Weighing the Pros and Cons of DIY Siding

Today we discuss the pros and cons of DIY siding. There are certainly both positive and negative aspects to DIY siding installation, but it’s important to cover all the bases before starting your project. You should be somewhat experienced — the last thing you want is to start the project, and realize halfway through you won’t be able to complete it yourself. So, let’s weigh the pros and cons!

Pros of DIY Siding

Doing your own siding installation is generally always going to be cheaper than hiring a professional, just based on the money you save on labor. So, if you’re on a budget, doing it yourself can sound pretty attractive.

You can do all the installation at your own pace. You can take your time, work over the weekends, and hire friends or family to help, all on your own schedule. This can help limit interruptions and distractions to your life, and you can take a break whenever you need it.

DIY means you can do it exactly how you want to. If you have a particular taste, strong attention to detail, and have the skills to pull it off, doing it yourself may be just the right thing for you.

Cons of DIY siding

There is always a flip side to doing something yourself, and when it comes to doing anything on your home yourself, there are a lot of things that a professional may do best, just because of their knowledge and expertise. Cons to DIY siding include:

Anytime you do a remodeling project, the lawful thing to do is pull the building permits and do everything to code. If you don’t do this, you may be liable for fines, your project can be delayed, and you may be forced to reconstruct everything you’ve done thus far. One thing that can help is reading the directions on your materials; they can explain how to properly install up to code. Otherwise, reaching out to the professionals can be very helpful, and they’ll be able to guide you through the proper route.

Many homeowners underestimate the materials needed for a project. The average homeowner, if they haven’t done many, or any, major siding projects before may not know the full components that go into a project of that scale. Going to a local big box store can be helpful, and they can be an excellent guide to help get you where you need to be.

DIYers may not have a proper economy of scale. Professionals purchase their materials in bulk from manufacturers and professional brands. They buy in large volumes so they get better discounts than an individual homeowner may receive when purchasing their materials. Despite the entirety of the project costing less for the homeowner, they may be majorly overcharged for material by not going with a professional.

Not only do you receive professional-grade materials and prices if you do NOT do it yourself, but you also get access to the extensive knowledge and skills of a professional team of contractors. Northface, for example, goes to visit the LP production plant and receives training on how the products work, how they need to be installed, and we get certification to do it to their standards every time.

If you’re finding that the pros outweigh the cons of DIY siding, more power to you! If you want to get the expertise and more value out of your project cost, consider hiring Northface Construction to tackle your next siding project. We are happy to walk you through every step of the way, just give us a call at 763-433-2269.

We look forward to talking with you!