A national survey on home improvement and remodeling projects conducted by Remodeling magazine has determined that replacing your home’s siding with fiber cement siding offer a higher return on investment than any other home project.
The survey results, as reported on the MSN Real Estate website, said: “Replacing exterior siding with upscale fiber cement… pays back a whopping 78%, on average, of the $13,461 average cost. The most cost-effective thing you can do to your home this year is to replace old siding with new, higher-end fiber cement.” The second best home improvement project is replacing an entry door with an upgraded steel door, which pays back 73% and “greatly improves curb appeal.”
Also cited among the top ten projects is new vinyl siding replacement, with foam-backed vinyl siding returning 69.6% of its $14,274 average cost; and midrange vinyl siding, which returns 69.5% of the $11,729 average price. Vinyl replacement windows offer a solid 69.1% payback on the average cost of $14,328 for replacing 10 windows. This does not include long-term energy savings realized by installing efficient glass and insulated frame packages.
The article also offers a caution about the growing pool of “unlicensed and uninsured workers” who are competing for remodeling work. The high rate of unemployment in the construction industry has flooded the market with “a lot of carpenters walking around looking for work,” according to Sal Alfano of Remodeling magazine. Alfano warns that, “A marginal worker may not perform well or may reach the limits of his skill on your job, although he did just fine at your neighbor’s place.” The best quality fiber cement siding is produced by James Hardie, the company that pioneered the material and is now found on over 4 million American homes.
Twin Cities Siding and Roofing is the only James Hardie VIP Preferred Remodeler in the upper Midwest. Call us at 651-571-9557 , or visit our web site at tcsidingprofessionals.com for a FREE in-home evaluation and estimate.
