# I need a budgeting estimate for paint vs. vinyl siding. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 19, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-budgeting-estimate-for-paint-vs-vinyl-siding/554325 "2010-09-19T21:43:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-budgeting-estimate-for-paint-vs-vinyl-siding/554325/1 "2010-09-19T21:43:18Z")
I cannot go there immediately to locate professionals and get real estimates. I need a budgeting estimate for planning purposes. The building is an average residence about thirty years old. Wood with weathered paint. I want to budget for planning purposes. Vinyl is X % more or less than a moderately serious paint job? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-budgeting-estimate-for-paint-vs-vinyl-siding/554325/2 "2010-09-19T21:57:32Z")
Is initial cost your only concern? It’s hard to make a straight up paint vs. vinyl comparison, but painting is cheaper in the short run. How big is the house? Is it more than one story? Does “weathered wood” mean that it will have to be stripped down to bare siding? ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-budgeting-estimate-for-paint-vs-vinyl-siding/554325/3 "2010-09-20T21:31:51Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Is initial cost your only concern? … painting is cheaper in the short run. Thanks. That is about it. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-budgeting-estimate-for-paint-vs-vinyl-siding/554325/4 "2010-09-22T00:07:51Z")
Can’t be too helpful in way of a definitive answer, but, I would bet a jillion dollars that painting is much, much cheaper than siding. Siding is exorbitant! Imagine what you would think it would cost, then double that. Then, add in the extras. FWIW, you can get your house bricked much more cheaply than siding. At least, around these parts. Best wishes, hh ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-budgeting-estimate-for-paint-vs-vinyl-siding/554325/5 "2010-09-22T00:27:57Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Can’t be too helpful in way of a definitive answer, but, I would bet a jillion dollars that painting is much, much cheaper than siding. Siding is exorbitant! Imagine what you would think it would cost, then double that. Then, add in the extras. > FWIW, you can get your house bricked much more cheaply than siding. At least, around these parts. Brick cheaper than _vinyl_ siding? Cheaper than cement board I could almost buy, but _vinyl_? Around these parts brick is way pricier and vinyl is only found on low end homes. Not knocking vinyl because I think painting and rot repair is a ridiculous waste of money, but that’s just how we roll around here. Nonetheless, without major repairs being needed, I would guess that a paint job would be a good deal cheaper than new siding. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-budgeting-estimate-for-paint-vs-vinyl-siding/554325/6 "2010-09-24T23:47:19Z")
> [@Baracus](#): > > > [@handsomeharry](#): > > > > Can’t be too helpful in way of a definitive answer, but, I would bet a jillion dollars that painting is much, much cheaper than siding. Siding is exorbitant! Imagine what you would think it would cost, then double that. Then, add in the extras. > > FWIW, you can get your house bricked much more cheaply than siding. At least, around these parts. > > Brick cheaper than _vinyl_ siding? Cheaper than cement board I could almost buy, but _vinyl_? Around these parts brick is way pricier and vinyl is only found on low end homes. Well, as I’ve said, around these parts. Also, are you going by actual costs, or by newspaper ads? You’d be surprised how the add ons can triple an ads price. Best wishes, hh STOP!!! I may be thinking of aluminum siding. Can’t remember. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-budgeting-estimate-for-paint-vs-vinyl-siding/554325/7 "2010-09-25T01:59:59Z")
My neighbor and I have identical houses. He got vinyl siding last year for $14K. I’m getting my house painted next week for $2K. The paint job should be good for about 10 years.