.
Painting and Finishing Repaired Siding
Every siding repair requires painting to match the existing finish and seal the new material. Spot priming and painting repaired areas costs $2-$5 per sq ft. For wood siding, apply oil-based primer to bare wood, then two coats of acrylic latex exterior paint. For fiber cement, apply compatible primer and two coats. Color matching is the biggest challenge — existing siding has faded, and even a perfect color match from the paint store may look slightly different. Strategies for minimizing the mismatch: paint from corner to corner rather than just the repaired boards, feather the new paint into the existing paint using overlapping brush strokes, and use the same sheen (flat or satin) as the original. For larger repair areas, consider repainting the entire wall face for a uniform appearance and price this as an option. Many carpenters subcontract painting at $2-$4 per sq ft and mark up 15-20%. If you paint yourself, budget $30-$60 per gallon for premium exterior paint and $3-$5 per linear foot of caulk at joints.
How to Quote Siding Repair Projects
Siding repairs require a thorough inspection before quoting. Walk the entire exterior and note every area of damage — clients often point out one area but miss others. Check for: cracked, split, or missing boards, peeling paint exposing bare wood, soft spots indicating rot (probe with an awl), gaps at trim joints and transitions, damaged or missing flashing at windows and doors, and staining below windows or trim indicating water intrusion. Present your findings with photos and descriptions. Quote each repair area individually so the client can prioritize if budget is limited. Include a contingency clause for hidden damage: "Areas of concealed damage discovered during repair will be documented and priced at time-and-material rates of $X per hour plus material cost." For insurance-related repairs, provide a detailed scope and cost breakdown that the homeowner can submit to their insurance company. Many carpenters find that siding repair inspections lead to larger projects — a small repair visit often reveals enough additional work to generate a $3,000-$5,000 proposal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Siding repair costs vary by material: wood clapboard at $5-$15/sq ft, cedar shingle at $8-$20/sq ft, fiber cement at $6-$12/sq ft, and vinyl at $3-$8/sq ft. Most repair projects run $500-$3,000. Costs increase significantly if underlying sheathing or framing is also damaged. Always probe behind damaged siding to assess the full scope of repair needed.
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