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You should restain or refinish your home's cedar siding every three to seven years to maintain its appearance and ensure maximum protection. The precise frequency depends on several factors, including your local climate, the siding's exposure to severe weather like direct sunlight, rain, and wind, the quality of the initial stain application, the type of stain used, and the condition of the wood.

Homeowners in harsh climates with high humidity and significant direct sunlight should plan on restaining every three years, while those in milder locations can wait up to seven years. For the longest-lasting protection in particularly harsh environments, consider using an opaque stain.

If you're looking for a lower-maintenance alternative, vinyl or aluminum siding are options to consider. Although their installation cost may be higher, they don't require as much upkeep over time, which can provide more value, especially in areas with excessive rainfall or high humidity.

You can calculate the required square footage of siding you need by measuring the height and width of your home’s rectangular exterior walls. For the triangular-shaped gable walls, measure the height from the ground to the tallest gable point to make sure you have enough for good coverage. Once you have combined the totals for each wall, add another 10% to account for wasted materials. It’s also good to have extra siding on hand to tackle wood siding repair down the road.

Different types of siding provide unique aesthetic and structural features, with each material commanding its own cost. Availability of materials and shipping costs also factors largely into the cost. The common types of siding materials include:

• Stucco: $7–$9 per square foot

• Wood: $1–$15 per square foot

• Engineered wood: $1–$6 per square foot

• Aluminum: $3–$6 per square foot

• Fiber cement: $5–$14 per square foot

• Brick: $10–$20 per square foot

• Brick veneer: $3–$10 per square foot

• Stone: $7–$30 per square foot

• Stone veneer: $5–$11 per square foot

While insulated vinyl siding has one of the highest R-values out there, there are a few alternatives worth considering. When paired with a layer of insulation, manufactured stone veneer has an R-value of 4.5. Composite siding also provides good insulation with an R-value of 2 to 4.