Wood Siding Options and Costs in 2023: Pros & Cons, FAQs

Wood siding has many different options. In this buying guide, we’ll focus on styles such as Bevel, Board-and-Batten, and Split Log siding for homes.

via Real Wood Siding

Note that there is also a more traditional cedar shingles and shakes siding option explained in our consumer guide here.

The many styles and options of wood siding are what other, competing materials such as Vinyl, Fiber Cement, Engineered Wood and other synthetic materials routinely mimic. Wood though, has a natural beauty that is very hard to match, and yet, with that comes the need for ongoing maintenance.

A few decades ago, wood siding used to be the #1 option for residential siding in America, and historically it has ruled over all others. But not anymore.

According to the U.S. Census data, Stucco and Vinyl are at the top, while wood has declined to just 3% of all new-single family homes having such cladding.

Wood still offers much versatility, decent insulation and installation that doesn’t necessarily require as much expertise as some other siding options.

Cost

The labor costs for installing wood siding, particularly bevel and board-and-batten planks, is comparatively low (compared to fiber cement siding). A handyman can do the job, as can a do-it-yourselfer. Like all home improvement projects, a professional contractor will handle installation more efficiently and provide warranties on their service.

Residential grade (architectural) natural wood siding can cost between $9.50 and $16.50 per square foot, depending on the type of siding being installed, project difficulty, and location. Split log would be on the upper portion of this range, board-and-batten on the lower end, with bevel style siding being somewhere in the middle. Lots of factors impact the costs for wood siding which we’ll address below.

A typical two-bedroom house requiring 2,000 square feet of siding will cost between $19,000 and $33,000 for new natural wood siding installed by a professional contractor. That’s for all 3 materials included, which is why the range is so great. If we break down the prices by type of style, it helps understand project costs more acutely.

Read more