What a siding proposal is for
Siding buyers weigh the cost now against looks and upkeep for twenty years. Three options on the same wall area, each with its material and trim, let the owner see what changes between them. The upper options are also where pay over time makes a whole-house job easier to say yes to.
What to put on a siding proposal
- The same wall area and tear-off in each.
- Material and profile.
- Trim and soffit differences.
- Upkeep and warranty in plain words.
- One acceptance line.
A worked example
The same 2,800 sq ft of wall. Vinyl, tear-off and wrap use the calculator's typical prices; upgrades are yours to price.
Option 1: Good: standard vinyl. Vinyl lap siding, wrap and J-channel trim.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding, supply and install * | 2,800 | sq ft | $7.13 | $19,964.00 |
| Remove and dispose of old siding * | 1 | each | $1,750.00 | $1,750.00 |
| House wrap and flashing * | 2,800 | sq ft | $0.75 | $2,100.00 |
| Total before tax | $23,814.00 |
Option 2: Better: insulated vinyl. Insulated vinyl, wider trim and new soffit.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding, supply and install * | 2,800 | sq ft | $7.13 | $19,964.00 |
| Insulated backer board | 2,800 | sq ft | Your price | |
| Remove and dispose of old siding * | 1 | each | $1,750.00 | $1,750.00 |
| House wrap and flashing * | 2,800 | sq ft | $0.75 | $2,100.00 |
| Soffit | 160 | ft | Your price |
Option 3: Best: fiber cement. Prefinished fiber cement with trim boards.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber cement siding, supply and install | 28 | square | Your price | |
| Remove and dispose of old siding * | 1 | each | $1,750.00 | $1,750.00 |
| House wrap and flashing * | 2,800 | sq ft | $0.75 | $2,100.00 |
| Window and door trim boards | 18 | each | Your price |
Show each option on a sample board or photo. Owners choose siding by the look first.
* Typical price from our free siding cost calculator, which lists its sources. Your own costs and market come first.
Line items siding contractors use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding, supply and install | square | Profile, gauge and color. |
| Fiber cement siding, supply and install | square | Plank or shingle, primed or prefinished. |
| Tear-off and disposal | square | Layers removed and dumpster. |
| House wrap and flashing | sq ft | Brand and how seams and openings are taped. |
| Sheathing replacement | each | Per sheet, if found soft after tear-off. |
| Corner posts | ft | Inside and outside corners. |
| Window and door trim | each | Per opening; J-channel or trim boards. |
| Soffit | ft | Vented or solid. |
| Fascia wrap | ft | Aluminum coil color. |
| Insulated backer board | sq ft | Under vinyl, where offered. |
| Staging or lift | day | For second-story and gable walls. |
| Permit | each | Where your town requires one for siding. |
Terms and deposit language for siding
- Deposit. A deposit when the contract is signed covers siding, trim and wrap ordered in the chosen color. Your state may cap home improvement deposits, so check.
- Payment. Balance due when the last wall is done, the yard is cleaned and the job is walked.
- Warranty. The maker warrants the panels. You warrant the install against loose panels and leaks at trim you installed, for the time stated. Damage from storms and impacts is not workmanship.
- Soft sheathing found after tear-off is replaced at the per sheet price on this estimate.
- Plants against the house may be trimmed back for ladders; tell us which ones matter.
- Satellite dishes, lights and hose bibs are removed and reset as listed.
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Check each option's name, its one-line difference and its lines.
- Add your prices; each option totals on its own.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print it, download it, or send it from Koira so the customer can pick and sign on the phone.
Free tools for siding
The same proposal for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpentry, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, deck, drywall, duct cleaning, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, glass, gutter, handyman, holiday lighting, home inspection, hood cleaning, hvac, insulation, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, masonry, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, property maintenance, remodeling, restoration, roofing, security system, septic, snow removal, solar, tile, tree service, water treatment, waterproofing, window cleaning, window and door.
More for siding contractors: how siding contractors run on Koira.