7 min read · Cost
Lowest-bid siding work feels like a win at signing. It costs more than the second-lowest bid would have — measured over the home's remaining life — in almost every case. Here's specifically where the cost difference is and what each corner costs you.
Substrate repair undercounted
Aged hardboard and T1-11 commonly hide rot and flashing failure. Honest bids include a realistic substrate-repair allowance and itemize what's discovered at tear-off. Cheap bids assume zero substrate damage. When damage appears, you either pay an unbudgeted change order or the contractor covers the new cladding over compromised substrate — which sets up failure within 5-7 years.
Weather-resistive barrier spec compromised
Tyvek, Typar, and other quality WRBs cost more per roll than cheap house wrap. Cheap bids spec the cheapest WRB and skip the taped seams. This is invisible after install but determines whether your wall assembly drains correctly when water inevitably gets behind the cladding.
Flashing detail skipped or wrong
Correct flashing at window heads, sill pans, kick-out details at roof intersections, and step flashing at masonry transitions is time-consuming to install correctly. Cheap bids substitute caulk for flashing or skip kick-out details entirely. This is where most California re-side water-intrusion failures originate, typically appearing 3-7 years post-install.
Fastener spec violated
Hardie's published fastener spec — specific fastener type, spacing, and embedment — is a warranty condition. Cheap bids use cheaper fasteners, wider spacing, or pneumatic-overdrive that crushes the board. Warranty voided; cladding eventually fails; you have no recourse.
ColorPlus vs. field paint
Factory-finished ColorPlus is real money compared to field-painted Hardie. Cheap bids omit ColorPlus and paint in the field. The cost equation breaks even or favors ColorPlus within 8-12 years on California UV exposure; field-paint repaint cycles compound the difference over a 30-year cladding life.
Subcontractor crew vs. employed crew
Cheap bids often subcontract to non-employees who have no stake in the long-term warranty relationship. Quality varies dramatically; warranty enforcement becomes a phone-tree exercise. Reputable contractors typically run employed crews trained to their standards.
Cladding-to-grade clearance ignored
We covered this in detail elsewhere. Cheap bids install Hardie tight to the ground at homeowner request; warranty voided immediately; substrate damage appears in 5-8 years.
The honest math over the home's life
On a typical Sacramento re-side, the spread between the lowest and second-lowest bid is often $4,000–$8,000. Over a 30-year cladding life, the cheap-bid corners cost typically $25,000–$60,000 in early failure repair, warranty disputes, and full re-side 15-20 years earlier than necessary. The math is rarely close.
Where cheap-bid corners cost you long-term
| Corner cut | What it costs over 30 years |
|---|---|
| Undercounted substrate repair | Cladding failure 5-7 years; partial re-side $8K-$20K |
| Cheap WRB without taped seams | Water intrusion, sheathing damage; major repair $15K-$40K |
| Flashing skipped or wrong | Window-area rot and damage; repair $5K-$15K per occurrence |
| Fastener spec violated | Voided manufacturer warranty; no recourse on cladding failure |
| Field paint instead of ColorPlus | Repaint cycles every 5-7 years; $20K-$50K over 30 years |
| Cladding-to-grade clearance violated | Substrate wicking damage 5-8 years; $10K-$30K |
Key takeaways
- The cheap bid's corners are all in invisible scope behind the boards
- Each corner has a specific long-term cost
- Math over the home's life almost never favors the cheap bid
FAQ
Quick Answers
Then you may be talking to a tier of contractors that all cut similar corners. Expand to contractors with stronger reputations and warranty terms; expect 15–30% higher pricing for substantially different scope quality.
Not automatically — highest bid isn't necessarily best either. Compare itemized scope; look for clear documentation of WRB, flashing, fastener spec, and substrate allowance.
Compare 2-3 bids with detailed itemized scope, verified references, and warranty documentation review. The decision becomes obvious once the scope-level comparison is real.
Sources
Authoritative references
- Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — verify a California contractor
- James Hardie — official product & installation resources
- James Hardie ColorPlus Technology
External links to government, code, and manufacturer sources. Sierra Siding is not affiliated with these organizations; references are provided for verification.