Why Are Siding Estimates So Different? | Quad Cities

JR Girskis: Compare the Scope Before You Compare the Price

Brian “JR” Girskis, President and Owner of Suburban Construction, has spent decades working with Quad Cities homeowners and evaluating exterior remodeling projects.

One of the most important lessons from that experience is that homeowners should resist the temptation to compare siding proposals solely by the number at the bottom.

Suburban Construction has served the Quad Cities since 1985. JR joined the company full-time in 2002 and became President in 2007. ([suburbanconstruction.com](https://www.suburbanconstruction.com/about/meet-the-owners?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

1. The Contractors May Be Quoting Completely Different Siding

The phrase “vinyl siding” does not describe one standardized product.

Different contractors may quote different:

• Manufacturers
• Product lines
• Panel profiles
• Thicknesses
• Locking systems
• Nail hems
• Textures
• Colors
• Warranties

A lighter builder-grade vinyl panel should not be compared directly with a heavier premium vinyl panel as if the material were identical.

Ask for the exact manufacturer, product name, profile, and thickness on every proposal.

Explore Suburban Construction Vinyl Siding

2. One Quote May Include Tear-Off and Another May Not

Removing the existing siding requires labor, equipment, disposal, and time.

Installing over existing siding may reduce the initial price, but it also limits how much of the wall underneath can be inspected.

A full tear-off can expose:

• Damaged sheathing
• Rot
• Water staining
• Missing housewrap
• Improper flashing
• Old installation problems

If one contractor includes full removal and another simply covers the existing exterior, those prices should not be compared as equivalent.

3. Wall Preparation Can Create a Big Price Difference

The finished siding is only the visible layer.

A contractor may need to spend considerable time preparing the wall before the first new panel is installed.

Preparation can include:

• Removing old siding
• Correcting loose sheathing
• Repairing damaged areas
• Flattening uneven surfaces
• Preparing window and door transitions
• Correcting existing trim issues

Two estimates can use the same siding product and still represent different installation standards behind the panels.

Review the Suburban Construction Siding Installation Process

4. Housewrap May or May Not Be Included

The water-resistive barrier behind the siding is an important part of the exterior wall system.

One contractor may include new housewrap or repairs to the existing weather barrier.

Another may assume the existing material can remain untouched.

That difference involves additional material and labor, but it also affects how the wall manages water.

Do not spend thousands of dollars comparing siding while ignoring the layer directly behind it.

5. Insulated Siding Costs More Than Standard Siding

One contractor may be quoting conventional vinyl siding while another is quoting insulated vinyl siding with foam backing.

Those are not equivalent products.

Insulated siding can add:

• Continuous exterior insulation
• Additional wall R-value
• Reduced thermal bridging
• Greater panel rigidity
• A flatter finished appearance

Compare Insulated Vinyl Siding

6. Composite Siding Changes the Price Again

Some homeowners compare a vinyl siding proposal against a composite cladding proposal and focus only on the totals.

That is not an apples-to-apples comparison.

Composite products have different construction, appearance, accessories, labor requirements, and material costs.

If you are comparing vinyl, insulated vinyl, steel, and composite siding, understand that you are comparing different exterior systems—not merely different contractor markups.

Explore Composite Siding

7. Trim Details Can Add Thousands of Dollars

Trim is one of the easiest places for siding estimates to diverge.

Ask what each contractor is doing around:

• Windows
• Entry doors
• Garage doors
• Outside corners
• Inside corners
• Faucets
• Electrical outlets
• Light fixtures
• Dryer vents
• Utility penetrations

More elaborate trim, wider corners, custom aluminum work, decorative blocks, and specialty accessories increase both material and labor.

A cheap trim package can make expensive siding look cheap.

8. Soffit and Fascia May Be Included in One Estimate

Soffit and fascia are often discussed during siding replacement because they meet the new exterior at the roofline.

One contractor may include:

• New soffit
• Fascia coverage
• Ventilation improvements
• Trim transitions

Another estimate may leave all existing material untouched.

Again, the prices cannot be fairly compared until you understand what is included.

9. Gutters Can Change the Siding Estimate

If fascia work is involved, gutters may need to come off.

One contractor may include gutter removal and reset.

Another may exclude it.

A third may recommend replacing aging gutters while the exterior is already under construction.

Ask whether the proposal includes:

• Removal
• Storage
• Reset
• New seamless gutters
• New downspouts

10. One Contractor May Be Including Better Accessories

Mounting blocks and siding accessories may look like small details on an estimate, but they add up across an entire house.

Examples include:

• Light blocks
• Faucet blocks
• Electrical blocks
• Dryer vent blocks
• Gable vents
• Starter strips
• J-channel
• Corner posts

A detailed siding estimate should make those choices visible rather than burying everything under the word “accessories.”

11. Labor Standards Are Not the Same Between Contractors

Installation is not a commodity either.

Vinyl siding needs to be installed so it can expand and contract while remaining securely attached to the house.

Important details include:

• Fastener placement
• Fastener spacing
• Panel engagement
• Expansion clearance
• Starter-strip installation
• Window and door transitions
• Trim details

A siding manufacturer can make an excellent panel. The contractor still has to install it correctly.

12. Crew Experience Has a Cost

Experienced siding installers generally cost more than inexperienced labor.

