How to estimate vinyle siding

Figuring the right amount of siding is actually very easy.

A few things to know first.

1) Vinyl siding comes in 12 foot lengths.

2) All accessorises also come in 12 foot lengths. 

3)Siding is sold by a builder square. Which is 100 square feet.

 example: 10 feet by 10 feet.

Lets say you have a two level house and it's 50 long. No measuring the 50 is easy but measuring the height will be a little bit more involved. Well you all know that you have eight floor ceilings, right. Let's do this, you have the floor joist for the first floor, the floor joist for the second and each on is about 12 inches, x 2 plus your two levels (walls) @ 8 feet (96 inches) 

2 floors (joist) = 2 feet

2 walls (levels) = 8 feet  for a total height of 18 feet high. 

So your house is 50 feet long by 18 feet high. Times those two numbers and you get 900 square feet. 

Now your thinking but I have windows and a big sliding door. And your right, one you want to make sure you have enough and you don't want to start using little pieces towards the end. 

This is how I order, I get the total square footage and see what that comes to. Each box of siding comes with two squares in a box so you're dealing with even numbers. If we have a total of 900 square feet, then you order ten squares. Which will be 1000 square feet and five box's. Not 9 1/2. Remember that 1/2 box is more likely to get damaged on delivery and hanging around until you use it, so not worth it. Once your done you can always return full pieces using that long empty box that you now have.

Now on the over hand, lets say you have a total of 825 square feet needed. And you have some windows, and a door or two. Then I would order for 800 square feet (four box's).

J channel This is the trim that goes around the windows and doors. I like to order two pieces per window and three per door no matter how small or big. 

Now in this example I only showed you for one wall. Chances are you will be doing more then just one side of your house. Just use the same vinyl siding formula on the others. 

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