That does not automatically mean the most expensive contractor has the best crew.

But labor pricing should not be evaluated as though all installation skill is interchangeable.

Ask about:

• Installer experience
• Training
• Supervision
• Manufacturer installation requirements
• Who inspects the completed work

13. Warranties Can Be Very Different

Two contractors may install the same siding but offer very different protection after the project.

There are generally two warranty questions:

• What does the manufacturer warranty cover?
• What does the contractor workmanship warranty cover?

Suburban Construction backs every installation with a lifetime workmanship guarantee. The company has served the Quad Cities since 1985, giving homeowners a long local operating history behind that promise. ([suburbanconstruction.com](https://www.suburbanconstruction.com/about/meet-the-owners?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

Do not compare a five-year workmanship warranty and a lifetime workmanship guarantee as though the contractors are offering the same protection.

14. Cleanup and Disposal Cost Money Too

Ask whether the proposal includes:

• Dumpster or disposal
• Old siding removal
• Jobsite cleanup
• Nail and debris pickup
• Final inspection

A lower estimate may simply move some of those costs outside the main proposal.

15. Hidden Damage Allowances Can Change the Final Bill

No contractor can see through the existing siding before removal.

If hidden sheathing or framing damage is discovered, additional work may be required.

Before signing, ask:

• How will hidden damage be documented?
• How is repair work priced?
• Will I approve additional work before it is performed?
• What rates are used for sheathing replacement or carpentry?

A very low initial estimate can become much less attractive if common additional work is priced aggressively afterward.

16. Contractor Overhead Is Different

Every legitimate contractor has operating costs.

Those may include:

• Insurance
• Workers' compensation
• Vehicles
• Warehousing
• Training
• Showroom expenses
• Office staff
• Service staff
• Warranty support

A contractor operating from a permanent location with employees, inventory, customer support, and long-term service may have a different cost structure than someone operating with minimal overhead.

Suburban Construction maintains a permanent Davenport location and showroom at 3602 North Harrison Street and has served the community since 1985. ([suburbanconstruction.com](https://www.suburbanconstruction.com/about/meet-the-owners?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

17. Service After the Sale Is Part of What You Are Buying

Most homeowners focus on installation day.

Think about year ten.

What happens if:

• A panel becomes damaged?
• You need help identifying the original siding?
• A workmanship issue develops?
• You need manufacturer warranty assistance?

The cheapest contractor on signing day is not necessarily the least expensive contractor over the life of the project.

18. Financing Can Make Pricing Harder to Compare

If financing is offered, compare the actual project price—not just the monthly payment.

Review:

• Cash price
• Amount financed
• Interest rate
• Loan term
• Total of payments
• Any financing-related fees

A smaller monthly payment can hide a much larger total project cost.

19. Same-Day Discounts Can Distort the Comparison

If one contractor's price changes dramatically depending on whether you sign before the salesperson leaves, comparing estimates becomes harder.

A siding project may remain on your home for decades.

Take enough time to understand:

• The product
• The installation
• The scope
• The warranty
• The contractor
• The final cost

A good siding project should still be a good siding project tomorrow.

20. Some Estimates Are Simply Missing Things

This is why detailed proposals matter.

A low estimate may become expensive after installation begins if it excluded:

• Tear-off
• Disposal
• Housewrap
• Rot repair
• Soffit
• Fascia
• Gutter removal
• Mounting blocks
• Specialty trim
• Permits

Ask every contractor what is specifically excluded from the price.

How to Compare Three Siding Estimates Properly

Don't Automatically Pick the Middle Bid Either

Homeowners sometimes assume the safest strategy is simply throwing out the high and low numbers and choosing the middle estimate.

That is not necessarily better than picking the lowest bid.

The middle proposal may offer the best value.

Or it may simply be the middle number.

Understand the scope first. Let the scope explain the price.

How Many Siding Estimates Should You Get?

More estimates do not automatically create a better decision.

Seven, eight, or ten contractor appointments can quickly make every product, warranty, and sales presentation blend together.

A better strategy is to research contractors first and narrow the field based on:

• Years in business
• Local reputation
• Permanent location
• Products offered
• Installation process
• Workmanship warranty
• Customer service

Your goal is not to collect the most prices. Your goal is to make the best decision.

Bring Your Estimate to the Suburban Construction Showroom

If two siding estimates are thousands of dollars apart and you cannot figure out why, bring them with you.

Visit Suburban Construction at 3602 North Harrison Street in Davenport, Iowa.

You can compare actual siding products, thicknesses, colors, profiles, insulated siding, composite siding, soffit, fascia, trim, and accessories.

Seeing those differences in person makes it much easier to understand why two proposals may not represent the same project.

Do not ask a contractor only, “Why are you more expensive?” Ask them to show you exactly what is different.

Visit the Suburban Construction Davenport Showroom

The Bottom Line: Why Are Siding Estimates So Different?

Because siding contractors may be quoting very different projects.

Material quality, tear-off, housewrap, insulation, wall preparation, trim, soffit, fascia, gutters, accessories, labor standards, warranties, cleanup, overhead, and long-term service can all affect the final number.

That does not mean the highest estimate is automatically the best.

It also does not mean the lowest estimate is automatically the smartest purchase.

As JR Girskis recommends, compare the scope first. Then compare the price.